Electronic Drum Kits Live

[dawman]

I was told of this awesome drummer playing in Reno using 2 x Akai MPC3000's and tons of software and Electronic Rolands.
The sounds were very powerful as he used samples from LSAD, Stylus, Yellow Tools, Battery, BFD and custom Akai stuff.
But the triggering of sounds was where I was concerned.
Rightfully so too. The Snare rolls were terrible and he was using a great sounding Snare from Yellow Tools that has GB's of samples on multiple velocity layers.
These things still suck hind tit IMO.
MIDI CC #88 is going to raise some serious dust at NAMM this year and whoever takes advantage of it will be getting plenty of attention from those who seek a more dynamic control to performing.
Technology is still trying to play catch up IMO as even a normal Tom roll this guy did sounded like somebody fell down the stairs in my house.
VAX77 using an ADI BlackFin for the MIDI CC#88 has really got my attention.
We need a killer Piano Modelled w/ the extra power of XITE-1.

[Neutron]

even if it is real WTF would you put you lovely anodized bender wheel right where you will be leaning the thing on the floor.
JUST LIKE THEY SHOW IN THE PICTURE!

[garyb]

if you use electronic drums, i suggest a real snare and cymbals.....

[dawman]

Actually I suggested that to a couple of drummers about the cymbals and snare. They have to perform w/ an overhead mic, so it might bring a few tears.
VAX77 is too much of a comprimise actually, but I thank them for using an ADI BlackFin and the new MIDI spec.
Perhaps someone like M Audio who already has an excellent cheap design can implement this critical new feature that so many performers really need.

[chriskorff]

if you use electronic drums, i suggest a real snare and cymbals.....

To counter that, I once saw a cracking electr-punk band where the drummer was playing an entirely acoustic kit, with the addition of an electronic snare - and it made the band! He started off just playing the acoustic snare, and I was thinking "great, another 'electro' band whose only excuse to call themselves 'electro' was the use of a keyboard"... then he hit the (very synthetic-sounding) electro-snare, and it really made the performance. I even noticed other people at the venue looking around as if to say "Oh, is this dance music?" and then suddenly getting into it! Worked a treat, that did.

Cheers,

Chris

[garyb]

i absolutely agree.

Jim, however was complaining about the poor response of the sampled snare. the most dynamic parts of a kit arte the cymbals and snare. electronics do a piss poor job with those kinds of extreme dynamics.

on the other hand, that's what makes electronic drums interesting in many kinds of music, the eveness. everywhere you hit the trigger pad, you get the same sound. in some kinds of music, most damce music for example, a consistant beat is the primary goal. i'm not saying one should ALWAYS use a real snare and cymbals, it depends on what you are doing.

actually, maybe there's a compromise. put the trigger on a real snare(roland has a great trigger) and you'll get some of the real drum vibe on stage. unless the room holds a thousand people, the audience will get some of the real snare just because drums are loud. they'll hear a nice consistant sample to help propel the beat at the same time....

i think that i'd want real cymbals for the most part, but again, fake or even fully synthetic cymbals do have their charm when used well....