Electric
drum sets include percussion instruments that do not generate sound
by acoustic vibration. Instead, the electric drum generates sound
by an electric waveform generator or sampler. There are inexpensive
low-end electric drums whose quality is only slightly better than
some of the original pioneering instruments. With a few minor exceptions
these inexpensive drums are targeted toward the hobbyist.
In the 1980s drummers like Bill Brewer and Neil Peart were adding
more drums and cymbals to their kits and began mainstreaming electric
drum kits. Many drummers criticized early electric drums saying they
gave only an approximation of the sound of acoustic drums due to technical
issues and lacked timbre and tonal subtleties. As a consequence, the
original electric drum sets were often pigeonholed for certain types
of rock, disco, and techno and the artists had little chance to do
more than play the expected beat with the same pattern looped ad nauseum.
These early kits were little more than sequencers except for one exception:
the Pollard Syndrum was the first studio-quality pro recording electric
drum with timbre and full dynamic audio range that extended beyond
human hearing capabilities. Today's professional drummers and musicians
still seek this drum set for recording.
Newer electric drum sets have seen a host of recent innovations and
have taken on many of the problems of early electric drums. Professional
kits are geared toward creating a sound and playing experience that
is almost identical from a quality acoustic kit. There are, however,
musicians who simply feel there is nothing like playing an acoustic
set; jazz musicians almost never play electric drum sets.
Still, for those professionals forging the way in an electric world,
new drum kits are relatively affordable, ranging in price from $2000-$7000.
These kits are typically equipped with high-quality digital samplers
which offered 24-bit samples of actual percussion sounds. Usually
there are hundreds of samples to choose from. Another important feature
is positional sensing and dynamic impact detection which allows the
module to detect the area of the drum had that is struck and provide
a sample representative of that strike on acoustic head. Additionally
this feature allows the drum to reproduce the sound dependent on the
strength of drumstick impact.
Prospective buyers of electric drum sets should discuss the purchase
with their teacher and fellow band members before making an investment.
In addition, there are a number of electric drumming communities online.
These communities provide information, allow users to post questions,
and provide instruction for her to transport and care for your electric
drum set. There is also information on how to transform acoustic drum
sets into electric drum sets. This is a difficult process, and several
inventors have patents pending for the commercialization of this transformation.
It is conceivable that some day one set could be switched back and
forth between electric and acoustic on-the-fly.
Electric drum sets reached their zenith in the 1980s when glamour
and light shows transformed the rock stage. Artists who used electric
drums include Phil Collins, Stewart Elliott, Rick Allen and Alan Wilder.
The garage bands of the 1990s returned to acoustic sets and it remains
to be seen which kind of kit will dominate in the 2000s.