Homemade Electronic Drum kit (idea)

Posted on

Perdido
Member Since: Dec 15, 2004

After discussing a few routes on this project with another HRC member... I have decided to embark on yet another design project.

I have concluded that due to my restrictions on recording, the only way I am ever going to be able to record drum tracks for my songs is to get an electronic drum kit. However, the cheap ones simply will not work, as I am a drummer and I like the feel of acoustic drums. There are ways to get the feel of acoustic drums, but the kits that provide this cost in excess of $5,000.

so here is my idea...

I am going to start watching local Pawn shops and Ebay. I will attempt to gather 5 snare shells for as cheap as possible. Most cheap snare shells can be had for about 5-10 bucks at the pawn shops.

I will then remove the snares and the bottom head, leaving only the shell and top head. the bottom of the top head will be dampened to quiet the noise... most likely by a semi-large sheet of Dynomat. The acoustic drum triggers will then be mounted on the edge. I will probably use snare stands for four of the drums, as they offer enough of an adjustment to gain the configuration I want. they will be set up as a traditional acoustic kit would be. The 5th snare will be mounted vertically on a hommade stand in place of where a kick drum would normally be.

The trigger will run to a Roland Trigger to MIDI convereter, then from the converter to a MIDI Interface.

I will then be able to trigger samples VIA a program such as Reason or Native Instruments.

Excluding the price of the program, I am estimating this whole project to be between $300 and $400. I will have the feel (and look,to an extent) of an acoustic kit, with the silence of an electronic kit, and the ability to use virtually any drum sound in my songs.


Is there anything I may have overlooked in the planning process? This appears to be the most logical thing to do, since this project prices out at about 100 under the cheapest electronic drum kit W/O the module.

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a.k.a. Porp & Mr. Muffins
Member
Since: Oct 09, 2002


Jun 30, 2005 02:43 pm

What about the cymbals? That's the only thing that I could see being a problem.

...bringing sexy back
Member
Since: Jul 01, 2002


Jun 30, 2005 02:46 pm

i lvoe the idea of using real drums to make an electronic kit out of. good luck bud!

Perdido
Member
Since: Dec 15, 2004


Jun 30, 2005 02:47 pm

Nothing was mentioned about the cymbals because I have yet to come up with an idea for that. I might be looking at another roland trigger to MIDI convereter, and some actual cymbal triggers. They can be had for 85/pair on Musicians Friend.

Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003


Jun 30, 2005 02:49 pm

I would recommend you vistit a site such as

www.vdrums.com/forum/inde...d42e35a1ce99e05

and ask some questions there. Personally I think you'd be much better off with Roland (even the TD3 kit is well respected in druming community) or Yamaha kit that's ready to go.

The kit I have has a mesh head snare, the rest are rubber pads, and I think you'd find you adapt very quickly, that's the impression I get from all the drummers on the above site. You can get this kit for about $1300 new, you then have everything needed to trigger samples on a PC, but can also play without a PC when you want.

Dan

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Jun 30, 2005 02:50 pm

agreed, you can often get a set of used electronic kits for a pretty reasonable price...

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Jun 30, 2005 02:50 pm

Why not go ahead and use real cymbals? Fake cymbals usually don't sound that great anyways.

Perdido
Member
Since: Dec 15, 2004


Jun 30, 2005 03:48 pm

Ya know... This may come off as rude but... why is it that everytime someone posts an idea which is designed with the sole intent of spending as little as possible, someone has to suggest a product that is in excess of $1,000? I, for one, Barely clear 13K a year, and am 10K in the hole. This is getting VERY old, and the recommendations are unappreciated. This post was not made with the intent on a product suggestion, but rather, to present an idea and make sure I am not missing anything. I will NOT consider buying an electronic drum kit. If I could afford the $1,300 for one, I would buy the $800 tama kit I really want.

Tadpui - That idea has been considered, and is currently on the top of my list. I have heard from a number of people that the cymbal samples are no good. The only problem I have with the idea is the volume. I would like this kit to be as quiet as possible, so I can record the drum tracks regardless of who is home, or what time if the day it is.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Jun 30, 2005 03:54 pm

Hey, lighten up a bit, I bought my ****** electronic kit for $350 and it's great, and I see them for under $500 used on a very regular basis...and that is WITH the sound module...if you don't like the suggestion, then ignore it. It IS a valid idea and would possibly cost less than your proposed idea.

