Electric or digital drum sets are perfect to practice without making any noise or as an extension to your acoustic drum set. They are versatile pieces of equipment that can surprise you with their sound quality and response to touch.
There’s a wide range of options, and you’ll find them anywhere from several hundred to several thousand dollars. It depends on what features you want. For example, for a beginner electronic drum set you’ll definitely find something great for around $400. But, for digital drum sets with cutting edge technology, expect to pay $2000, $4000 or up to $7000.
So, what are the main features you should look for? We’ll break down the most important things to look for in an electric drum set.
Top digital drum set manufacturers
First, you should turn to those companies that have been going strong for decades. The best products available in the market come from Roland, Yamaha, Alesis, Simmons and Hart. All of them have several lines with different price range.
Response and sensitivity of drum pads and cymbals
One of the things to look for in digital drum sets is the physical part that you’ll be playing. You’ll find that there are regular black pads and mesh pads. The difference is the response you get from them as you strike them. What’s most important is the sensitivity they have. To test this, start hitting the pads in a light manner, and increase your strength. You’ll notice the sound changes as an acoustic drum set would react, so the more natural it sounds it means it’s a better electronic drum set.
Sound Module features and sounds
The sound module is the heart of an electric drum set. Without it, all you have is pads, which are good for practice, but the drums come alive with the sound module. It’s what marks the difference between expensive and cheaper digital drum sets. The sound module contains the sounds each pad has assigned, so it will let you switch from a rock sounding drum set to a latin percussion set in seconds. These modules will have different features, such as letting you record your drums on the spot, or listen to music you can play along to. This is the part you should assess, and determine if it has what you need.
Sound output
The sound output could be anything, and most often people stick to headphones. But, there are occassions where you’ll want to perform with your electric drum set, so any type of speaker will work. A great aspect of digital drum sets is that you can set the volume to whatever level you want, so no more complaining neighbors or risk of ear damage.
An electric drum set is a fantastic instrument. Whether you’re looking for a beginner electronic drum set or you’re an experienced player who wants to expand his possibilities. We highly recommend trying one out before making any purchases, just so you can envision yourself quietly at 2 in the morning, and feel confident in your investment.