How were electronic drums first developed?
To begin with, electronic drum sounds were only intended to provide a supplement to acoustic drums and cymbals. Over the years, however, these drums have established themselves as a category all of their own, and modern electronic drum kits are designed with the aim of replicating the sound of an acoustic kit as closely as possible. And wherever an acoustic drum kit would be too loud, such as rented apartments, churches, and music schools that don't have sound-proofing, an electronic drum kit is the ideal solution and allows drummers to play and practise with a fully authentic playing feel without disturbing the peace!
How does an electronic drum kit work?
An electronic drum kit is equipped with a sound module on which the sounds are stored. When the individual drum and cymbal pads are struck, their built-in triggers generate a digital signal, and the force with which the pad is struck (e.g. soft, medium, or hard) determines the volume and dynamics of the sound that is produced from this signal. Most electronic drum kits in the higher price categories are equipped with multiple triggers on each pad, and these not only cover different dynamic levels but also replicate the different zones of a drum head or cymbal, making the electronic kit play and sound even more like a real acoustic kit.
What are the main components of an electronic drum kit?
While their acoustic counterparts generally involve a large number of different stands, the use of a central rack, which is most commonly made from aluminium tubing joined together using plastic fixtures, has become the predominant solution for electronic drum kits. All of the kit's components are attached to the rack using individual mounts, which ensures a compact and neat-looking setup. Some smaller sets can also be folded together (rack and all) and stored away in any convenient small space.
The drums used in an electronic kit are referred to as "drum pads", which are designated according to the type of drum they are designed to sound like, e.g. snare pad or tom pad and bass drum pad, sometimes referred to as the "kick drum pad". The pads are equipped either with a rubber playing surface or a tensionable mesh head. The latter is the quieter of the two variants and thus produces less noise when playing and practising. The bass drum and hi-hat pads are often played using either a conventional bass drum pedal and hi-hat stand, as found on an acoustic kit, though many manufacturers opt instead for pedals with an integrated kick trigger for the bass drum and a sensor system for the hi-hat, thus also reducing the noise generated when the pedal is used.
The core of any electronic drum kit is the sound module, which is not only responsible for the generation of the sounds but also allows the user to adjust the key parameters, such as the selection of the sounds themselves, the volume of the individual pads, and the sensitivity of the triggers. Higher-priced sound modules additionally offer numerous extra settings and options.
By connecting a pair of headphones to their electronic drum kit, players can practise undisturbed, but to "play loud" so that others can hear the drum sounds, a drum monitor speaker will be needed. What is more, every modern electronic drum module (even at the lower end of the price spectrum) features a USB hub that can be used to communicate with a PC or laptop, e.g. for recording to an audio software programme.
The components of an electronic drum kit are connected together using a cable harness, which is also included in the scope of delivery. Each connector will have an individual colour and number, which helps to ensure that the each one is connected to the correct socket on the sound module.
How is an electronic drum kit assembled?
Most electronic drums come in very compact packaging. Once the rack has been assembled and the various mounts have been put in place, the drum pads, cymbal pads, and sound module are attached. The height of the bass drum pad can generally also be adjusted to suit the player's sitting position and the length of their legs. The connectors on the cable harness are next plugged into the respective sockets on the pads and the sound module, and finally the power supply is connected to the mains outlet. All that remains is to put the headphones on and pick up the sticks, and it's time to drum! The kit's instruction manual should hopefully answer any other questions that might come up, but if not, expert advice is also available via the Thomann hotline.
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