Drums are one of the most popular instruments on the music market, not only is it the perfect asset to most bands, but it is a great way to relieve some stress and tension.
What better way to break a sweat and get some much-needed exercise than by pounding on your snare and cymbals for a few hours?
However, one of the downsides of having drums is the fact that they are very loud. One easy way to make yourself very unpopular with the neighbors is by sitting up all night playing your acoustic drums.
If you can’t afford to soundproof your basement, what other way can you practice your timing and stick control?
Well, that’s where electronic drum pads come in. This is a great way to improve your timing super sharp while also keeping the noise to an absolute minimum. These pads are the perfect substitute for indoor practice drums.
However, that’s not all electronic drums are good for. You can use them in addition to your live drum setup. If you are a DJ and you want to add something to your standard laptop setup, then you can definitely spice up the mix with an electronic drum pad.
The range of sounds that you can get from your drum pad is amazing, whether it is echo, delay, reverb or phaser, you can create whole alien sonic landscapes with just two sticks and a whole lot of energy.
There are various types of drum pads that you can get, the 3 main ones we’ll be looking at later on in the article. The features on each one of these pads are very important to accentuate the style of drumming that you’ll be doing.
So where can you find the best electronic drum pads? What features does a drum pad need to have to give you that silent noise output, but in a way that feels like a traditional drum set?
Which pads give you the option of sound effects? How much can you be expected to pay for a decent pair of electronic drum pads?
Well, all you would-be drummers need not worry yourselves any further, as we’ve got a list of some of the best electronic drum pads that you currently find on the market. We also have a buyer’s guide that will hopefully help you discern between the good and the bad drum kits.
We finally round off the article with some frequently asked questions that should allay any anxieties that you might have concerning getting what is traditionally a very expensive piece of kit.
List Of Best Electronic Drum Pads
OUR TOP PICK
Our first electronic drum pad comes from the mighty Roland company, which has a proven history of making some of the best instruments that you can find on the market.
This one will give you great audio output through your headphones, with the ability to loop 3 separate instruments including synth and percussion presets - introducing Roland SPD-30 Octapad Digital Percussion Pad.
This is a great electronic drum kit that you can use to augment your live setup. You can use this one in conjunction with plenty of instruments, wielding your sticks to trigger loops that you can use to create a whole band sound.
If you are planning on using this with your live kit, then you won’t have to worry about playing outdoors, as this will be able to take a light shower.
You can connect this pad up to numerous different controllers, including a high hat pedal, a kick pedal and a snare mesh head. This is perfect if you want to augment a very basic kit with some more eclectic sounds.
You can achieve a very professional level of sound with this kit, giving you a wide range of sonic exploration. This drum kit is great for smaller venues, with a lot of drummers reporting that this kit sounds almost indistinguishable from an acoustic one.
You can create that full band sound with just a few triggers that work with 3 overlay instruments, almost as if you were backing up a power trio.
Pros:
- This drum pad can be connected to many different accessories, including a snare mesh and a high hat, this means that you can mimic an acoustic drum kit as closely as possible.
- This is a great pad for anyone who has learned the basics on a normal kit and might want to graduate or maintain their drumming skills with an electronic pad.
- This one is great if you want to incorporate different sounds in with your traditional drum sounds - if you are a DJ or a solo drummer who wants to perform live but with a wider variety of sonic textures.
- You can become very inspired with the drum pad, using them to create a loop that you can use to slowly build up and eventually create an entire song.
- This has plenty of trigger loops that you can use to gain complete control of your instrument - this is also a great unit to use to practice your stick control.
Cons:
- You cannot upload any presets to this drum machine, which some of the more expert drummers might find a tad limiting.
- The price - this is one of the more expensive kits on the market, definitely not one for student drummers who are just getting to grips with the basics.
EDITORS CHOICE
This next model of electronic drum pad is extremely innovative, again, put together but the geniuses over at Roland. This has a great sampling pad that you can use to play your own customized samples.
This is great for drummers of DJs that want to expand the sonic palette of their setup - introducing the Roland SPD-SX Percussion Sampling Pad.
