[Suggestions] Some helpful tool for the beginners?

[hairmetal-81]

So, if you allow me to brag a little bit, with roughly 2000 posts now, I wanted to do something helpful for the beginning e-drummers, a tool for those who search for their first electronic drumkit.


How about:

a) a flow-chart
b) a questionnaire


What are your thoughts or suggestions about this?

[Kenster]

I think that would be cool, with a disclaimer the whole thing is based on Forum member majority OPINIONS, and that their actual mileage may vary.

K ;-)

[Tommy_D]

If you want to get something done, you just got take the reigns and do it. I have been trying to put together a master tuning thread where discussions about module tuning can happen, but its slim pickings on the discussion end. My TD-30 trigger setup guide seems to get some good use, but I haven't had much time to work on other tuning guides as of lately. Been too busy working on other projects.

I'm not sure how much discussion you will have on these flow charts, so its best to have a pretty through chart put together and have people make comments on filling in anything you missed. That way you have control of the chart and can keep it updated in the first post for easy reference to anyone.

[hairmetal-81]

I very welcome your input, Tom & Ken!
In certain aspects I'm still a tad hazy. That must've been the main reason I ask for suggestions first.
After all, I want to put the right questions on that flow chart, ...and in the right order!

Things like:
A) "What's your budget?"
B) "Are you willing to buy used?"
C) "Full kit or just the module?"
D) "Mesh or Rubber?"

...and then which one goes first?
'Budget' before 'New or used'... or should this be vice-versa?

Ultimately, I'll not only suggest several choices at several different price-points, but will have to do this for both new and used. We'll want to be thorough, that's for sure!

[Oenone]

As someone who was in that position pretty recently, that would have been awesome. I had no idea about what I was buying and was at the mercy of the sales assistants. Not cool! The result being that I'm due to get my third kit (in about 4-5 years) very soon. This one I'm sure I'll be happy with!

Mesh or rubber wouldn't have meant much to me then though, I was just going on suggestions.

[bwilburn79]

HM, I think your concept is a good one. If you have the means and ability to do so, you could consider putting up a website. For ease of maintenance, you could create a online database containing information about various e-drum kits, modules, and individual triggers. Then you could create an online questionnaire that would function like the flowchart you're envisioning. A query could be built from the users answers and the applicable results returned from the database. This goes beyond the scope of what you've suggested so far, but I like to think BIG.

[airflamesred]

Flow chart, I like that.

[hairmetal-81]

In between hunting for Musikmesse rumours, rehashing (seemingly endless) NAMM news and re-coloring (visual) 2box kits, I found some time to develop on this further!


This is the first (...maybe rough) sketch:





The Questionnaire:


What's your technical skill level?

[ ] Absolute Beginner (without any prior knowledge)
[ ] Beginner (with a few notions)
[ ] Inrtermediate (with some knowledge)
[ ] Advanced (with knowledge)
[ ] Professional (with particular wishes and requirements)
[ ] Other (please specify)


I've been playing drums for _____ year(s).



Do you already have a kit?

[ ] I already own an acoustic kit
[ ] I already own an electronic kit
[ ] I don't yet own a kit
[ ] I owned one or several kits before and looking for a new one
[ ] I already have a module (please specify)
[ ] I already have some pads I want to use (please specify)
[ ] I already have some hardware pieces


What are you looking for?

[ ] Complete kit
[ ] Shellset
[ ] Shellset with hardware
[ ] Module only
[ ] Multi Pad
[ ] A-to-E Conversion
[ ] Other (please specify)


What do you need it for?

[ ] As a solid gigging kit
[ ] Something to play VSTs thru
[ ] Recording only
[ ] Practice kit
[ ] Home noodler
[ ] Other (please specify)


Do you need a Sampling-option and/or internal sounds?

[ ] I want to load in my own samples
[ ] I need internal sounds
[ ] I don't need sounds, just something to control MIDI
[ ] Other (please specify)




What's your budget?

[ ] $ 0-500
[ ] $ 500-1000
[ ] $ 1000-1500
[ ] $ 1500-2000
[ ] $ 2000-3000
[ ] $ 3000-4000
[ ] $ 5000 and beyond


[ ] Buying used is an option
[ ] I'd prefer buying new
[ ] Both options are okay with me
[ ] Other (please specify)


[ ] Buying piece-by-piece is an option
[ ] I'd prefer buying all at once



What music do you play?

[ ] I'm playing preferably Rock / Metal
[ ] I'm playing Rock / Pop
[ ] I'm playing Jazz
[ ] I prefer an allround-kit
[ ] Other (please specify)






Suggestions, Opinions and Remarks welcome!

[ohlarikd]

This is a monumental undertaking... run away!

