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Hello vdrum forum members!
I'm in the process of finalizing a list of parts to build my first 'dream' edrum kit. I've gathered info from all round the internet over many months, a lot of good advice has come from vdrums in particular, thanks everyone! So the next best thing really was to make my own thread. In short, I'm looking for experienced eyes to glance over my shopping list and tell me if I've forgotten anything important or have any advice on the parts I've selected.
I have a fairly powerful PC already, small speakers, xfi sound card, (latency tested about 7ms mic jack with guitar VST) Importantly, I know I want to play the drums! - Since I’ve been using practice pads to play along to music for about a year now, time for a real kit me thinks.
Roland makes the best quality gear, no doubt about that, by which I mean the actual drums and cymbals. - I didn't think playing area (drum size) or mesh head actually mattered before I went to the shop. Now I see it as a necessity. Hell, I didn't even think looks mattered until I saw it in person.
But the sounds my edrums make were always priority 1 no matter what, and through headphones they were indeed spectacular - without any music playing, the sounds the roland kits make are represented in their best light, i.e. it's very easy to go dopey eared and think it’s great. However, I wasn’t that impressed when sitting at home and listening to MP3 previews of vexxed TD11 and TD15 modules, supposedly the best it can sound right? The vexxed TD30 is amazing though, but the COSM system only sounds acceptable (to my ears) on the TD-30.
I researched 2box heavily after that. I ruled out buying it straight away because of the looks and cymbal reviews, but the module showed promise. I had a play around creating new samples using the software. It's very simple, since I do allot of video editing and fine audio editing in my past time, I have no quims about getting the best out of the 2Box module provided I make the 32gb mod and put on the VSTs I want.
But I have doubts over their hi-hat being better than the VH-11, the sounds may be great, but the actual playability (being a musical instrument) concerns me. The engine seems really too basic I.e. No multiple hit detection, swells, no microphone adjustments, very simple effects (like EAX pre-sets) is there a compressor, tone colour? Furthermore I would have to void the warranty modding it and also spend yet more cash, putting it over the cost of the TD15. But then again the latest VST instruments are getting even more complex engines that exceed what the 2box can do with brute CPU force.
To be honest, I can only see that this PC invasion is going to continue in the future. Perhaps what 2box should have been; is actually just a laptop with ¼ jacks, a fully integrated low latency sound card and midi triggering circuitry.
So Megadrum then; spend only £195 and get positional sensing, something only the TD-20/30 can do, has all the inputs (I’ll never need a cable splitter) the internal latency is supposed to be even lower than Roland and 2box, it works with any piece of kit, that’s a huge saving right there! Is there a catch? Well, it doesn’t do anything but midi triggering and needs a computer with a sound card that can keep low latency - “But why should I spend £1800 on a device that can only be a drum module?” Is the question that keeps coming to mind, when I could have bought a laptop/surface pro 2 and have a drum module that surfs the internet. I have to purchase BFD3 anyway for its sounds to rip, and it’s not cheap… I wouldn’t feel right not using the actual program too.
Moving on, I'd be looking at Jobeky or Diamond to fulfill the drums here, depending on what I can get for the price, after all this is about piecing together a better value kit than what a new TD15KV or 2box offers, and I can get my dream drum-shells on top of that too. Otherwise I would just shop for used Roland kit – something I haven’t ruled out yet.
I'm not looking to emulate an acoustic footprint here, just the sound. I'm looking to take the best bits of what edrums are: the ability to play in silence, the ability to hook it up with a computer, the more compact profile, big sound at a low volume, etc. That is why Gen16 or Surge cymbals are out of the question for me, I need triggers on my kit, the idea being to have rubber rimmed cymbals that I can smash without destroying drum sticks. I would also like to have a floating snare drum on my kit so it’s easier to just swing around and play, hopefully without too much crosstalk. I would like it in the centre of the toms too, not off to the left like Jobeky wants.
But as my spreadsheet shows, I cannot match the Jobeky special offer with Diamond drums, although I could swap a KD-9 in place of the bass drum to make up the cost (good thing size doesn’t matter for electronic bass drums) I have even considered getting two KD-9's and 2 single speed cobras as a ridiculous idea to avoid the little compromises you get with double pedals.
So if you want to help me out with ideas, and have successfully made it past the giant wall of text written above, *My brain hurts from all this research* I welcome any suggestions, or questions! I would very much appreciate any response actually. I’m not in a rush to buy anything, you might even have something on my list for sale and I’m very up for buying used parts if I deem it trustworthy enough.
I'm in the process of finalizing a list of parts to build my first 'dream' edrum kit. I've gathered info from all round the internet over many months, a lot of good advice has come from vdrums in particular, thanks everyone! So the next best thing really was to make my own thread. In short, I'm looking for experienced eyes to glance over my shopping list and tell me if I've forgotten anything important or have any advice on the parts I've selected.