This has plenty of pads that you can preload individually with various sounds, playing them in quick succession to create a very strong total sound.
You can easily prepare your sounds on your computer, then convert them to a wav. file and upload them onto your drumset.
With other drum pads, you can expect to get a lot more ‘cross talk’, which is where a lot of the audio crosses over itself, with the player hitting one pad, which then triggers the audio effect of another pad.
One of the worst things that could happen is if you have triggered the wrong sample in the middle of a live rehearsal.
This comes with a hefty amount of internal memory, which gives you around 720 minutes of free sample space. This is great for both live performance and recording.
You can easily plug this machine into your computer and record your track live, which is great for creating demos of your music.
Pros:
- This comes with a very durable design that will not cause you that much crosstalk, which is when one pad is accidentally triggered by another.
- This has plenty of memory and a USB port that allows you to plug your samples into the mainboard and then sync them up with the triggers for you to play live.
- You can set up 4 external pads with this set of electronic drums, which gives you everything that you need for a decent and professional sounding kit. 4 separate sound effects are all you need for a wonderful sound collage.
- This comes with a wide array of connections that you can use to really beef up your drum setup. You can use this with 2 external outputs, which is great if you want to increase the volume of your live performance.
- This has a readout that will really help you to check the condition of your pad and the audio levels as you perform.
Cons:
- The price - this is one of the most expensive drum pads that we have on this list, which certainly won’t help you if you are just starting and have very limited funds.
- The design does not greatly resemble that of a traditional drum setup, which might cause you problems if you are transitioning from an acoustic kit.
BEST VALUE
This next electronic drum pad gives you the most for very little money, brimming with features that include the classic drum sound setup. Trust us when we say that this electronic pad will pack all the punch of a regular kit.
You can extend the pads on this to an amazing degree, with a top-end drum sampler that sounds just like the real thing - introducing the Alesis Sample Pad pro.
This pad is incredibly sensitive, which is great for recording, although it might cause some cross-talk when you’re playing live.
You can lower the sensitivity on your pads if you need to, just to make it as responsive as a real set of drum heads. This is great for you if you have practiced on a traditional acoustic kit and want that similar feel with your electronic version.
You can plug in your headphones, which will give you plenty of hours of silent practice. This unit is also extremely compact, which will make it both easy to transport to and from gigs and rehearsal but will also make it easy to store when you aren’t using it.
If you purchase a stand then you certainly can build a portable alternative to a drum kit.
This really is a popular electric drum kit, with thousands of reviewers giving it rave reviews, mainly the responsiveness of the sounds, the looping and the realistic drum kit sound.
We would definitely recommend this for band practice where you might want to keep your sound down to a minimum but you still want to practice your hits.
Pros:
- This pad is very lightweight, making it the perfect substitute for your heavy drum set. This will not be a replacement for your kit, but it will give you a very close approximation.
- This is manufactured by a very respected company that has thousands of users giving them very positive comments.
- This will replicate the sound of a drum set very well, with a lot of the pads giving you a very realistic playback of an acoustic snare, high hat, kick drum and tom-tom.
- There are very easy-to-use volume controls in the front, which is great for cranking it up loud for a gig but keeping it down low for when you practice at night.
- The price - this is actually one of the more reasonably priced models, giving you a basic set of sound features for a few hundred dollars.
Cons:
- Some users have complained of cross-talk, which is when the pads are turned up too sensitive and will trigger each other when they are hit.
- The design does not reflect an acoustic kit, which might be problematic if you are planning on using it during live gigs.
RUNNER UP
This next pair of drums you’ll immediately see have mimicked those of a regular drum set, with an all-in-one kit that will more or less look like the one that you’ll see at your local music store.
These are a lower-priced option, so it makes them perfect for practice or just casual use - introducing Pyle Portable Drums. This is a great set of drums that everyone can practice on, with a set of headphones that you can use for ultra-quiet rehearsal.
You have plenty of sounds and foot pedals with this drum, giving you everything that you need for drummers straight-out-of-the-box. You won’t have to have a degree in sound production to master this kit.
You can connect this kit to your computer, giving you everything that you need for super smooth playback. You can even use this drum set as a MIDI controller for your computer.
