Electronic drum sets have firmly established themselves as amazingly useful tools for practicing, recording, and performing for beginners and professionals alike. The best part? It doesn’t take a huge chunk of change to reap these benefits! These days, even beginner-level electronic drum sets under $1,000 contain great sounds, MIDI capabilities, built-in practice tools such as metronomes and Bluetooth for music streaming, and much more. Plus, acoustic drummers of all levels looking for a quieter way to practice love electronic kits at this price point, thanks to features including tunable mesh heads, kick towers, and multi-zone pads. Finally, pairing an electronic drum set with quality software opens a world of new possibilities for recording your practice sessions and original grooves, too!
Back to TopAlesis Nitro Pro Electronic Drum Set
Mesh Heads 500+ Sounds Bluetooth Audio Practice Tools
The Alesis Nitro Pro highlights how well Alesis bridges the gap between customization and playability. First, you’ll find three 8-inch, dual-zone tom pads, an 8-inch kick tower, and a 10-inch, dual-zone snare pad — each featuring wonderfully responsive mesh drumheads. Next, three 10-inch, choke-able cymbal pads provide hi-hat, crash, and ride sounds. Finally, the Nitro Pro module comes stock with 52 kits (36 preset, 16 user) and over 500 samples! We’re not done yet: you also get onboard lessons, a metronome, a sequencer, and the ability to record your practice sessions and performances as you play along to 60 practice songs, or you can use Bluetooth to listen to and imitate your favorite drummers. Whether you’re a budding dorm-room drummer or a seasoned pro with a soundproofed studio, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better set of eDrums in this price range than the Alesis Nitro Pro electronic drum set.
Alesis Nitro Max Mesh Electronic Drum Set
Mesh Heads Bluetooth Audio Lesson Ready Compact Design
Next up is the Alesis Nitro Max mesh electronic drum set; it has small pad sizes, cableless kick drum and hi-hat pedals, and a streamlined profile that makes it handy as a discreet device for live performance. However, Sweetwater drummers think the Alesis Nitro Max is ideal for the beginning drummer who needs a quiet practice tool. Several features confirm this latter point, such as an integrated smart device holder (a very “smart” addition, indeed), built-in Bluetooth connectivity for playing along to your favorite tunes, and 60 onboard practice songs, plus a metronome for polishing your pocket. Purchase a Nitro Max kit, and Alesis even throws in a Melodics drum lesson subscription free of charge! Finally, budding drummers can record themselves into their computers and hear exactly where their playing needs improvement, thanks to the Alesis Nitro Max’s USB and MIDI connectivity.
Roland V-Drums TD-02K Electronic Drum Set
Coach Modes Quiet Practice Bluetooth Ready Compact Design
Frankly speaking, Roland’s exceptional V-Drums series of electronic drum sets has been the industry standard for quite some time and is a favorite of many Sweetwater drummers. Although it’s the smallest of the V-Drums kits, the Roland V-Drums TD-02K electronic drum set isn’t diminutive at all regarding quality. This Roland TD-02K makes an excellent beginning drummer’s practice tool (and still has a sleek profile). The TD-02K has a built-in metronome with five rhythm types and a tempo range of 20 to 260 beats per minute (bpm). There are also five different coach modes and a fantastic Time Check function with both easy and hard modes for really dialing in your rhythmic accuracy. Record yourself onto your computer with USB-B connectivity, and jam to songs by connecting your smart device however you’d like: a wireless Bluetooth adapter slot or a wired 1/8-inch aux input.
ddrum E-Flex Electronic Drum Set
Easy Setup Dual-Zone Pads USB Recording All-In-One Kit
The ddrum E-Flex electronic drum set checks all the boxes that Sweetwater drummers look for in an entry-level electronic set. It’s got dozens of amazing sounds and 12 factory kits right off the bat. Its rack system is easy to set up, so you can get right to rocking. And it comes with everything you need, including hi-hat and kick drum pedals, a sturdy double-braced drum throne, plus a stick holder and a pair of drumsticks. The ddrum E-Flex also feels great to play, with a 6-inch dual-zone snare pad and 9-inch cymbal pads that respond well to different strokes and velocity levels, including a dual-zone ride pad. Finally, with USB-B connectivity for recording, an aux input for playing to music, a headphone output, and a built-in metronome for practicing, the ddrum E-Flex will help you secure first chair in no time.
Yamaha DTX452K Electronic Drum Set
Training Apps Gamified Practice 400+ Sounds Rec’n’Share Recording
The Yamaha DTX452K electronic drum set is the first kit on our list that utilizes companion apps, and they make a huge difference. Firstly, the free iOS and Android DTX402 Touch app offers 10 training and challenge modes to supercharge your woodshedding sessions. Sweetwater drummers particularly praise the Song Score Gate and Rhythm Gate modes, as they help you up your drumming game by turning your drumming into a game! Then, the Yamaha Rec’n’Share lets you do exactly that: record the audio and video of yourself playing along to any song from your iOS library and then easily share it with the world on YouTube or other similar platforms. However, the apps aren’t the only appealing factors about the Yamaha DTX452K. Stereo drum samples, 415 drum and percussion (and keyboard) sounds, great-feeling drum and cymbal pads, and audio/MIDI over USB make this kit a serious powerhouse.
