E-Drum Kit - What's the usual output signal?

> > > E-Drum Kit - What's the usual output signal?

Posted on

Sound as good as you play
Member Since: Dec 23, 2008

The band that I work with has a new drummer coming to practice tonight and he's bringing his electronic kit. I don't know what make or model.

The guys were thinking they could just plug him into the small monitor system that they use .... but then they realized they don't want drums in their monitors.

So, I'm going to take over one of my Mackie SRM450s and just need to know what sort of signal I'm likely to find coming from the drums. I'm hoping its a typical +4dB line signal that can go straight to the powered speaker. Otherwise, I'll need to haul some more gear to modify the signal.

Thoughts?

[ Back to Top ]


Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 20, 2009 02:11 pm

Yep, +4 is correct and it should have the option to use either the left output for mono or give you a stereo feed from 2 1/4" jacks. Some have more the a stereo feed out like my Alesis DM5 or the DM Pro, but most simply feed a stereo signal which can as stated be used mono as well with one jack.

Sound as good as you play
Member
Since: Dec 23, 2008

Apr 20, 2009 02:42 pm

Perfect.

This room is so small, there's no point in running stereo.

Thanks for the assist.

If 50hz 60 will kill ya.
Member
Since: Jan 08, 2009

Apr 20, 2009 02:49 pm

I would like a full report when your done please. Volume levels at rehersal are normally set by the drummer as he is the loudest acoustic thing. I want to know how being able to adjust the level of the drummer affects everyone elses playing levels. does it remain the same or does the whole level of the rehersal come down. This should be interesting.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 20, 2009 03:01 pm

I would be willing to bet even though it will be an electronic kit the drummer will still want it to be louder then everything else.

But indeed, having the control over the entire thing would be good.

Sound as good as you play
Member
Since: Dec 23, 2008

Apr 20, 2009 04:10 pm

Sound level hadn't crossed my mind yet, but I'm planning on pointing the speaker right at his head, just like the guitar and keyboard amps. I'll get it as close to one of his ears as I can, then we'll see if he wants it louder.

My report will be forthcoming.

edit - I'm thinking the world's largest IEM.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 20, 2009 04:35 pm

I say stick it right behind his head. That way it will still project out for the others to hear as well.

Nice idea though. Hang it about 6" from his head and see what he says.

Sound as good as you play
Member
Since: Dec 23, 2008

Apr 20, 2009 04:40 pm

I wish we had the space to put it behind him .... I'm talking a very, very small room. It's in a garage attic and the drummer has to crouch to slide onto his stool under the sloping ceiling.

I usually stand on the steps below the trap door.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 20, 2009 04:52 pm

I worked with a band years ago who's practice space was in a very old chicken coupe. They ran extension cords out there to supply power. It was kind of small, but not that small.

Sound as good as you play
Member
Since: Dec 23, 2008

Apr 21, 2009 10:02 am

Well, it turns out that we didn't need to worry about the drums being too loud.

I started by pointing the speaker at the drummer's head from about 5 feet out front. After each song the other guys kept having me pull back the speaker until they all got at least a bit of the direct drum sound. They also had the drummer turn up a few times.

It was the first time any of the other guys had played along with e-drums and the response was very favorable on balance. The bassist was the only one who had any misgivings about losing the feel of acoustic drums. The prospect of playing our usual small venues without battling overly loud drums was really exciting for everyone.

The new drummer hasn't gigged in 8 years, but after a couple hours of playing everyone in the room was tied into an excellent groove, with smiles all around, so it looks promising. His kit sounded decent to my ear, but he's planning to trade-up to a higher-end Yamaha, so it should only get better.

Bottom-line: A productive evening.

Sound as good as you play
Member
Since: Dec 23, 2008

Apr 21, 2009 10:28 am

OK, so now I'm thinking about what this might mean as far as my job is concerned. Until now, I've only worked with acoustic drums and never mic'd anything but the kick.

After observing and talking to the drummer last night, it sounds like he will be able to dial-in the different sounds and create a drum mix right on his control module. I can probably cover him and the bassist with a single drum monitor and he says that the others should be good with ambient sound from FOH.

At the FOH console, I'll get either a stereo or mono drum mix and place it in the overall mix. Is it typical to do any sort of dynamics or effects processing on the e-drums? Given the control that the drummer has at his end, I'm thinking that the sound will be the way he intends, so don't mess with it (like don't mess with guitar tone).

Anything else to shorten my learning curve?

The Czar of BS
Member
Since: Dec 31, 2007

Apr 21, 2009 10:42 am

For me, I normally take a stereo feed from the drum module.

And depending on the system that I am working on out at FOH, I do put a compressor on it. Usually if there are no subs.

In the module, you set the panning of the drums. I only pan the rack toms slightly left to right.

This will give a wider stereo image.

If you have a double 15" sub, or a single 18" to give the drummer for underneath his monitor. That will help out on stage for the acoustic drum feel.

And if you have a monitor that has a 15" speaker in it to give the bass player, that will help as well.

Sound as good as you play
Member
Since: Dec 23, 2008

Apr 21, 2009 02:32 pm

I think the drummer is going to get his own monitor system, including a sub, but I'll make sure we're all on the same page before he goes ahead with that.

The band recently went to all personal vocal monitors, so the pair of 15s that we used to use are available. I'm thinking maybe I can run a pure drum signal through those at a modest level. Hopefully that will give everybody what they need, while keeping the drums blessedly absent from the vocal mics.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 21, 2009 09:07 pm

Yep, compression here as well on e-drums. And make certain he does not dial up the reverb on his own kit. That can blur things in a hurry. At least in a small venue.


Sound as good as you play
Member
Since: Dec 23, 2008

Apr 22, 2009 04:12 pm

Thanks for the pointer on drum reverb. It's taken a lot of effort to dial back everybody in the group on their effects. I've actually run a completely dry vocal mix for the last few gigs and people have found the vocals to be more intelligible. On Saturday we're going to try adding back just a touch of reverb to smooth out the edges.

The only serious hold-out on effects is the second guitar player. He keeps asking why his leads don't pop in the mix and I've told him that I think the muddle of effects are hurting his tone to the point where it won't cut through the ambient noise. No matter how much I push up his channel in the mix, the noise level goes up ahead of the guitar tone.

The guy who plays most of the leads is gently pushing him toward a using clean tone. Until he has a breakthrough he'll stay lost in the mix.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Apr 22, 2009 08:07 pm

Ya, just let him know that you'll handle the verb if it is really needed. You can judge for yourself if he is using too much.

I only mention it as many of the kits in those modules have such a heavy dose of reverb on them at times. Good in the studio sometimes, but sucks live most times.

Ya, why is it that some guitar players just don't get it. They ask and you tell them exactly why their sound is getting fudged and its like you get that blank Labrador stare.

Its all about getting them to finally hear it.

> > > E-Drum Kit - What's the usual output signal?

Related Forum Topics:


If you would like to participate in the forum discussions, feel free to register for your free membership.