This kit also comes with powerful batteries, enabling you to go wireless and practice anywhere, whether it is in your local hall or in the park. You can even loop these drums and edit them with the interface that is built into the system entirely.
You can pump up the volume of this one on the display, which is great if you ever want to use this one with small, intimate gigs. This drum kit sounds exactly like an acoustic, so you won’t have to worry about it sounding too synthetic.
Pros:
- This drum has a traditional setup, so you won’t have to alter your playing style radically if you’re switching from an acoustic set to one of these digital kits.
- These have plenty of MIDI outputs, so you can easily connect it to your computer and edit it on whatever sound software that you happen to be using. It will function well with both a Mac and a PC.
- You can use this completely hands-free, with a powerful AC unit, you can practice in the tranquility of your local park or at home in the middle of the night.
- This is a great unit for beginners, it will give you the right positioning and well as the right hand-eye coordination that you’ll need for a developing drummer.
- The price - this is probably the cheapest set of drums on this list, perfect for beginning drummers.
Cons:
- The kick pedals on this set of drums are not the most responsive, so those that are looking for the acoustic style of rebound will probably want to look for another electronic kit.
- The portable drums are cheap and some users have complained of the drums themselves as sounding very synthesized.
RUNNER UP
This next set of electronic drums have what users have described as that complete drum set sound, with 7 pads that you can use to replicate your live acoustic kit.
It has 55 drum presets, so you can get a very diverse range of sounds, great for learning if you are a beginner drummer - introducing the Pyle Electronic Tabletop Set Machine.
This drum set comes with a control panel that you can use to augment your existing traditional drum set sounds or choose a wound workstation that is completely radical.
This also comes with foot pedals, which is great if you want to replicate that conventional drumset feel. You can record and edit sounds on this drum set, creating loops and then adding more loops to them to create a whole song.
This is great if you are a DJ and you want to mix up your conventional laptop and decks set up to include percussive and even phaser sound elements. This is a great kit for use both live and on recordings.
Pros:
- This comes with a digital control panel that will allow you to affect the sound output, percussion as well as volume. This will all be more important if you are rehearsing or trying to write a song.
- This has dozens and dozens of presets, which will allow you to potentially create an infinite number of sounds.
- This has a wireless AC that will allow you to play wherever you like - why not take this portable set of drums down to the park and practice in the sunshine with some headphones.
- This can be connected to your computer, which is perfect if you want to lay down some traditional drum tracks before guitar and bass to create a full band sound.
- You have very responsive kick pads with this set of drums, this is great for a young teenager who is only just getting to grips with a drum set.
Cons:
- Some users have complained that the sound this machine produces is very synthetic, which will certainly not be suitable for anyone who wants that professional level of output.
- The price - this is another moderately expensive electronic kit. It will certainly put off the more casual player who does not plan on drumming more than a few times a month.
RUNNER UP
This next drum pad setup looks extremely cool, coming in a bright red color that resembles more an expensive sports car rather than a drum pad sampler.
But it is as functional as it is stylish, coming with 16GB of storage space and over 100 drum kit sounds, this is great for both beginner and expert drummers - introducing the Roland SPD-SX Special Edition Percussion Sampling Pad.
This comes with a very intuitive design that will respond well to your stick hits. You can get a sample going with one simple hit, with an audio trigger that is very responsive and will play a whole host of sounds that are not just simple drum sounds.
You can record well with each pad, splitting up the beats with your on-board mixing desk.
This is a very simple-looking pad, both compact and easy to store, it is great for bringing with you to both gigs and practice. You can even augment your traditional kit with one of these sound pads.
It will give you a lot more potential sonically, with a high build quality that will give you a solid and reliable hit every time. This comes with 9 simple-to-hit pads that you can program with your own distinctive beat or percussion sound.
You can even mix and match, having a traditional drum set setup with added synth abilities over the top. These have in-built effect processors that will give you everything that you need for sampling.
Pros:
- This has an intuitive drum setup, which is great for any beginner musician looking to start or a professional musician who wants that easy transition from their traditional kit to their digital one.