Alesis Command Mesh Special Edition Electronic Drum Set
Mesh Heads Deep Sound Engine Performance Recorder Play-Along Tracks
Like the Alesis Nitro Pro electronic drums mentioned above, this Alesis Command Mesh Special Edition electronic drum set features tunable mesh heads, making it an obvious option for the acoustic drummer looking to enter the electronic drum set domain. Where the Command Mesh really differs, though, is in the depth of its Command module: a massive 671 sounds, 54 complete kits, and 20 custom kits make this set a stunning value — but Alesis doesn’t stop there! One of the best ways to improve your drumming is to record yourself playing, and the Command Mesh facilitates that greatly. An internal performance recorder coupled with a thumb drive slot means you can capture anywhere from five to 99 performances (with an external drive). Play along to WAV or MP3 files of your own or any of the Command Mesh’s 60 onboard tracks, and hear your drumming improve in no time.
Roland V-Drums TD-07DMK Electronic Drum Set
Mesh Heads Bluetooth MIDI Custom Kits DAW Ready
Next up on the Roland V-Drums totem pole is this TD-07DMK electronic drum set, and it’s a considerable step above Roland’s TD-02K kit mentioned earlier. It features all-important tunable mesh heads that facilitate natural performance as well as quiet practice. But what Sweetwater drummers really love about the TD-07DMK is its ability to send MIDI over both USB and Bluetooth. Pair this kit with a software drum sample engine (such as the renowned Toontrack Superior Drummer 3), and you’ll hear the drum sounds in your mixes go from “good” to radio-ready. The TD-07DMK is no slouch on its own, though — it features over 140 sounds across 25 factory kits plus another 25 slots for creating your own custom kits.
What About an Electronic Drum Set on a Budget?
Still deciding which kit fits your space, budget, or skill level? Let’s tackle some of the most common questions drummers ask when shopping for electronic kits.
What’s the best electronic drum set you can get on a budget?
Short Answer: Two beginner-friendly kits under $500 lead the pack.
Our current favorites at Sweetwater are the aforementioned Roland V-Drums TD-02K electronic drum set and the Alesis Nitro Max mesh electronic drum set. They check all the boxes for what we look for in a budget electronic kit: awesome sounds, plenty of onboard practice and learning tools, computer connectivity for software use, and — best of all — they both come in under $500.
Do budget kits have MIDI output?
Short answer: Yes — most budget kits send MIDI over USB.
Budget kits generally do not have dedicated 5-pin MIDI input or output. However, they can still utilize MIDI via USB to your computer.
Can parts be upgraded later?
Short answer: Pads and hardware can often be upgraded — modules less so.
Individual pads, cymbals, and hardware components (kick pedals, etc.) can often be upgraded, but not always. Additionally, the modules that come with budget electronic kits often do not receive the same updates as modules featured on higher-end kits, so the sounds and capabilities of budget kits tend to become outdated sooner.
What compromises come with budget kits?
Short answer: Fewer outputs, simpler editing, and compact stage aesthetics.
The compromises of electronic drum kits are most acutely seen when it comes to performing. First, while most budget kits offer a stereo output, ideally you want individual outputs for each pad to give you and your front-of-house engineer more routing and mixing flexibility. Second, though many budget kits provide great sounds, higher-end electronic drum kits contain pristine analog-sampled sounds as well as extremely deep editing capabilities that enable you to truly tailor sounds to your exact specifications. Finally, budget electronic kits look very much like . . . well, budget electronic kits. They usually lack the full-size shells and even real cymbals that top-of-the-line electronic drum sets offer. For band and audience members who are used to seeing a full-size drum set onstage, the aesthetics of budget electronic kits can be off-putting.
How long do budget kits last?
Short answer: Around five years of typical use, depending on play style.
This depends on several factors including how hard you play, how often you play, whether your kit stays parked in one place or moves around, and more. All things considered, we think you can reasonably expect to get approximately five years of use from your budget electronic drum set (compared to 10+ years from a professional-level electronic kit).
Do budget kits include amps or pedals?
Short answer: Pedals are common, but amplifiers are usually separate.
Budget kits usually include pedals but not amplifiers. In fact, even high-end kits don’t usually come with an amplifier (it’s worth noting that most kits, of any level, do not come with a drum throne either). However, Sweetwater offers numerous convenient bundles that include headphones, drumsticks, and a drum throne! If you’d like to explore which amplifier is best for your new kit, then please check out our inSync article, “5 Best Amps for Electronic Drums.” As always, your Sweetwater Sales Engineer is a treasure trove of information on anything related to electronic drums, headphones, amplifiers, and much more!
Are budget electronic drum kits worth it?
Short answer: Yes!
For practice, learning, and home recording, absolutely. Many drummers keep a budget electronic kit alongside their acoustic setup because of the flexibility and convenience they provide.
Ready to Get Your New Favorite Drumming Tool from Sweetwater?
Whether you’re starting your drumming journey or adding a quiet practice solution to your setup, electronic kits have never been more capable or affordable.
Do you want a silent way to practice? How about triggering exciting new sounds for the stage? Want to get adventurous with MIDI and virtual instruments in the studio? Well, no matter what you’d like to do, electronic drum sets — even entry-level kits — can handle all that and more. Many drummers who primarily play acoustic drums also have an electronic set in their homes and studios because of the incredible flexibility they provide. If you want to tap into that potential, then call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700 today!
Note: At Sweetwater, we know there’s no such thing as “best” when it comes to music gear. Every player and artist has unique tastes, which is what makes selecting gear so fun! The items on this list feature some of our favorite products from top manufacturers to help you start your buying journey! Explore these recommendations and dive into Sweetwater’s massive collection of gear on our online store. For personalized picks and expert advice, please contact our knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700!