I have a fairly powerful PC already, small speakers, xfi sound card, (latency tested about 7ms mic jack with guitar VST) Importantly, I know I want to play the drums! - Since I’ve been using practice pads to play along to music for about a year now, time for a real kit me thinks.
I have made a google spreadsheet to help me plan this. Publicly viewable here
I've already done the whole “visit the music shop” thing. Had ample time playing the mainstream offerings from Yamaha and Roland (but not 2Box) originally thought I could get away with buying the TD-11K... but in person, the kit seems smaller than I thought. The TD-15KV however, I was immediately comfortable with, except however the price. My budget is under £2500.Roland makes the best quality gear, no doubt about that, by which I mean the actual drums and cymbals. - I didn't think playing area (drum size) or mesh head actually mattered before I went to the shop. Now I see it as a necessity. Hell, I didn't even think looks mattered until I saw it in person.
But the sounds my edrums make were always priority 1 no matter what, and through headphones they were indeed spectacular - without any music playing, the sounds the roland kits make are represented in their best light, i.e. it's very easy to go dopey eared and think it’s great. However, I wasn’t that impressed when sitting at home and listening to MP3 previews of vexxed TD11 and TD15 modules, supposedly the best it can sound right? The vexxed TD30 is amazing though, but the COSM system only sounds acceptable (to my ears) on the TD-30.
I am primarily looking to emulate this drumkit sound on my ekit:
I believe BFD3 has this kit sound, however If anybody knows any better, please do share your knowledge.
What I wanted therefore, since I wasn't going to be happy with any of the Roland sounds below TD30 was to get the TD-15KV and use its better pads with the TD-11 module, save a bit a money, plug it into the PC + VSTs – a setup not available to buy new. I believe BFD3 has this kit sound, however If anybody knows any better, please do share your knowledge.
I researched 2box heavily after that. I ruled out buying it straight away because of the looks and cymbal reviews, but the module showed promise. I had a play around creating new samples using the software. It's very simple, since I do allot of video editing and fine audio editing in my past time, I have no quims about getting the best out of the 2Box module provided I make the 32gb mod and put on the VSTs I want.
But I have doubts over their hi-hat being better than the VH-11, the sounds may be great, but the actual playability (being a musical instrument) concerns me. The engine seems really too basic I.e. No multiple hit detection, swells, no microphone adjustments, very simple effects (like EAX pre-sets) is there a compressor, tone colour? Furthermore I would have to void the warranty modding it and also spend yet more cash, putting it over the cost of the TD15. But then again the latest VST instruments are getting even more complex engines that exceed what the 2box can do with brute CPU force.
To be honest, I can only see that this PC invasion is going to continue in the future. Perhaps what 2box should have been; is actually just a laptop with ¼ jacks, a fully integrated low latency sound card and midi triggering circuitry.
So Megadrum then; spend only £195 and get positional sensing, something only the TD-20/30 can do, has all the inputs (I’ll never need a cable splitter) the internal latency is supposed to be even lower than Roland and 2box, it works with any piece of kit, that’s a huge saving right there! Is there a catch? Well, it doesn’t do anything but midi triggering and needs a computer with a sound card that can keep low latency - “But why should I spend £1800 on a device that can only be a drum module?” Is the question that keeps coming to mind, when I could have bought a laptop/surface pro 2 and have a drum module that surfs the internet. I have to purchase BFD3 anyway for its sounds to rip, and it’s not cheap… I wouldn’t feel right not using the actual program too.
Moving on, I'd be looking at Jobeky or Diamond to fulfill the drums here, depending on what I can get for the price, after all this is about piecing together a better value kit than what a new TD15KV or 2box offers, and I can get my dream drum-shells on top of that too. Otherwise I would just shop for used Roland kit – something I haven’t ruled out yet.
I'm not looking to emulate an acoustic footprint here, just the sound. I'm looking to take the best bits of what edrums are: the ability to play in silence, the ability to hook it up with a computer, the more compact profile, big sound at a low volume, etc. That is why Gen16 or Surge cymbals are out of the question for me, I need triggers on my kit, the idea being to have rubber rimmed cymbals that I can smash without destroying drum sticks. I would also like to have a floating snare drum on my kit so it’s easier to just swing around and play, hopefully without too much crosstalk. I would like it in the centre of the toms too, not off to the left like Jobeky wants.
But as my spreadsheet shows, I cannot match the Jobeky special offer with Diamond drums, although I could swap a KD-9 in place of the bass drum to make up the cost (good thing size doesn’t matter for electronic bass drums) I have even considered getting two KD-9's and 2 single speed cobras as a ridiculous idea to avoid the little compromises you get with double pedals.
So if you want to help me out with ideas, and have successfully made it past the giant wall of text written above, *My brain hurts from all this research* I welcome any suggestions, or questions! I would very much appreciate any response actually. I’m not in a rush to buy anything, you might even have something on my list for sale and I’m very up for buying used parts if I deem it trustworthy enough.
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