- You can record all your beats with this unit, which will allow you to save your favorites so that you can recall them the next time you have band practice.
- You can sample many different effects with this pad, which will give you that unique drum kit or DJ sound. Why not mix up some psychedelic sounds with a conventional snare, tom and high hat setup?
- This comes with a USB port, which will allow you to store many different sounds and effects, great for when you get out onto the stage and really shake up the audience with some outlandish or soothing effects.
- This drumming pad has excellent functionality, with 9 different pads that you can use for many different effects. This might not resemble a traditional drum setup, but you can definitely use it as an addition to your standard kit.
Cons:
- Some users have complained that this unit has no high hat pedal socket, which will definitely not be a plus point for anyone who wants to replicate the sound and feel of a professional drumming setup.
- The price - coming as another top-of-the-range pad, this one is very difficult to find for less than a few hundred dollars.
RUNNER UP
This final pad is just that - one single pad. This is part of a series of pads that are separate but each one serves a very different function.
You have kick and percussion models that do just as you might imagine, while an electro version is loaded with snares, rim shots, claps and various cymbals - introducing the Roland SPD-1W Percussion Electronic Drum Pad.
You can load up each one of these pads with your own effects, as it has a spare slot in each one that gives you a great playback sound. You can switch these pads up, they are very versatile, you can use them for foot or hand drumming.
This is what makes these pads the most appealing to professional drummers who want maximum control over their kicks and foot pedals.
These pedals have around 4BG of internal storage, with 12 slots that you can assign for various customizable samples.
This is quite a lot of memory, so you can pack each one of these pedals with your own samples to create a very diverse sonic pallet. These are great pieces of gear that are very durable and can take quite a pounding.
You can edit the sound output on these drum pads, with a set of dials at the top that can control the volume, delay and sensitivity.
When it comes to having ultimate control over the 4 separate pads of your drumset, then you can guarantee that these are some of the best on the market.
Pros:
- This can store upwards of 4GB of sound, which is perfect if you’re planning on filling your plate with various sonics, ready for showcasing on stage.
- Not only are these pads very functional, but they look extremely stylish. Bringing these onto the stage will certainly turn a few heads.
- You can set these pads up in whatever formation you like, you can even lie a row on them on the floor and play entirely with your feet while you play the guitar with your hands.
- You can play these pads with your feet, your hands or drumsticks, this is what makes them one of the most versatile pads on this list.
- You can control the volume, the mix and the phonics of your pads with 4 handy dials at the top. This is great for amending your volume if you plan on using them live or in the studio.
Cons:
- These pads are very expensive, considering that they are sold separately. This will definitely be a turnoff for beginning drummers who want that conventional setup at a reduced cost.
- These pads are sold separately, which certainly won’t appeal to anyone who wants a full kit to practice on.
Buyer’s Guide
Now we get to the buyer’s guide, hopefully, this will help you when it comes to buying the right set of electronic drum pads for your requirements.
When it comes to buying a set of electronic drum pads, you’ll need to make sure that it has plenty of features, whether that means touch-sensitive controls or the capability to upload around 100 samples.
You’ll also want to consider the type of drumming that you’ll be doing before you purchase one of these models.
If you’re going to want to use your electronic pad purely for practicing, then we would recommend that you buy the cheapest electronic kit. However, if you want to bring your digital kit onto the stage, then you’ll probably want some decent sound settings.
Some drum pads are also extremely expensive, so you might not want to fork out too much money on one without knowing what the specifications are.
Here are some of the pads available out there, so hopefully you’ll get a better idea of what they can provide for you and your drumming:
What Are Sample Pads?
Sample pads are those that have on-board samples that are triggered when you hit it with your foot or your drumstick.
If you want your drum setup to have this capability, then we would suggest that you find one that has a USB that will let you upload your sound files quickly and efficiently.
You can record a whole host of crazy and out-there samples with your drum bards. You can merge a traditional snare sound with the round of rushing water to create a wonderful ambient collage.
Recording your setup this way is a great method of building up sound and rhythms into an identifiable song.
