Big Names, Big Ideas: E-drum Labs Return to the UK Drum Show

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 lately — there’s never been a better time to dive into the electronic side of drumming. And we’ve lined up some of the biggest and brightest names in the game to help you do just that. Who’s in the Spotlight? Adam Tuminaro – The Orlando Drummer (Alesis) He stole the show at last year’s European […]

Strata line extended

Alesis has expanded its Strata e-drum range with the launch of a new kit, the Strata Club kit. The new kit delivers on the increasing need for pro-quality sound in compact spaces with a plug-and-play experience that mirrors an acoustic set – all at an affordable price, according to Alesis. The Strata Club is a seven-piece kit based on the mid-range Core module, which sports a 7″ touchscreen and the BFD3 sound engine. The module provides access to a 25 GB catalogue with 144,000 individual samples covering over 370 different kit pieces and 800 unique articulations. The drum line-up consists of a 12” dual-zone mesh snare, two 10” dual-zone mesh toms and 9” mesh kick drum tower. A 14” triple-zone […]

Strata downsizes

Alesis has extended the Strata Series with the launch of a more compact Strata Core. The company says the new set offers “the same advanced features as its larger sibling … but at a more approachable price point and a 30% reduced footprint”. “We designed the Strata Core with the modern drummer in mind, offering professional-grade performance in a more accessible, compact format,” states  John Boudreau, director of product management. “The goal was to deliver everything drummers love about the Strata series— incredible sound quality, responsive playability, and world-class technology. We want to make it easier for musicians to practise and perform anywhere.” The Strata Core features dual-zone drums with mesh heads and 360-degree responsive ARC cymbals. The drums are […]

Alesis expands Nitro line

Alesis has expanded its Nitro e-drum line with the launch of the Nitro Pro, boasting larger pads and a robust design. The kit consists of a 10” dual-zone deep mesh snare, three  8” dual-zone mesh toms and an 8” mesh kick drum tower, all mounted on a steel rack. The cymbal array consists of three 10” cymbals – a ride, crash and hi-hat. “We are proud to extend the Alesis Nitro family with Nitro Pro,” says John Boudreau, director of product management at Alesis. “This kit presents an unparalleled value in the marketplace, offering professional studio quality sounds and advanced features. With Nitro Pro, we invite drummers to take their passion for drumming to the next level.” ​ ​ ​ […]

Alesis unveils new flagship

Alesis has unveiled its new Strata Prime electronic drum kit, a 10-piece mesh kit with 360 degree responsive cymbals and hi-hats. The kit consists of a dual-zone 14” snare; 8”, 10”, 12” and 14” mesh toms and a versatile 20” kick drum. The cymbals are all triple-zone (two 16″ crashes and one 18″ ride). The all-new Strata Prime drum module features a BFD engine and a 10.1” touch screen. With 128 GB of internal storage, including over 40 GB of pre-loaded content for user customisation, drummers have access to over 215,000 samples and more than 75 kits. Coupled with extensive sound libraries, the Strata Prime enables highly personalised performances, blending acoustic realism with electronic versatility for a unique drumming experience. […]

Alesis adds Nitro Max kit

Alesis has unveiled a new Nitro Max kit, an eight-piece kit featuring new mesh pads and BFD samples. The Nitro Max kit has a 10” dual-zone mesh snare drum, three 8” mesh toms and a kick drum tower. There are three 10” cymbals, a custom-designed Alesis hi-hat pedal and kick pedal, and a four-post aluminium rack. The kit is powered by a Nitro Max drum module, which has 440 drum and percussion sounds, 40 drum kits, and 60 built-in play-along tracks. This set-up also has Bluetooth to connect a smartphone or tablet for instant practice and accompaniment. Buyers additionally get three months of access to Drumeo, the world’s biggest online drum education platform, as well as one month of interactive […]

Roland wins patent action against Alesis

Roland has won a legal action against Alesis parent company inMusic over infringement of its patents. A Roland statement says judgment was rendered in its favour by the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida in the lawsuit which Roland filed against inMusic Brands, Inc. Roland filed a patent infringement lawsuit against inMusic in 2016 in the Federal Court for the Central District of California. The case was later transferred to the Federal Court for the Southern District of Florida. Roland alleged that electronic drums and electronic cymbals sold by inMusic under the Alesis brand in the United States infringed several Roland patents. It is understood the action was prompted by Alesis’ launch of its Strike Pro kit. […]

Becoming more e-xpensive

For e-drum buyers, inflation is not a theoretical concept – they are seeing it in action each time they shop for new gear. Retailers like US-based Sweetwater have been experiencing price increases over the past 12 months and expect more to come. Kenric Knecht, senior director, drums & percussion/merchandising development, tells digitalDrummer: “We’re seeing price increases across pretty much all brands, in all categories, including, of course, electronic drums. The increases vary, depending on a wide range of individual factors and situations the manufacturers may face.” Manufacturer Efnote recently took to Facebook to flag increases of 5% to 15% for its kits in the North American market. Spokesman Michael Bedard said Efnote had “held out as long as we could […]

Buying a first kit

A common reader question at digitalDrummer is “what should I buy for my kid’s first kit?”. We checked with some experts for their advice. New or used? Unsurprisingly, Blake Plumleigh, long-time owner of eBay store Blakes Drum Shop in Encinitas, California, is a big fan of used gear. “You can save 30-50% or more in some cases,” he says, referring to the overall cost of second-hand components compared to a brand-new kit. “A lot of name brand products do last a long time. They also don’t lose as much value when you sell them,” he explains. Giant US retailer Guitar Center sells both new and used e-drums, and Glenn Noyes, director of merchandise for drums, cymbals, percussion and accessories, sees […]