E-kits/setups on parade

For those of you with ELECTRONIC kits (Like Roland, Alesis,Hart etc)... I'd like to see those specifically.

I am augmenting my kit with electronic pads. Right now, it could be some original Simmons or Tama techstar pads with an alesis dm-5 brain. This is specifically to emulate the 80's sounds like the old technopop, Rush and King Crimson material.

I considered a multipad (Maybe roland spd-s), but used stuff is much cheaper for this purpose. I understand Hart dynamics discontinued the multipad, which would also serve my purpose.

EDIT: I just looked at Hope drums site, and I am not going to drop $1,200 on a set of pad for this purpose. I am trying to keep the economic, and if possible: authentic sounding. I do prefer the 16 bit+ brains to the 8 bit anyway. I found a Pintech kit with rubberized pads and a DM-5 brain that will also work just fine.

Pics and ideas appreciated.

Tama techstar

Simmons hexagonal pads:

For those of you with ELECTRONIC kits (Like Roland, Alesis,Hart etc)... I'd like to see those specifically. I am augmenting my kit with electronic pads. Right now, it could be some original Simmons or Tama techstar pads with an alesis dm-5 brain. This is specifically to emulate the 80's sounds like the old technopop, Rush and King Crimson material. I considered a multipad (Maybe roland spd-s), but used stuff is much cheaper for this purpose. I understand Hart dynamics discontinued the multipad, whcih would also serve my purpose. Pics and ideas appreciated. Tama techstar Simmons hexagonal pads:

I went through quite a bit of the hard rubber type pads and they are the reason mesh heads are so popular, Noise and feel are a problem.

While I do appreciate you visiting my site...please remember those prices are MAP!! That is the lowest price that I can post or advertise per the manufacturer! Send me an email brian@hopedrums.com and I'll work on getting you something within your budget!! (Also, remind me who you are in your email!)

Brian

Try them both. I actually prefer the rubber heads. It's a personal preference.

Hey!!! You met Smitty!!!

If my low-cost e-bay foray goes awry, I'll be talking to you about an e-kit.

The mesh are great, but rubber pads will suffice. My needs are small:

Basically 4 pads and a brain...I don't need the kick pad or cymbal pads. That should trim hundreds off the price.

The Dm-5 brain has that "famous hexagons" dssshh sound setting. I don't know if any other modules are as good for less money.

Very true, until the lack of shock absorption causes wrist problems, then people look a little harder at mesh heads!

I used to play a full E-kit, and I went through as many brands and models as I could to find what felt the best to me. It gradually became a hybrid A/E kit, and now I've phased out the E's, but I've still got a bunch of E-gear.

I used the DK10 KAT pad for a while. It is a nice multi-pad, if you're considering that route. I would think they can be had cheaper than an SPD-s these days, if you're shopping used. I connected mine to various Roland modules and it always performed well.

I guess the SPD-s edges out most multi-pads these days with its sampling ability. Nice to have an all-in-one unit that you can load your own samples or sequences into. I hauled a hardware sampler and it was a pain.

the new Mandala USB pad looks really cool, and it's under $400.

http://www.synesthesiacorp.com/

don't know if any of that helps, but I likes talking about E-drums

I've got pics of the various stages of E-drum evolution my kit went through at my Myspace page

I think if I do bring E's back into my kit, I'd prefer individual pads too, so it's more like playing parts of the kit rather than banging on a subdivided box. I like them to fit into the flow of the kit, so I'd probably stick w/ Roland PD9s or PD125s.