You can record different percussive sounds onto your drums, elevating your kit into that superlative world music kind of sound, complete with bongos, shakers, marimbas and even xylophone sounds.
You can also set up triggers to create a rolling sound that will play while you initiate other triggers.
What Are Percussion Pads?
This style of pad is much the same as the first one, except that you cannot load your own sounds onto it, rather you can only select from a certain number of presets.
This will give you plenty of percussion sounds, as well as the sounds of numerous styles of kit - this is basically one thousand and one drum kits in just one box.
If you are thinking of playing a multitude of different styles, either on your own at home or gigs, then this might be the perfect kit for you to pick.
You can match your drum sound to that of the distinctive rock sound, whether it is the reverb-heavy 80s hair metal sound or the tinny-sounding drums of reggae.
This type of kit will usually let you set up kick drums and high hats, which is great if you want to replicate the feel of a real kit. You can also use these types of kits for DJ scenarios, which is great if you are planning on diversifying the traditional DJ decks and laptop setup.
If you are playing a sample on your laptop, then why use an artificial pre-recorded beat when you can simply play along to your music? You can also add effects to your drumbeat to create amazing and wonderful sounds.
If you are DJing live, then having live drums will certainly be a great way to break up the set and give people something to look at.
What Are Multi pads?
Multi pads are simply a shorthand word for multiple pads that are capable of doing many things, including effects controls and other functions. You can upload plenty of effects to this style of pad, so you can almost be a painter with sound, adding colors when and how you like.
These pads are generally smaller and therefore much easier to store when you aren’t using them. This can support lots of finger and foot style of impact, so you really can mix and match - why not have a whole bank of the foot pedals on the floor while playing the guitar?
You’ll need to know what kind of music that you’re doing before picking up one of these pads. If you are recording it might be better to get an electronic kit, as this will be a lot easier to navigate.
So these are the basic 3 types of pads that you can buy for your setup. However, there will be functional things that you’ll need to consider before buying an electronic kit. You might even be thinking: what is the reason for me to buy an electronic kit in the first place?
Well, here are a few things that you’ll need to consider before picking up your next set of digital drums:
The Price
One of the main plus points of an electronic drum set is the price. You can pick up a full kit in much the same shape and design as an acoustic kit, but for a fraction of the price.
If you are gigging and practicing regularly, then setting up an acoustic drum kit is much more tiring than an electric kit, where you simply plug in and play. Having an electronic drum kit is also great for finding the right sound you want from your acoustic kit and vice versa.
One of the most amazing things about a percussion pad is the sheer amount of sounds that you can get on it - all you have to do is search through the vast library until you find something that sounds like your home kit.
Augmenting Your Acoustic Kit
There are plenty of drummers out there that feel restricted by the basic sound that they get from their acoustic kit. This is why you might want to add an electronic kit to your sound to create a wealth of extra sounds that you can use to complement the other instruments on stage.
If you are playing in an experimental band, then you will definitely be intrigued by the sound possibilities that these instruments have to offer. It will also save you money on having to hire an additional percussionist for a larger band situation.
But why stop there? You can also use your drum pad to mimic other instruments, such as bass and even piano. If you are a particularly virtuoso musician, then you program yourself as a whole other member of the band, playing drums and bass at the same time!
Backing And Click Tracks
You can use this electronic drum pad to improve your overall sense of timing. If you are a young band just starting out with your instruments, you can leave the click track running and get all the other musicians, as well as yourself, to play along with it.
You can also play backing tracks, which is great if there are only a few members of the band and you need backing tracks to supplement your sound. If you need some extra keyboards, then simply have them playing out of your electronic drum kit!
You can also use a click track to improve your timing, which is a much-needed thing if you are a newbie drummer who needs to get tighter before their first gig. Improving your timing is the number one thing that most new drummers need to master.
Studio Vs. Live
Live playing is definitely one of those forums where you and your band will really need to shine. However, if you have certain out-there effects that you’ve done in the studio but not live, you might be left wondering if you can pull it off on the stage.
However, if you have effects programmed into your drum kit, then you can be certain that you’ll be able to replicate the experience live. By programming a trigger, with one hit of the drumstick, you can have the climax to your album also be the climax to your show.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Special Stands For Your Drum Pad?
