Thoughts on adding electronics to my acoustic kit

[stevensonmat2]

Hey guys, I'm considering adding some electronic drum pads to my kit, but I'm not sure what all I would need. Obviously some pads, but as far as what device to control the pads, cables, amps and anything else I'd need I'm pretty clueless about. Some advice on what I would need to get this going would be great. Thanks in advance.

[billdrum]

I used to use a Roland SPD 11 (now the SDP 20) with my kit. Its a great way to add sounds, with 8 pads, to your setup without compromising your setup in any way. I used to mount it right above my hi-hats to my left.

[bobby__johnny]

the module is whats going to be the most expensive park of the setup.

single zone Yamaha triggers are dirt cheap however....about $40 each


and they're small, so you can fit them just about anywhere on your kit

[Chippy569]

think of your pads like buttons, kind of like your mouse button. If you just have a mouse and click the button, nothing happens. you need to hook it up to something.

the something you need to hook it up to is the computer, often called the "module" or "brain." The module waits for you to click the button, and when you do, it goes into its memory and plays the soundfile associated with that button.

nicer modules will have higher quality, longer, truer, better soundfiles (called samples). that's where the money for the higher modules is. The nicer ones can usually have samples loaded into them (ie your own samples for whatever) and maybe some basic editing functions too.

From your module, you need to send your sound to something. If you're at a concert, it can run straight to front of house to be mixed with the rest of the signal. If you're just practicing by yourself, some headphones will do fine. If you're working with a band, IMO your best bet is a combo keyboard amp/speaker. Something like this would do very nice:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Alesis-Sumo-300-Keyboard-Amplifier-with-Digital-Effects?sku=705527

that's basically all there is to it...

[thenamesaysitall]

i had a great drum lesson ages ago when my teacher bough in his spd-s, i was so inspired i saved up and bought one afters. i was going to get a kick trigger and loads of shiz but i ran out of money.
spd-s's are great fun though, you can sample stuff straight off cds and dvds. i havent used it practically yet but its cool to use if you want to drum along to songs and samples

[billdrum]

That's why the SPD 20 is such a great option....8 pads, editable sounds, on-board effects included, and one cable to hook up. With individual pads, you have to run a cable for each pad to the brain, then run the brain to the board. I have enough to set up as it is without having to run all that.

[thenamesaysitall]

i tried out an spd-20 and they are nice, i suppose it depends what you're after. sampling or sounds

[billdrum]

The SPD-S is a similar type thing, just with less sounds and with sampling ability. The idea is that both are self-contained units not needing exterior triggers or pads connected to it.

[stevensonmat2]

Are there any draw backs to the spd-20? It seems like the most practical option for what I need.

[billdrum]

The only thing I can think of is durability if you tend to hit on the hard side. I had my SPD 11 for years before any of the pads stopped responding. Then I opened it up and re-glued a couple of the triggers that had come loose inside and got more time out of it.

I now have 4 pads that are still fine and 4 that don't trigger well, but all other functions are fine. I've had it for 15 years, used it regularly on gigs with my kit for probably 10.

I think it's definitely your most practical option. And you can hook up external pads, a kick trigger, and a hi-hat trigger to it if you want to expand.

[stevensonmat2]

How does live sampling work with the spd 20?

[billdrum]

It doesn't....you'd have to get the SPD-S for sampling.

[stevensonmat2]

Ah, I misread a post up there.

[bobby__johnny]

the "S" is for sample :)

i'd love to add some electric pads into my kit at some time....not many...maybe 2 or 3

[stevensonmat2]

Yeah man, I think it would be a great resource to have, especially for gigs.

[bobby__johnny]

i wouldlean towards individual pads. the placement options would be better suited in my opinion, because then its where ever you want to have it. they run via normal 1/2 cables, so it'd be easily routed around your kit.

[stevensonmat2]

I agree placement would be easier with pads, but then I would need to buy either stands or clamps to mount them around my kit as well as the cables to plug them in. Once I had a module, pads, cables and clamps, I would probably be paying twice as much as I would for a spd-20.