Musician Forum - Band Discussion Board - BandMix

Electonic Drum sets vs miced acoustic:
Our drummer just bought and started using an electronic set. It makes the live set up much easer less feedback greater sound control and volume thru my PA. What do you think ?

Personally I like them … for all the reasons you stated. Plus you have better control over the stage mix and volume.

I am assuming when you say "Acoustic" drum set you are referring to regular drums. I would think, and this is a guitarist perception, that regular drums are nicer. Why? Well even though they are not so easily controlled, they offer more of a realistic drum tone. What I mean by realistic is that it is not synthesized, or amp control, it is pure and real.

That would be just what I would think, but I am sure some of our drumming experts around here will chime in. They know better than me. It is an interesting question.

Peace out, GuitarAnatomy.

An interesting perspective GA. Thanks for your opinion. We practiced with them last night for the first time. The odd thing for me was to have all the sound coming from the monitors and mains not from behind or beside me as before. we are going to try them out at the gig we have on wednesday night. hope it goes well.

I gotta tell ya George, Real drums just seem more "live" to me. Most venues I've played over the years didn't require miking the kit, with the exception of the kick drum . I'm sure the electronic drums will be O.K., as long as they're plugged into an adequate sound system.

Thanks John: Thus far we have only played outdoors and large Church sanctuary. At the Church we played thru their system so they controled the volume and our drummer used their set that was miced into thier system. Started out with the usual smattering of equipment Line 6 and Ibanez amps. Grew into a Behrenger PA. Then I purchased a 1200w Carvin PA with two 400w mains use two 300w Yamaha monitors. I am not experienced or knowlegable about musical equipment. But Im learning.
I remain open to all thoughts and opinions on these matters.
And I enjoyed your musical posting, I,m a sucker for a good blues beat.

sanshouheil wrote:An interesting perspective GA. Thanks for your opinion. We practiced with them last night for the first time. The odd thing for me was to have all the sound coming from the monitors and mains not from behind or beside me as before. we are going to try them out at the gig we have on wednesday night. hope it goes well.

Thank you. Yes, I know what you mean, and I am not even in a band, lol. I would prefer natural (Acoustic) drums. I think the electronics would screw me up, especially with what you are saying about the sound coming from the monitors as opposed to from the drums themselves.

Besides, what fun is there playing to a drummer if the sound is not emanating from right in front of you? Lol.

I hope your gig with the electronic drums goes well Wednesday. Keep me up to post on how it goes, and good luck!

Peace out, GuitarAnatomy.

Acoustic drums with DDrum triggers to a drum synth module ran through PA. Best of both worlds....

Most drummers I've talked to seem to like electronic drums ok except for the snare sounds, so they tend to use an acoustic snare and the rest electronic. The biggest complaint most have is that they don't feel quite the same. Same as with practice pads, it's not easy to get a rubber pad to respond to a drumstick the same way a stretched drum head does.So they feel different. Many drummers don't like that, but get accustomed to it.

From playing onstage with both, I tend to agree. Good quality electronic drums can get some really good sound, but the snare sound is usually just not quite "there" for some reason. So the sets I've seen drummers use mostly have acoustic snares.

Yes our drummer has said his wrists were sore due to lack of rebound.

was moving away. he already had his accoustic drums packed and brought electric drums to the gig. It was easily the WORST gig I ever did. It just doesn't mix with the blues. Electric drums might be great for certain genres of music or certain drummers who are very familiar with them, but that night it was AWFUL. I also auditioned a few weeks ago to play with a very well-known guitar player and the drummer had electric drums set up. Man, it just doesn't work with the way I play and what I play. ANyway I hope it works out for you better than it did for us. Later...

Ok, we played wednesday night at a youth group function for one of the local Churches. Steve had a chance to customise the elec. drum set the way he wanted them set up. set up in the auditorium was <40 min with sound check. Other than Ray bustin a string all went well. I had no feedback problems at all. I attribute this to the elemination of 7 mics for the drums. Mind you, I am no pro sound man. got lots of applause, I like that feeling. After the show one of the Ladies over the youth group was very excited and said we were GREAT (aw shucks). Had it torn down and in trailer <30 min. Yes not hte same feel as traditional drums, but I thought it was really cool.

Hey man, if it works for your band, stick with it. Do whatever is most comfortable for you guys. That is cool that the one of the youth group came over and said you guys were great.

Peace out and good luck, GuitarAnatomy.

Actually It was one of the Adults, she was very complamentary. I think she may be a closet rocker. Come out of there, its ok, YEA BABY YEA.
Steve wants to experiment with alternating between the elect. and the "real" drums. I am all for it. Hope to have some music to post for you guys to trash for me soon.
These guys may not agree on much, but you gota respect the REAL.

Lol, yeah, a closet rocker. You know, I say if you are a rocker, period, just let it all out!

I could never hide the fact I love rock unless I was at some snobs ballroom dance...

Yeah man, that is a good idea, go back and forth between them (The drums that is), that is cool. Let us all know when you get some stuff uploaded, it would be awesome to hear.

Peace out, GuitarAnatomy.