One of the unfortunate things about drum pads is that they often don’t come with their own stands, which might make some of them very difficult to mount.
However, you can use stands that come with any other instruments. Keyboard or high hat stands usually work very well with your drum sample pad.
If you can find an older stand, then you can easily mount your drum or sample pads to it with some mounting clamps. This might not be the most secure method of mounting it, but you should be able to hit it without worrying about it falling onto the ground.
You can also use your base drum to mount your snare sample pad, which will place it in an area that is both convenient and easy to reach. This is perfect if you are playing with a complicated setup and need your pads to have plenty of clearance and distance for each drum hit.
What Additional Extras Can You Get With Your Drum Pad?
There are plenty of extras that you can have with your electronic pad, including a trigger, which you can use to cue any additional sounds that you might not have room to program on your drum set.
If you are thinking of getting one of these pads, then we would recommend that you have an adapter and an instrument cable, as these two things will be very necessary to have a stable and consistent connection.
There are drum pads that you can use to set your triggers in stereo, giving you the option of having them play through individual channels.
If you want to set up any more than 2 trigger pads, then we would certainly recommend that you get a splitter cable, as this will increase your options when it comes to these triggers.
However, make sure that you don’t use too many, as you might have more pads than you have limbs to use!
What Triggers Are Available?
There are plenty of single trigger pads that you can get for your electronic drum kit, which can be connected to the back of your electronic drum pad and give you great responsiveness.
This first pad is amazing when it comes to versatility, with a smooth playing pad that will give you very quick responsiveness, allowing you to make up for the shortfall in your main electronic drum kit.
If you are struggling for space on your acoustic kit, then we would certainly recommend that you get some drum triggers - introducing the Roland BT-1 Electronic Drum Single-Trigger Pad.
This one is a very slender design, so you’ll be able to wedge it in whatever corner you like on your kit. If you are worried about cluttering up your drum set, then this is a great little unit for you to have quick and effective access to your electronic drum pad.
The great thing about this trigger pad is that you can place it anywhere and have instant access to a whole host of sound effects.
The one criticism that people have of one of these drum pads is that they don’t have a great deal of dynamic sensitivity. This means that you might find the sound effect does not cue, no matter how hard you press it.
This will certainly not appeal to anyone who wants that professional level of accuracy either playing live or recording.
These pads are great but they should never be a replacement for your electronic kit, more as a supplementary trigger that you can have for a backup in case your main digital kit fails for whatever reason.
How Can You Use Your Digital Drum Pad With Your Computer?
You can use a lot of these digital drum pads with your computer to play it with a MIDI player, using it as a recording studio and a digital workstation. You can also hook up your drumset with something like Abelton or Garageband to accurately replicate the sound of your live playing.
You can control a lot of the effects and automation with your drum pad, which will give your track the feel of your live playing.
Sure, you can program in a meticulous beat, but what says style more than the imperfections and idiosyncrasies that you couldn’t possibly mimic on a drum machine?
This will be a great way to personalize your recording, giving you the ability to make very distinctive tracks with effects and time cues that will make you stand out from the crowd and really give you music that stamp of personality.
This will be a great way to encourage people to sign you if you are looking for your band to be represented. Another reason to use your digital drum set with your computer is to take control of samples, cueing them in with your drum hit at just the right moment.
This will also give you a better ability to be able to set up the backing track of your song, allowing you far greater precision and speed when recording, instead of spending hours and hours programming your beats.
If you are a touring band and don’t intend on playing any drums live, then you can also use your electronic drum pad to create a rhyme track that you can then simply cue up on stage.
What Is An Audio Interface?
This is the interface that you can use to create multitracks, usually taking the shape of software such as Ableton Live, Mainstage, Cubase, Logic and Adobe Audition.
All you have to do is sync up your audio hardware with your audio interface to have a decent layout of the length of time that you want to record, as well as the various levels.
If you want to record your backing tracks for any live gigs, then having a multitrack window will be incredibly useful, as you’ll be able to get the click track going so that you can play in time in one single session.
