Electronic Drums

Electronic Drum Kits for Practice & Performance

From managing stage volume to accommodating after-hours practice, electronic drum kits are valuable tools for modern drummers. Many are plug-in ready and come loaded with kit sounds to suit a variety of styles. And with MIDI I/O, many are also great for the studio, often giving drummers a familiar performance platform without the space and miking demands of an acoustic kit.

History of the Electronic Drum Kit

In the early 1970s, Graeme Edge, drummer for the Moody Blues, teamed up with Sussex University professor Brian Groves to create what is widely cited as the first electronic drum kit. Early models such as the Syndrum and SDSV were crude, and some players remarked that they “sounded like trash can lids.” Since then, electronic drums have seen leaps in quality, variety, and prominence; players from Bill Bruford to Neil Peart have made history with these instruments.

How Do Electronic Drum Kits Work?

Electronic drum kits function much like the human nervous system; each drum surface is rigged with triggers that act like nerve endings. These triggers pick up stick hits and transmit electrical signals back to the kit’s “brain”: the e-drum module. Higher-end drum kits often use more complex trigger systems for greater sensitivity and articulation. The module then converts these signals into whatever sound is assigned to each drum surface.

Many modules can store hundreds of virtual drum kits and sounds from other instruments. So, while drummers can select a standard rock or Latin kit, they can also program the snare to play a timpani sound or the crash cymbal to play a glockenspiel sound. Roland’s TD516, for example, packs its V51 module with up to 200 kits and more than 1,000 instruments, and Roland Cloud connectivity lets you download new kits and instruments to keep expanding it. In this way, e-drum kits can also double as samplers, drum machines, or percussion pads.

Why Drummers Love Electronic Drum Kits

Electronic drum kits tend to be portable, compact, and, above all, acoustically quiet. Many e-drum heads are made from mesh material, and many electronic cymbals are made of rubber, so striking them makes very little noise. Plug headphones into the module, and you’ve got a practice setup that’s much less likely to disturb neighbors or even people in the next room. For live performance, modules can plug directly into a PA system, so your sound can easily reach the entire audience. That also means you can forget the hassle of miking drums for live shows. And because many e-drum kits connect through line outputs and MIDI, drummers can record straight into an audio interface, bypassing the need for sophisticated microphone setups. Many e-drum kits weigh less than acoustic kits, Yamaha’s DTX6 series being a compact example.

And while acoustic drums often require frequent tuning and maintenance, the sounds from an electronic kit don’t drift out of tune. Many electronic drum modules also come with rehearsal features such as metronomes, pre-recorded loops and tracks, and built-in sequencers. Some also let you connect a phone or tablet via cable or Bluetooth wireless and jam along to your playlists and favorite tunes.

Ready to experience a quieter, more flexible setup? Shop our selection of electronic drum sets or upgrade the sound of your current pads and cymbals with a compatible electronic drum module.

Sweetwater Is Your Trusted Source for Electronic Drums

Sweetwater carries electronic drum kits, modules, and accessories in a wide range of prices and features. We also carry hybrid kits, including the Pearl e/Merge and Roland VAD series. Still weighing your options? Call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer for advice on your next e-drum purchase. Whether you’re a touring professional or a first-time player, we’re here to help.