Electronic drums are a quieter alternative to acoustic drums. They work electronically, having a group of drum pads and cymbals connected to a module that receives signals and triggers sounds.
triggers sounds involve a combination of drum pads, a module, amplification tools, and MIDI signals. All of these things work together to get the tonal outcome from the kit.
All electronic drum kits differ in quality, so the sounds and build quality you get from a kit will depend on its brand and price.
Electronic drums work by using pads and cymbals connected to a drum module. When a drummer strikes a pad, sensors detect the hit and send a signal to the module.
The module then triggers a pre-recorded sound assigned to that pad. The pads can be made from various materials like rubber, mesh, or silicone, affecting the feel and response.
Electronic drums are versatile, allowing for a wide range of sounds and easy integration with recording equipment.
The pads are the most notable part of any electronic kit. They act as drums and cymbals, so they take up most of the space. While all cymbal pads are made of rubber, you get a few different materials used for drum pads.
You’re either going to get rubber, mesh, or silicone drum pads. Rubber pads are the lowest-quality ones, and you’ll find those on the cheaper sets. Mesh and silicone are higher-quality and feel more resemblant to acoustic drum heads.
Higher-quality electronic sets have more trigger zones on each pad. The more trigger zones there are, the more sounds you can play from single pads.
The drum module acts as the brain of an electronic drum set. Each pad has a trigger that connects to the module. Signals get sent through and the module plays the appropriate sounds.
While the module’s primary function is to play the drum sounds, most drum modules offer much more than that. You get different drum kit sounds, practice functions, play-along backing tracks, and much more.
The more expensive drum modules are, the more they offer. The top-quality drum modules from Roland and Yamaha have innovative sound technology that allows you to alter drum sounds drastically. You get complete control over how the drum sets sound which is amazing.
Since electronic drums are digital, they don’t make sounds on their own. Without connecting an amp or headphones to the drum module, you’re just going to hear tapping on the pads.
So, headphones and amps are your options. If you want more people to hear the drums, you’ll need to connect the drum module to a small amp. If you’re just practicing alone, headphones are always a good choice.
It’s good for drummers with electronic drum kits to have both so they’re prepared for all situations. It’s also great to play with an amp as headphones can get uncomfortable after a while.
The last thing to mention about how electronic drums work is MIDI capabilities. This is one of the massive benefits of an electronic kit compared to an acoustic kit. MIDI allows for the electronic drum kit to communicate with a computer.
Every drum module has a MIDI USB port. You can get a cable to connect from there to a computer, and then the drum module can send signals to the computer. You can then use a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) to record the drums from your electronic drum kit.
This is much easier than using an acoustic drum set with drum mics and an audio interface.
The other benefit of MIDI is that you can download a VST (Virtual Studio Technology) on the computer to get even more drum sounds. Many drummers with electronic kits do this as the VST sounds are typically much better than the stock sounds on drum modules.
If you buy an entry-level electronic drum set, you typically get everything you need with the purchase. However, certain things start to get omitted as prices for the drums get higher.
Every electronic drum kit includes a set of drum pads, cymbal pads, a drum module, and a rack.
Here’s a list of more things that you’ll need to play the set:
Drum sticks
Drum throne
Hi-hat stand (if the electronic kit doesn’t come with one)
Headphones or an amp
Not many electronic drum sets have built-in speakers. None of the kits from major brands do, anyway. The major brands are Alesis, Roland, and Yamaha. So, you need something to use to hear the drums coming from the module.
You don’t need speakers for electronic drums, though, as you can simply use earphones or headphones. However, it’s ideal to have speakers as it can be cumbersome and uncomfortable to wear headphones all the time.
You’re also going to need speakers if you want anyone other than yourself to hear everything that you’re playing on the electronic drum set.
If you want to use the electronic drums to play live gigs, then you should get an amplifier that can raise the volume loud enough for a crowd to hear.
Every electronic drum or pad has built-in trigger points. These triggers detect vibrations from drumsticks when they’re struck, and that sends signals through to the drum module. When the drum module receives these signals, sounds get triggered.
You need to have headphones or an amp connected to the drum module to hear these sounds. You also need to have your electronic drum set powered by electricity for this to happen.
If the electronic kit doesn’t have power, it can’t be switched on and you’ll just hear the tapping of the pads.
While all of this may seem like a lot to take in, knowing how an electronic drum set works becomes easily digestible knowledge when you play on e-kits regularly. The more you play, the more you learn.
Electronic kits aren’t as sought-after as acoustic kits for drumming, but they’re fantastic tools to use for many settings.
If you want to see some of the best electronic kits available on the market, check out our guide here. If you’re thinking of buying an electronic kit, you should weigh up the benefits of using one instead of an acoustic kit. You may find that an affordable electronic kit will be your best option.
Founder of TheDrumNinja
I’m crazy about drums, it’s been my passion since I was 12 years old. I played in numerous bands going through different styles like Rock, Progressive, Pop & Jazz-Rock. After being featured in major music publications (Drumeo, Guitar Guitar, AudioIssues, MusicThinkTank) I started this website to share my knowledge and create a resource for drummers of all levels.
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