Playing in a live environment

So, there’s no doubt that when it comes to playing live, on a stage the acoustic drum kit is in its element. Plenty of space to set the kit up, and the freedom to crank the volume. The Acoustic drum kit in its current form has been doing just fine for over 100 years, so there’s no problem here.

Electronic kits vary greatly. The Roland V-Drums TD-4KP folds down for transporting and can be setup in a hurry. On the other hand, something like Roland’s flagship TD-50 takes up at least as much room, if not more than a traditional kit. And the setup can take a fair bit of time too. With a wiring loom as thick as your arm, there’s a lot to a TD-50. That being said, it offers a lot too.

With pro players using electric kits for live and studio work, there are obviously some key advantages that make the setup process worthwhile. Upload your own samples, layer them on top of each other, or existing samples, and customise where your triggers are and what they do. Create loops on the fly and tweak every single element of your kit. That versatile!

There’s another key bonus with electric drums live too, and that comes down to the mix on and off stage. Whilst gigs are renowned for being loud, with an electronic kit, there’s no reason for the stage environment to be too loud. In fact, an electric kit gives every member of the band complete control over their monitoring. An acoustic kit famously floods the stage with its presence, but an electronic kit can be made near-silent on stage and only played back through select monitors. This is a game-changer, both for the hearing and sanity of your band. It also means the sound guy can perfectly balance the overall sound easily – something that, in smaller venues, has historically been difficult.

Recording an acoustic kit isn’t easy. You need an armoury full of decent microphones, an acoustically-treated room, a multi-channel mixer and a drummer who can consistently play to a click. The result usually depends on the audio engineer and the drummer. If they’re not on their game, it will show! Although a well-recorded kit is a wonderful thing – think “When the Levee Breaks” by Led Zeppelin, or “Vultures” by John Mayer.

Electronic drums really start to come into their own here. Whether you want to take a direct line out or use the kit to trigger software samples, you’re going to love the freedom it will give you. If the drums weren’t quite right, you can dive back into a midi file and change them later. You don’t have to treat the room you record in – in fact you can record even in your bedroom! And if the snare sound you used isn’t cutting through the mix, it doesn’t matter, swap it out for another sample during the mixing process.

We’ve looked at the pros and cons of live and studio work, but you need to work out what suits your style and ability.

Both electronic kits and acoustic kits come in a wide range of price-points. The easy to transport and quick to setup Alesis DM Lite is a highly-affordable kit, and although it’s more of a beginner’s kit, it's perfect for home use with a plethora of built-in practice tools and clever features.

In contrast to this, the Mapex Tornado Fusion Kit includes everything you’d need to get started for around £300! At the other end of the scale, Roland’s TD-50 and the Alesis Strike Pro take on the likes of the PearlMasterworks kits.

If you’re a pro-level drummer, then this probably isn’t your first kit. Which means you’re looking for something to compliment your current gear. Assuming your go-to kit is an acoustic kit, what could an electric kit add to the mix?

There are the advantages for recording, but more importantly, there’s the flexibility of sounds and samples that electronic kits give you. If you want to play with dub-style effects or play on EDM (electronic dance music) tracks, an acoustic kit just won’t cut it. And there’s always the possibility of a hybrid kit!

Acoustic kits are perfect for jazz, rock and metal. But when it comes to Urban, EDM and Pop music, a session player will be expected to be able to find samples and sounds outside the usual remit of an acoustic kit. This is why adding an electric kit to your arsenal is a no-brainer - if you’re doing that kind of work.

Beginners

Electric kits are a great place to start if you're learning. Practice in near-silence at home, and be ready for your moment in the spotlight without driving your family nuts. And thanks to some amazing extra features (looping, recording, metronomes, light-up pads and more) Hope you found this information useful and check out our on-line of suggested gear.

In general, electronic kits have come a seriously long way. Are they a replacement for acoustic kits? Well, no. And I think manufacturers have realised this now – they have a different purpose. In the same way that an electric guitar isn’t a substitute for an acoustic guitar. The two types of kit are becoming their own entities.

There’s no doubt that as a working session drummer, having both to hand is a very wise, if not essential decision. If you’re looking for a beginner's practice kit, electric is a great way to go. However, if you can play already, but you’re looking for a kit to do everything (gigging, recording and practice), you’ll have to think hard about the genres and venues you play before you make your decision.