You can use a lot of different audio interfaces with your digital drum pads, although make sure that you find the correct hardware that you can use to sync up your drumset with your computer, installing the right drivers afterward.
What Is The Best Software To Use With Your Audio Interface?
The most popular software to use is probably Ableton Live, as this has plenty of backing control as well as automatic patch changes that control the number of effects and triggers in your digital drum set.
Some of the more technical drummers use two pads on their Roland kit so they can start and stop the playback of their multitrack. You can control all the MIDI data with your device and use it to feed from one drum machine to another or have it all bounced into your Ableton Live setup.
You’ll be able to switch up your automated patch changes in the middle of a track. You can have a bass track playing up until a certain point in the track then have it automated to change to a different sample.
Where Can You Find Additional Samples For Your Digital Drum Set?
If you aren’t happy with the sound pallet that you can get with your drumset, then we would certainly recommend that you invest in additional samples that you can load onto your drum pads (if you have the opportunity to do so, that is).
Luckily, there are a few online databases that have plenty of samples that you can download for your particular drum set. Here is a list of some of the most frequently visited websites where you can download plenty of samples:
Splice
This website is basically an online store where you can buy plenty of royalty-free samples and sound effects.
You can get a subscription to Splice for as little as $7.99 per month, which will be no expense for drummers who take their electronic drumming very seriously.
Music Radar
This website has a page that contains a whopping 1,000 free drum samples, giving you everything that you will need for potentially millions of combinations.
This is great for use by drummers who want to rattle through a whole host of genres, giving you the ability to be able to switch up from bongos to classic 80’s rock drums.
However, if you are looking for that classic kit sound on your electronic drums, then you won’t have to look much further than this database. You can have acoustic kits from a variety of well-known drumming brands like Yamaha and Mapex.
Cymatics
This website is selling packs of presets that you can download straight away onto your Ableton drum setup. This comes with tons of presets, including those for synths, loops and MIDI files.
With this number of samples, then you probably won’t have to worry about your drums sounding synthetic ever again.
What Are The Downsides Of Purchasing Electronic Drums?
This instrument, as with any other, does come with a few notable flaws. However, the most important thing to bear in mind is what you’ll be using your drum kit for.
If you are playing live or recording, then you’ll want your drumset to have certain specific features. Remember: no instrument will be able to fit all your needs.
Sometimes the pads might not feel as real as some acoustic drums. You’ll notice a real difference in the stick rebound between your acoustic kit and your electronic kit, and it might take you a little while to adjust.
If you are playing both at the same time, you’ll want to make sure that you don’t hit your electronic drums with the same force as your acoustic kit.
If you aren’t that accustomed to drums in general, then switching between electronic and acoustic kits might take some getting used to and will certainly interfere with your style of playing.
We would recommend that you have at least one year of experience on a regular kit for striking out and playing an electronic kit.
If you learn on an electronic kit and then transition to the real thing, you might find it will feel a little bit like starting all over again. The plastic pads will give you a false sense of rebound.
Also, one major thing that electric drums have that acoustic drums do not is cables. These will trail around your drum setup, so you’ll have to be super conscious of where they are placed around your stage.
Otherwise, you might run the risk of tripping over and hitting the deck as you exit the stage after your amazing encore.
If you have an electronic drum kit, that also means that you will need a PA setup during live gigs. Usually, a drumkit does enough to amplify itself, however, you will need a plethora of electrical ports and an entire sound system to play your digital drum pads.
This might not be an issue for those who want that experimental sound, but if you want that standard drum sound, then you might want to avoid the hassle of setting up a whole entourage just to play the drums.
In this case, then you might want to stop being so stingy and splash out on a full acoustic kit.
You might also need some technical expertise with a set of electronic drum pads. This is obviously due to the audio interface of the drum pad itself, with all the mixing and volume controllers.
Also, when it comes to sampling, you’ll have to be slightly adept at the chopping and changing that comes with editing and splicing certain samples.
We hope that our list of the 7 Best Electronic Drum Pads gives you everything that you need for purchasing your first pair of digital pads.
Last update on 2023-05-30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