I think one problem with this idea is that people don't initially know exactly what they want, but they think they do. And things quickly change, GAS hits... so many variables... Budgets change, money is 'found', things are sold... I can see this being very tough! Not trying to detract from a good idea, but wow my head hurts just thinking about what this flowchart would look like!

[hairmetal-81]

Thanks Derek! I much appreciate your input!

I don't fear the variables so much, more the fact that I want to include all that's needed, without getting everything 'bloated' unnecessary.
I don't have a problem with a 'Noob' that wants a TD-30KV at the price of a HD-3, this will simply result in a major 'wakeup call', cutting him down to size with good intentions.

The roughest part of the flowchart will be spell-checking, quoting somewhat accurate prices, and most importantly, what software to choose to pull this off. I'm scared if I had to do this with Microsoft's 'Word'..
.


The flowchart will be 'Step two', however! I will want to make sure everything is in place first, so I can 'savely' (ahem...) roll it into the flowchart - that's why I started with a (somewhat simpler) Questionnaire.

At the moment I'm looking at having good questions, and all necessary ones asked, and what 'chunks' to offer forthe 'What's your budget' question, offering answers that are split into sensible categories to fill your X in.

[Oenone]

Suggestions, Opinions and Remarks welcome!

This pretty much covers most things I think. My only suggestion with what you have currently would be adding an option in between these:
[ ] Absolute Beginner (without any prior knowledge)
[ ] Advanced (with knowledge)

An intermediate option maybe? Not that it really matters for the purpose of buying a kit I guess, but when I said beginner before starting lessons my teacher expected me not to know what anything was or how to play anything at all. That wasn't the case but I definitely wouldn't have said advanced. If you're suggesting different kits for different skill levels I'd still probably check beginner over advanced because I'd be worried that I'd end up with something above my skill level to deal with.

What I would personally want to know is how easy to use it is. I'd generally prefer a plug in and play option (I am still trying to get my Gen 16s right!), rather than needing to fiddle and tweak for ages to get things right. Maybe that's something to consider? If you're happy to fiddle with settings for a while or if you just want to turn it on and be done with it. I'm not sure how you would word that though.

[hairmetal-81]

Thanks for the input, Kaiju!

I thought 'intermediate' and 'advanced' were basically meaning the same... I may have problems with the translation here, though!

My initial thinking behind this was to avoid the (...rather over-exaggerated, extreme) example of put a TD-30 module in front of an absolute unknowing beginner, basically completely overwhelming the person. THat's not the idea here...

[hairmetal-81]

Reworked the Questionnare's prices and added the suggestions by Oenone. I'm planning to copy this into a new thread, eventually ... if no more suggestions come in. Further suggestions welcome!


HTH

[mrfrench]

Hi Hairmetal - Danoh - Effectively an awesome undertaking - but really appreciated.
I would echo Oenone's comments and I too was in a similar situation just last September - went out and bought a TD11 mainly due to price and my lack of dumming ability, but had no real idea what it was or what I was getting into. Now I read about 2nd-hand TD9s maybe being a better deal... To give perspective, I'm an (oldish) beginner (maybe that has it's own category?) -> see thread "Is drumming forever.." in The Foyer. But beginning to understand what GAS might mean. As an example of useful info needed, I now need some kind of monitor that would allow me to hear the racket I'm making without breaking the bank but capable of doing other things, like small PA.. piano.. (And yes, I have read a lot of the threads of the issue). Back to the point.
I would therefore add (as Oneone says) an option in between these:
[ ] Absolute Beginner (without any prior knowledge)
[ ] Advanced (with knowledge)
Actually I'd probably add two :
+ [ ] Beginner (with a few notions)
+ [ ] Inrtermediate (with some knowledge) and by "knowledge" are we talking about drumming ability, or electronics ability ?
And, in an ideal world (one can dream - how much are you getting paid for this?), maybe yet another category : age v. electronics motivation/ability !
Young (or even old?) geeks (no offence) are gonna be interested in and will probably understand techno-babble I suspect a lot more than my generation (see "Old people and electronics" thread - funny).
And how do you distinguish between hardened "tweakers" and those who just wanna play - regardless of their techno literacy. You get the picture, too much technical detail while passionate for some, is bound to lose others.
Anyway just some ideas from somone with "beginner".. umm.. experience ?

Incidentally, you really in Switzerland? In which case we're sort of neighbours (Lyon, France). Gotta go.
But balls to you - great idea !

[hairmetal-81]

Thanks for your suggestions, MrFrench! (Sent you a PM), I will try to incorporate your suggestions into the Questionnaire. The 'Knowledge' part is meant as 'electronics- or technical ability', not so much drumming ability. I see now that I have a conflict there, so I plan on making that more clear!


Maybe I should give separate multiple-choice options for each, 'drumming ability' and 'technical ability'...?


I gotta rethink that part!