Pintech Nimrods are pretty cool too, they'll fit just about anywhere

I used to play a full E-kit, and I went through as many brands and models as I could to find what felt the best to me. It gradually became a hybrid A/E kit, and now I've phased out the E's, but I've still got a bunch of E-gear. I used the DK10 KAT pad for a while. It is a nice multi-pad, if you're considering that route. I would think they can be had cheaper than an SPD-s these days, if you're shopping used. I connected mine to various Roland modules and it always performed well. I guess the SPD-s edges out most multi-pads these days with its sampling ability. Nice to have an all-in-one unit that you can load your own samples or sequences into. I hauled a hardware sampler and it was a pain. the new Mandala USB pad looks really cool, and it's under $400. http://www.synesthesiacorp.com/ don't know if any of that helps, but I likes talking about E-drums I've got pics of the various stages of E-drum evolution my kit went through at my Myspace page I think if I do bring E's back into my kit, I'd prefer individual pads too, so it's more like playing parts of the kit rather than banging on a subdivided box. I like them to fit into the flow of the kit, so I'd probably stick w/ Roland PD9s or PD125s. Pintech Nimrods are pretty cool too, they'll fit just about anywhere

Those kat pads are cool but $$$$. the spd-s might just be the best solution, because the more I think about it: sampling is a must.

I'm seriously considering adding a couple of those Mandala USBs to my TrapKAT setup - one as snare, one as ride. The TrapKAT is great but I'd love positional sensing as well... However, I don't think my wife would thank me..!

I'm seriously considering adding a couple of those Mandala USBs to my TrapKAT setup - one as snare, one as ride. The TrapKAT is great but I'd love positional sensing as well... However, I don't think my wife would thank me..!

That Mandala pad is schweeeeeeeet!!!

I remember seeing some studio kits with that trapkat...

I am trying to have a low cost solution to emulate 80's sounds, I don't need modern effects.

SPD-S= $500, I'll have to look into what sounds are programmed into it.

PLJones, I'm curious, have you had any trouble with your KAT rubber surfaces?

We've got the big DRUMKat in our studio too, and a pedal trigger they used to make. We've found that the rubber has a finite half-life and begins to degrade at some point. Our DRUMKat surface has started to decompose already, and one day we walked in the studio to find that the kickpad had become a puddle of goo on the tile floor. There's still a big stain where it used to be.

How old is your unit? Any signs of wear/tear?

ah, I forgot to mention, the Mandala USB pads incorporate sampling too, since they use a software module- you can import any tones you want!

I don't know about splitting the pad into concentric zones, seems like you'd need to have REALLY good aim to split it more than 5 or 6 ways, but it sure does look cool as an option

Yikes... the zone would be as wide as the tip of a stick..

You could look into a Roland PD31 pad. They are cheap on ebay and have

4 zones per pad so you would only need one.

Here is my kit

Here is my kit

The Cadillac of e-kits...

Here's my e-kit (all hardware is yamaha...)

From above...

sorry you gotta see my stupid face, but this is the only hybrid kit shot I've got that shows the E-elements:

funny how some kits are so close, yet so different!

sorry you gotta see my stupid face, but this is the only hybrid kit shot I've got that shows the E-elements: funny how some kits are so close, yet so different!

Dude...that looks surreal! And the 60's gel effect in the kick... pretty nifty!

What about $35 per pad? Too much? Pintech has some of their SE-101 and 102 pads that they are getting rid of at that price. They are a discontinued product that they took in on "retro upgrade" from customers toward newer pads.

That's dirt cheap! 4 of those 102's and a brain would work... I'd have to see what type of stand would work. I intend to tightly cluster them.

At those prices...maybe a standard 5-pc config with a rack... hmmm

Ok, here goes... TBH, other than the generic sounding 80's technopop "dsssh" I'd like to be able to have a an e-kit brain that can produce the following sounds:

From Rush:

"Closer to the heart" (xylophone tones)

"Body electric"

"Mystic rhythms"

"Force 10" (jackhammer like sounds)

"Time stand still"

Van Halen:

Stuff from 5150 (most of this is covered by generic "dsssh")

I am not sure if these sounds can be approximated by any pre-programmed brain sounds, or if i will have to sample.

Suggestions?

Ok, I have determined that the Pintech 102 pads are sufficient. However, now it comes down to a module that can produced the aforementioned sounds.

Or was that Pintech 201? I forget.

I got it new last April. The only sign of wear is on the pad I use as hi-hat, from stick erosion. (I'd blame the stick, if I could work out which it is. It's not got any worse since it first brough the "nap" up, though.)