Jeezuz...ya it came off rude as hell, that'll be the last ****** time I suggest an idea to you, as you like to pop off on people when they don't tell you what you want to hear...a forum is for discussion...just cuz you start the conversation doesn't mean you control the direction it takes, ya don't like the ideas presented, ignore 'em.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Jun 30, 2005 04:00 pm

i don't think your idea will be as silent as an electronic kit....a real drum head and shell will make a good deal of noize.

Perdido
Member
Since: Dec 15, 2004


Jun 30, 2005 04:15 pm

Dan... missed your post somehow. I have been watching Ebay, but all the kits I have seen... I contact the seller, and within 10 mintutes the auction has been pulled and I have been notified that it was a scam.


My rudeness was directed entirely toward the comment about buying a $1,300 dollar kit. Im sure that if I wanted to spend an extra $1,000 (which, btw, would take me almost a full year to save up) then yes... im sure it WOULD be a better route to go. I just dont see why so many people have to kill perfectly good ideas with suggestions of such high equipement.

BTW, dan... it was not "what I dont want to hear" it was a "completely off topic" statement. it made about as much sense to me as if someone came on here asking how to get the hiss out of a vox track and another member suggested that they give up home recording and go to a world-class studio. But, if that is really how ya feel... I am more than happy to simply stop comming on here, since I cannot seem to ever present an idea without turning it into a debate which eventually results in suggestions of expencive gear.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Jun 30, 2005 04:26 pm

Whatever, man, I don't care, I am sick of people that always have something to ***** about or start an argument, I don't have time for it.

Discussions go many directions, everybody has different goals and different values of their time spent compared to just buying...it's a damn discussion, that is what a forum is. Deal with it.

Nobody was insulting, rude or condensending to you, so WTF?

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Jun 30, 2005 04:40 pm

i think he's havin' a bad day

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Jun 30, 2005 04:47 pm

"Wow, that escalated really quickly!"

"Yeah, it did!"

"I stabbed a guy in the heart with a trident."

"I saw that! You should probably lay low. You're probably wanted for murder."

patron saint of quality footwear
Member
Since: May 30, 2002


Jun 30, 2005 09:49 pm

Brick, where did you get a hand grenade?

I don't know.

Member
Since: Jul 02, 2003


Jul 01, 2005 12:41 am

Well, sorry the post was of no help.

Dan

Member
Since: Jun 14, 2007


Jun 14, 2007 01:04 am

OK, lets start at making your own triggers... www.toontrack.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=35472

I just made one, for like $6 (Canadian Dollars I might at!) and it works like a charm!

Second the heads... I found out today that if your local music store is a factory Pearl Dealer, they can get in Pearl Mesh Muffle Heads. They are the same sort of fabric heads on the super expensive Roland drums... And CHEAP! Look into it man, its worth the time! They are the heads that come with the Pearl Rhythm Traveler kit, just incase the guy ya talk to has no clue...

Third: Drum module...If you are looking on the cheap, Alesis makes the lowest cost Drum module that I have been able to find. Look for an Alesis D4, D5 or the Alesis Trigger I/O on ebay. ANd don't get a drum machine. They don't have trigger inputs normally!

And for Cymbals... I am still not totally sure what I am going to do there... Thinking some sort of metal, maybe even plastic, with a Piezo Element attached somehow... More to follow when I finally get done!

Here are the places I have read most of what I said here:

www.toontrack.com/edrum_for_free.asp
vdrums.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=48

Hope that helps...
Joe

And hey, I am on the same path as you. I have a good set of drums for stage and jamming, just want to be able to track at home, with the feel of real drums, and the sound of piece and quiet, and the ease of MIDI all on the super cheap!

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004


Jun 14, 2007 01:08 am

Welcome to HRC!

hehe guy dosn't really hang out hear anymore....but that's some good info on the situation!

i'll give ya props for jumpin' right in!

String bender
Member
Since: Unknown


Jun 14, 2007 06:21 pm

Talk about back from the dead! Thanks for the info though it looks like good stuff. I want to build a set one of these days. I had a bookmark for DIY drums too let me see if I can find it...... it was www.electronicdrums.com/frames/byo_frame.htm

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