Budget-conscious DIYers may have noticed some drop-in trigger plates on Alibaba with a tempting price tag—under $45, including shipping. Even factoring in a 100% US tariff, the final cost is still significantly lower than the better-known alternatives like the Diamond Electronic Drums Easyfit 14″ multi-trigger plate (£139/US$185) or the Jobeky Fast-Fit Premium 14” system (£99.17/US$135). So...
If you’re passionate about electronic drums, the E-drum Labs at this year’s UK Drum Show is the place to be. On October 18 and 19, head over to the digitalDrummer Room (Hall 12) ACC Liverpool for two full days of pure e-drum inspiration, innovation and interaction. With e-drums gaining ground in music stores and on stages around the world—and so many exciting new models launching...
As the drummer of a touring synth pop tribute band, Tony Le Rhodes uses a vintage Simmons kit – but with some contemporary add-ons. We have a very complicated kit set-up, which results from a lot of engineering. Firstly, we’ve got a custom-designed rack with a floating hi-hat. I even had the cable specifically designed for me by a hydraulics company. Then, we have the Simmons SDS 9 pads...
With plenty of competitors nibbling at its core market, it’s not surprising to see Roland venture beyond traditional instruments for new offerings, but no-one would have predicted the Mood Pan, an electronic handpan, background music source and Bluetooth speaker system – all in one. What’s in the box The Mood Pan is a 12” convex playing surface mounted on what looks like an inverted salad bowl...
Zildjian has slashed $1,000 off the price of its mid-range ALECHEM-E Gold kit and $500 off the base Bronze EX kit, which are now priced at $3,999 and $2,999, respectively. The price reduction comes in the wake of a major software update that consists of new firmware and new sound samples. Enhancements include a note chase feature for trigger tweaking, auto-save for trigger settings and a new mask...
E-drummers have a new sound source option, with Italian drummer Paolo Simonazzi releasing the plans and a component list for a new USB sound expander – and the software needed to run it – all for free. DrumPi began its journey in 2011 when Simonazzi, a software engineer, began toying with the idea of using the smartphone as a sound engine for an electronic drum module. Hampered by latency, in...
Much of the activity in the in-ear monitor market has been at the budget end, but established German audio specialist beyerdynamic is not ignoring the growing musician market. The company used the last NAMM Show to debut a new line of in-ear monitors, one of them specifically designed for drummers. The DT 71 IE is designed to “deliver powerful bass and clear treble, enhancing low frequencies...
Allan Leibowitz tests Roland’s new wireless cymbal pack. ROLAND CONTINUES TO reap the benefits of its DW acquisition, bringing more DWe innovations into its mainstream line-up. The latest evolution is the DrumLink wireless system, which incorporates DW’s wireless triggering technology into Roland’s broader e-drum ecosystem. We first saw DWe tech in action with Roland’s latest digital snare drums...
Akhil C S, a software developer and music producer, has launched a free online tool designed to solve a common and often frustrating problem faced by electronic drummers and producers: remapping MIDI drum files between different virtual drum instruments. The web app, OnlineMidiRemap.com, allows users to easily convert MIDI drum parts created in one drum library to match the mapping of another — a...
Electronic drum kits are built to withstand hours of playing — but like any instrument, they require regular maintenance to keep them performing at their best. Whether you’re gigging regularly or drumming at home, here are some crucial tasks every e-drummer should include in their maintenance routine. Check (and replace) worn foam cones The foam cones or columns under the mesh head on pads are key...
digitalDrummer Magazine
Access all our magazines online
About
By electronic drummers,
for electronic drummers.
FROM THE EDITOR
Electronic drums have come a long way since the 1970s and are now seen alongside their acoustic siblings on stages around the world. They also draw crowds at music trade shows and attract strong interest on the floors of music shops.
As an electronic drummer, technology enthusiast and professional writer, I know first-hand how hard it is to be taken seriously when your kit needs a powerpoint and amp. That’s why we launched digitalDrummer in 2010. I wanted to create a communication channel dedicated to this vibrant market and the musicians who are so enthused by the digital opportunities.
Because it is aimed at a niche audience of dedicated enthusiasts, digitalDrummer is able to explore drum technology in great detail, but it is written for drummers, not techno-geeks.
Please enjoy our content and subscribe to our monthly updates.
Allan Leibowitz
Join other digital drumming enthusiasts by subscribing
We have upgraded our website so that you can still find all of our previous resources and blog content in our Blog Archive.
Subscribe for new content, or enjoy some time scrolling through our stories, pictures and video from over 10 years of research via links below. And check our out social media to join the e-drums conversation.
