Finally got around to setting up my E-Drum Kit

[dominus]

Not quite finished with it, still need to build the toms and snare. The Alesis pads are just temporary, I'll be replacing them with mesh head pads when I get around to building them. The third tom is actually the original kick pad that I took apart and rigged a bracket for, hence the missing ring. The rack is from an Alesis DM10 Pro kit, fairly heavy duty, and I put a spare leg from a Roland kit on one end for stability. I might add another kick pad and single pedal.

All the cymbals are converted acoustics. (Noise dampened and piezo sensors installed.) The cymbals range in size from 12 inches to 18 inches, and you can hit them anywhere, much nicer than the standard 8 inch plastic pads with rubber target zones. (I could have used a few more 18s for crashes and a 20 for the ride but decided to save space and have more pieces.) I went with cheaper cymbals as I wasn't too concerned with how they sounded.

Currently using an Alesis Trigger I/O, might eventually get one of the MegaDrum units, although I think this kit will suffice for now. Not to mention I don't think I could squeeze any more cymbals into this and still be able to hit them without stretching.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Finally got around to setting up my E-Drum Kit

Nice!

How do you have the cymbals triggered?

 

[dominus]

Re: Finally got around to setting up my E-Drum Kit

I've got the Alesis Trigger I/O going into the computer, using Superior Drummer.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Finally got around to setting up my E-Drum Kit

That's a ridiculous amount of cymbals already, you need a ride.

 

[dominus]

Re: Finally got around to setting up my E-Drum Kit

That's a ridiculous amount of cymbals already, you need a ride.

Right hand side, the 16" cymbal just above the 4th tom.


Ridiculous is 5 china cymbals:

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Finally got around to setting up my E-Drum Kit

That's super nice. I see things people do amazing things and wonder where the heck did they learn how to do that!

So now you can drum right straight into the DAW ... and then, I suppose, clean it up and quantize if necessary?

 

[dominus]

Re: Finally got around to setting up my E-Drum Kit

That's super nice. I see things people do amazing things and wonder where the heck did they learn how to do that!

So now you can drum right straight into the DAW ... and then, I suppose, clean it up and quantize if necessary?

Not only that, but replace kit pieces if it doesn't fit in the mix. I may like a snare by itself but it might not work with a song. Pull that one out and put another one in, takes a second.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Finally got around to setting up my E-Drum Kit

Not only that, but replace kit pieces if it doesn't fit in the mix. I may like a snare by itself but it might not work with a song. Pull that one out and put another one in, takes a second.

That's exactly what we've been doing with what my band has been recording.

Sent from my Moto X 2014 using Tapatalk

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Finally got around to setting up my E-Drum Kit

You need more cymbals
Nice idea!

 

[dominus]

Re: Finally got around to setting up my E-Drum Kit

You need more cymbals
Nice idea!

I think I've hit my limit on inputs for the trigger I/O, so I'd need another one. I'd also need some more clamps and cymbal mounting arms.. and more space.. and probably longer arms to reach everything, unless I start mounting cymbals hanging down like on Atomic Steif's kit here at about 30 seconds in:







I'm am thinking about swapping the cymbal above tom 3 for the ride cymbal above tom 4.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Finally got around to setting up my E-Drum Kit

I'd have some fun with that! I'd have to have a little splash though, and a cowbell. Can you "catch" them with triggers on them?

I don't think I've heard more cymbal stops in an intro than toxic trace:

 

[dominus]

Re: Finally got around to setting up my E-Drum Kit

I'd have some fun with that! I'd have to have a little splash though, and a cowbell.

I think I could make an E-Cowbell easily enough, just have to figure out where/how to dampen it. I do have a couple of splash cymbals here. I need to check the garage and see if I have any more clamps and mounts. I did order another module today so I could expand a little bit. (Also ordered a single kick pedal.) I think one of the inputs on my Trigger I/O is dead and I bought it used w/o a warranty. (Granted, what I saved on a new one will pay for a module with 10 more inputs. )

Can you "catch" them with triggers on them?

Yes, you can build them with chokes if you want. A little more complicated, and the module/brain you use has to support them. What I *might* do is add one or two cymbals and map them to a choked cymbal sound. Cheating, yes, but much easier.

 

[DankStar]

Re: Finally got around to setting up my E-Drum Kit

I couldn't survive without a couple of chokes on the kit, I love the sound of that with a kick drum.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Finally got around to setting up my E-Drum Kit

excellent

 

[ginormous]

Re: Finally got around to setting up my E-Drum Kit

What's your go-to "getting started" drum sound? Is it a standard one from the Alesis, or did you load in samples?

 

[dominus]

Re: Finally got around to setting up my E-Drum Kit

What's your go-to "getting started" drum sound? Is it a standard one from the Alesis, or did you load in samples?

The Alesis Trigger I/O is just an audio to MIDI converter, it doesn't have built in sounds. I sold the Alesis DM10 module when I got the drum kit. (Sold the surge cymbals too, so I actually paid nothing for the rack and toms/snare. The cymbals I'm using now were *very* cheap, and I figured out a really cheap way to build the sensors and dampen the cymbals.) I've got another module on the way (paid $60 for this one) that I'll be using the same way so I'll have 28 mono inputs total, should give me plenty of room.

I've been really liking the Metal Machinery expansion from Toontrack's Superior Drummer.

 

[AmirH]

Re: Finally got around to setting up my E-Drum Kit

Wow -- I should tell my cousin about this. I bet the feel of those cymbals is way better than a typical electronic cymbal. How loud are they with the dampers? Apartment playable? Love the ingenuity!

 

[dominus]

Re: Finally got around to setting up my E-Drum Kit

Wow -- I should tell my cousin about this. I bet the feel of those cymbals is way better than a typical electronic cymbal. How loud are they with the dampers? Apartment playable? Love the ingenuity!

Take a cymbal, place it on thick carpet. Hit it with a stick. That's about how loud it is. There's a definite "tunk" sound, but it's probably just as loud as a rubber covered plastic one. The bounce back is WAY different too.

 

[everdrone]

Re: Finally got around to setting up my E-Drum Kit

thats sick! I ve been wanting to do that. fun stuff

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Finally got around to setting up my E-Drum Kit

Very, very cool!

How did you dampen the cymbals? Do you have any photos of that? How do they sound in-room when dampened?