Electronic drums

[midnightsun]

I'm contemplating getting electronic drums for my studio. Purpose-- be able to save time in acoustic drum setup and necessary acoustic drum TLC. Goal-- get acceptable or good drum tracks. Workflow-- I am more likely to commit to the drum sound at the time of tracking and would probably track to separate audio files, but would consider tracking to MIDI files. Locally, I can get a great deal on a new set of Yamaha (high end). I am also considering other brands. It looks like I am going to have to be prepared to spend 4 to 8K on this setup.

Any thoughts on Yamaha vs other brands (Roland, Hart, RET, etc)? Any thoughts or tips for someone jumping into a higher end set of electronic drums would be appreciated.

[joeq]

well you will save time in setup

I don't think you will ever find the electronic cymbals satisfactory

you will have to get real cymbals at the very least

[drumzealot]

There are some informative threads about this with posts from people who have a ton of experience recording with e drums.

[ArnieInTheSky]

Yamaha is a sampled kit. It's a glorified keyboard set up for drummers. The cymbals never translate well. To be honest, as a drummer 1st, the electroinc drums are good for demos, efx or triggering. If you are going to go electric, get some decent drum software.

Rolands kit's are better because they use the "virtual technology." It's not just a sample its a , "how would this type of drum, this big sound in this type of room hit like this?" Yamaha, (and everyone else for that matter) uses layered samples for this effect and it's a poor replacement for acoustic drums. With a 5K budget, you could solve some problems with other measures. Anyway...

In my humble opinion, the electric kit has some advantages but as a replacement it requires more than just the kit.

[joeq]

Originally Posted by midnightsun

It looks like I am going to have to be prepared to spend 4 to 8K on this setup.
.

for 8k, you could buy a nice drum kit, a slew of mics, some decent preamps and have enough money left over to hire Steve Gadd to come in and play on your tracks.

[midnightsun]

Originally Posted by joeq

for 8k, you could buy a nice drum kit, a slew of mics, some decent preamps and have enough money left over to hire Steve Gadd to come in and play on your tracks.

hmmmmmm I hadn't thought of that..... LOL

I have a somewhat decent set of drums now and a bunch of good mics and preamps. The issue is that sometimes I just want to start tracking in a few minutes rather than the necessary time that it takes me to track drums. I am sure that there are plenty of folks out there that are really good at and time efficient at tracking drums. Since I don't do it all of the time I am just looking for an easier workflow.

In my heart of hearts I love things that are organic and real. It was difficult to come to this realization about wanting to move toward electronic drums for some things. In the end it is all about making music.

[joeq]

Do you have the space/mics to leave the drums set up all the time?

Maybe with that 8k you could get something like that together- whatever extra mics, stands, dedicated channels you need, (some plastic bags ) Put some grease pencil marks on the knobs so you don't have to reset your levels, save a template in your DAW etc.

If all you have to do is hit the power switch, you would have the same convenience as electronics, plus the more natural sound.

[ArnieInTheSky]

If you're looking for easy sleezey, 1 earthworks mic for $2000 will get a workable sounding kit. Maybe not perfect but far better than any electronic kit. That'd be pretty easy, one mic! Again, I think the electronic drums need to be regarded in the same manor as the eletric guitar to the acoustic. It was intended to be a replacement but then became something else.

I would like to add, it doesn't even have to be a super high end mic either. One well placed mic, (omni or 8) should give you the whole kit. Add a kick mic for some umph. This could be as little as $600.

[Goliath|Audio]

For $8K, you could book 6 sessions in a big time room, with a session player and their kit.

[Croaker]

Originally Posted by midnightsun

I have a somewhat decent set of drums now and a bunch of good mics and preamps. The issue is that sometimes I just want to start tracking in a few minutes rather than the necessary time that it takes me to track drums. I am sure that there are plenty of folks out there that are really good at and time efficient at tracking drums. Since I don't do it all of the time I am just looking for an easier workflow.

In my heart of hearts I love things that are organic and real. It was difficult to come to this realization about wanting to move toward electronic drums for some things. In the end it is all about making music.

Hi Jon,

I too had the urge to try electronic drums at one point, but I am glad I didnt. I love recording acoustic drums and it doesnt have to be that time consuming.

I leave my kit setup and miced (except for the condenser mics). I record with the kit all the time so it I am able to get a good sound pretty fast. can you leave you kit setup?
Plus you can get a great sound with 4 good mics. its when you start micing every drum, top and bottom that setup takes more time. I know you like the real organic sound from our conversations about tube amps. You cant beat the sound of a well tuned acoustic kit IMO. follow your heart, you wont be disappointed.

what kind of drums do you have? do you record then alot?

[midnightsun]

Originally Posted by Croaker

Hi Jon,

I too had the urge to try electronic drums at one point, but I am glad I didnt. I love recording acoustic drums and it doesnt have to be that time consuming.

I leave my kit setup and miced (except for the condenser mics). I record with the kit all the time so it I am able to get a good sound pretty fast. can you leave you kit setup?
Plus you can get a great sound with 4 good mics. its when you start micing every drum, top and bottom that setup takes more time. I know you like the real organic sound from our conversations about tube amps. You cant beat the sound of a well tuned acoustic kit IMO. follow your heart, you wont be disappointed.

what kind of drums do you have? do you record then alot?

Yup.... I hear you guys loud and clear. I've got a mid level set of Yamaha drums with Zildjian cymbals. For the next month or so I think that I will do a bit of CPR on my existing kit. I brought over a guy who has made a list of parts and accessories that need to be replaced and is going to refurbish what I have and put some TLC into them.

I am going to have to hear and see an electronic drum kit in action before making the plunge.

[VigilantSound]

Your clients might not be comfortable playing electronic drums, keep this in mind before making a decision.