A True Convert

[Lexicon]

So I had been away from drumming for about 10 years until recently when I bought my TD-6sxt. I've been really enjoying it and I'm feeling like I'm finally getting some technique back. Tonight I went to my brother's recording studio and played the DW kit he has there. I don't think I'll ever play acoustic drums again. I'm so used to the compact feel of the Vdrums the normal sized kit felt almost unplayable. The 14 inch snare felt like riding an elephant and I had to extend my double pedal to accomodate it. That forced the high hat stand way to the left and that felt like crap. I'm so used to the dead feel of my KD-8 that the big bass drum with a regular head felt really strange and not in a good way. Now I'm not so sure I was to do an a-to-e bass drum conversion.

Overall it was not as fun an experience as I remember from my days of playing acoustics. Granted my last kit was a more fusion size rather than a standard rock kit but the Vdrums just feel very natural to me now. I also forgot how damn loud acoustics are. Obviously a lighter touch helps but the ability to simply turn everything down is priceless. I will definitely be bringing my own kit next time. He's got a nice PA to run it through so that will be my first amplified Vdrum experience. I can't wait.

[drumslinger50]

Well said, my wife brought home a nice 5 piece acoustic set from a bargin shop last week. Damn, they are loud and the tone is just yuk! I tuned them in the morning and by 5:00 PM the sounded like cardboard, the next day it rained and they sounded like half full water balloons. They go up on ebay as soon as I get back from this band road trip. Long live V-Drums!

[stickinthemud]

I think if I had the space and the money that I would want to keep an acoustic kit around to keep my chops up on it. You never know when you will have to sit behind one, and I would hate to think I would embarass myself should that occur.

Still, I know what you mean. I had to play on an acoustic for a few rehearsals with a band I was in and as you said, Lexicon, everything was soooo spread out! It was someone else's kit, so I couldn't do a lot of repositioning. And the cymbals sounded pretty awful, even though they were good brands. Having to play a whole set with the same kit sound was not fun either.

As I have admitted elsewhere, I am not good at tuning drums, and edrums solve that problem for me nicely!

While playing acoustics is very rewarding in terms of dynamics and nuance, it's a good deal more physically demanding, especially if you are competing with amplifiers. I'm sure there are a lot of drummers like me who are looking forward to playing well into their dotage thanks to edrums.

[Lexicon]

I don't mind having a kit that sounds the same all of time and, in fact, I tend to use the same kit on my Vdrums quite a lot. My main issue with the acoustics is the overall rough, uncontrolled sound. Obviously that has a place in drumming, but I've come to really appreciate the polished sound that comes from the Vdrums. I've seen a bunch of posts here from people asking how to get a more natural acoustic sound from their Vs and what I say to that is: don't try. Just enjoy the clean, produced studio sounds that are available. A guitarist, bass player or keyboard player can play live and yet still have a very polished sound. With drums that just doesn't happen unless you're playing in the studio or a live setting with everything miked and with good stage monitoring.

I'll probably still do my a-to-e bass drum conversion but I'm going to experiment with whatever is necessary to get that KD-8 sort of feel. The 18" size I'm planning to use with probably help a bit. Maybe I'll just find a way to mount the KD-8 right inside the drum. Suggestions welcome. I'm also going to invest in some decent amplification as soon as it becomes necessary.

Thank you to all who participate in this site I've learned a ton in the last couple of months and as I said in the title of this thread: I'm now a true convert to Vdrums.

[Michael Render]

I'm going to experiment with whatever is necessary to get that KD-8 sort of feel.

I would just shove a big ol' pillow into it. That will replicate the feel of the KD-8 pretty well.

[V(ader)DRUMMER]

While playing acoustics is very rewarding in terms of dynamics and nuance, it's a good deal more physically demanding, especially if you are competing with amplifiers.

Very true. I've recently started rehearsing with a rock band using my a-kit and trying to cut through over two guitarists, one of which apparently knows no other volume level other than LOUD. I can really tell I'm having to work harder behind the a-kit than I usually do with the e-kit.

[hampis]

i am using both vdrums and adrums,v for practice at home and a for the rehearsals in the studio (they r not mine).i used to carry the vdrums to the studio twice a week and set the kit up in 10-15 minutes.The last 2 months i don't take them anymore because i have realised i get more fun with the a.
Although the sound is not the best (a cheap yamaha kit) and 2 crappy cymb and a ride the overall feeling of jamming with real instruments is different.The other menbers play louder u play louder (not necessary better) and u end banging your head.it doesn't have to do with the volume i just get more satisfaction in the end.i think it's better for a drummer to play both

so if i had the room and i didn;t have neighbours i would defenetaly get an accoustic set.And that Drum Workshop kit u don;t like is always in my wishlist

btw i used to have a pearl kit when i was 16 and sold it so i could get an expensive present for my girlfriend.Such an idiot......

[Lexicon]

I've got you beat on the acoustic kit I've kicked myself for getting rid of. When I graduated from college I started playing with a metal band in the area I grew up in and pickup a Tama Starclassic Maple in the honey gold color with all custom sizes. I think if I had that kit back I'd be feeling very different about acoustic drums now. It had a very punchy, controlled sound. That 20x18 inch kick sounded amazing and I had a Pearl maple floating head snare in the 6.5x14 inch size. Best snare sound I've ever heard.

That was before all of the drum companies started offering these fusion kits and these guys almost died laughing when I set it up for the first time. Then I played it and they were blown away by how good it sounded. They all expected me to get a big kick with deep power toms like the bands they grew up listening to. I think their reaction to that kit was much the same as what people describe regarding the reaction to Vdrums. "What's with that toy."

[jammin777]

V drums are a true blessing, it is so nice to have this killer kit and be able to play anywhere any time without overpowering causing disturbance. A drums are very hard to control in a small place where volume is a concern. + thay sound great!
on the flip side, if i were in a band playing large venues such as arenas,with a killer sound system, i think i would choose A's but would have to try both first.

[Stingo RAH]

I play A's live and E's in the studio & for practice atm. I used to play a hybrid 17 piece kit of both 15 years ago, the e's always used to kill my arms & wrists but being able to trigger ANY SOUND i wanted (from my sampler & drum modules) was well worth it even if the dynamics & expression sucked, although i did use alot of samples and short 1/4 & 1/2 bar loops at a fixed velocity, triggering conga, tabla, etc phrases that i then played over. All great fun BUT These days and using a tdw-20 it's like heaven playing the e's and when i get back on the a's it's hard work, not that i mind but i sure can't play with the ease that i can on the e's. I'm planning on taking the e's out for a jam soon and putting them through the rig. It'll be interesting to see how they compare to the a's when used live. Will i still end up killing my arms & wrists? I don't think so oh and all those lovely tdw-20 sounds mmmmmm it should be fun

[John.b]

I would just shove a big ol' pillow into it. That will replicate the feel of the KD-8 pretty well.

Spot on mate. Thats the way to do it. No over-ring. just a good solid thump. In used a cushion sized lump of foam rubber.