Drums for recording-Differences in Make & Models?

Mid line Yamaha's or Pearls both can sound excellent with good tuning techniques. You can usually pick up used sets that will include hardware and maybe a couple of decent cymbals in the 600 - 700 range. I bought a full set of Pearls with cymbals and a pork pie snare for 350.00 in excellent condition too. Really the first 95 % of a good drum sound will come from fresh heads and good tuning. The remaining 5 % you'll get with custom shells  etc.

Yeah, there is a big difference in the sound of the different kits. In all the bands I played in with various drummers, I learned about the differences. Maple, birch, metal, Plexiglas, all sound different. add heads into the mix and even the sticks used, and you have all sorts of sound combinations.

Many of the drum samplers will have all (and more) of these various kits available. In Jamstix for example, not only are the kits available but it is possible to "tune the heads" specifically as you need.

Buying an acoustic set will give you one basic sound depending on the kit, so listen to it carefully to be sure it sounds like you want.

Another option is a midi/electronic kit. It has the drums and cymbals, but changing sounds and kits is as easy as assigning a new sample set to the synth in the box.  You still need the talent to play it but the sound is sampled and that allows so many options. You're not stuck with only one sound.

However, all that being said..... a nice acoustic set, with good heads, and properly tuned, damped, and miked in a studio is a freaking awesome sound.

Thanks Herb & Jeff

I have thought about the Rolands TD series, quite a few of them being listed around here lately. They kinda scare me, not sure on wear and tear on them as a used set and problems that might creep up with them due to hard use.  I like the thought of being able to easily adjust what ever tuning and tones ya want. Also for personal use when others are around, just being able to throw on a set of head phones and gettin with it. Again the midi thing and possible electronic probs kinda scare me-or am I just worrying about nothing?

The thought of the acoustic set I think is better cause so many are probably more likely to just add there own equipment as Jeff added above and will probably feel more at home with the acoustic over the electronic set. 
For my personal use, I think the acoustic is more for helping with arthritis if ya can picture that.

The good news is that there are a lot of great sounding mid priced kits out there and like has been previously discussed, heads and tuning go a long way.

The bad news is, I have never heard a great sounding set of mid priced cymbals.  Either you get top of the line or you get junk.

I would spend money on good cymbals and spend what's left on drums.  Hihat, ride and two crashes should do.  Some come in packs that can save you some money.

Good luck

Thanks a bunch everyone,
Im taking notes and saving.  This is going as I hoped with all the input-Great advise
Thanks again

A great drummer can make a "cheap" kit sound awesome.  A poor drummer on an expensive kit is probably not going to sound good, no matter what you do.  There are some great deals on used drums.  A friend of mine once handed me a snare drum someone had given him after pulling it out of a garbage can.  I put new heads on it, tuned it up, and it became my favorite snare.  That thing had a sound that could knock you over.  You never know until you hit that thing.

When it comes to cymbals, I've found that medium - medium/thin cymbals work better for a large number of drummers.  Very thin cymbals typically have a short decay length while thicker cymbals will ring longer.  Having a mixture of sounds and textures available is usually a very good idea for a studio kit.  In the past, I've used a larger medium-thin cymbal as both a ride and a crash.  I'd play the bell when using it as a ride, and I'd hit the edge when using it as a crash.  It had a nice, lower pitched crash sound (and it saved me money).  Listen to the cymbals individually.  There's a tone and a timbre to each cymbal that's fairly unique.  When you find one you like, see how it sounds with the other cymbals.  There should be enough variety of sounds and textures to make it interesting, yet common enough to sound as though they belong together.  Some cymbals are rather specialized.  China Gongs, splash cymbals, and rivited cymbals have a distinctive sound that may be used only as an effect, rather than as a common cymbal sound.  You may not want to spend your money on these for a basic kit initially.

One warning about thin or even medium-thin cymbals.  Extreme drummers may shatter those.  I knew a guy once who used to knock chunks out of his cymbals.  His guitarist used to have to dodge cymbal shrapnel during rehearsals.  Guitar Center had (very foolishly) guaranteed the cymbals, so he would return the debris every week and pick up a new set of cymbals.  He lost track of the amount of money they lost on him.  Don't let someone like that use your gear. 

If you want to find a set that will work well, listen to it.  Really listen closely.  Take each drum one by one and listen to the tone.  Take a drum key and adjust the tuning until you find that sweet spot where the drum's real character comes out.  After listening to each drum individually, listen to them together.  A good set will sound good together.  Spending time on tuning and managing resonance will do more for your kit's sound than than you can imagine.

Good drum mics and good mic placement can also make a significant impact on your sound.  There are a lot of great resources available online and/or in print to help in this area. 

Oh, if you do consider electronic drums, keep in mind the fact that drummers play midi controllers differently than they play acoustic drums.  I know that I do.  I think of my midi drums as a different instrument, the way a guitarist may consider a Les Paul Custom to be a different instrument than a Martin acoustic.  That may seem trivial, but it really does help.  There is a mental adjustment that many drummers make when playing midi drums.  If your drummer is not familiar with midi drum controllers or if he/she/it has a bias against them, you'll have difficulty working that out in the studio.

I love my midi drums.  I prefer playing my midi drums.  I've performed live with my midi drums many times.  But I know they're not for everyone. 

Hope something here helps.  Enjoy!

I love my MIDI kit also.  I play both live and record from Yamaha DTXpress IV.  As far as durability, I play them almost every day for 2 years without a single failure.  Using the Steven Slate samples, you have hundreds of options.  Just my 0.02 input.  I love the fact that after recording the tracks, if the kit doesn't fit the song, you can simply replace the kit or single drum without having to rerecord.

Our church bought the Roland V Drums... I'm not sure what model, but I know it cost a bunch and I'm thinking was pretty close to top of the line if not the top.... ( churches sometimes have more dollars  than sense... )  This is a nice sounding kit and the 2 drummers there... one is really talented.... love this kit. Of course the FOH guys never turn it up, but that's a different story.

Swapping the samples are so easy, and I believe it came loaded with a ton of samples too.

I was skeptical at first, having been around some of the previous midi kits, but this one is sweet.

UbiquitousBubba


This one is not for everyone, but I absolutely love my TrapKAT.  It has a great feel, it's easy to setup, and it's extremely flexible.  Want a kit with 6 toms?  No problem.  Want a kit with timbales, congas, a cowbell, two snares, a couple of toms, 8 cymbals, a gong, and a ride?  You got it. 

A lot of drummers get freaked out about the fact that it looks like a table top instead of individual drums, but it's a lot of fun to play.  One drummer I showed mine to said, "Hey!  Everywhere I put a stick, I hit something!  This is great!"

I've got a TrapKat set up in my studio too.  I thought I'd learn to play it but getting good enough to do my own drum tracks will take way more time than I care to wait.  It IS a great tool though and it takes up very little room.

Well I think you guys have convinced me, I believe I am gonna go with both. 

I really like all the input that has come out on the acoustic set and am putting it all in the vault once I get the right set.

Im really interested in the Roland sets as Danny described but was kind of worried about the life expectancy of the different components and what maintenance if any is involved with these sets.  I have located some used ones at a fair price that for the money I dont think you can beat it if they are as advertised.  I guess if they are setup for inspection before buying and all the pads produce notes, it should be Okay?  They do have the TD10 Module so that caught my attention.

Rbh


I use and have access to V drum Kit w/ TD-20. While it is head and shoulder above most any other E drum kit out there... I can't say that it even comes close to the nuance of a real acoustic kit. It's fantastic for pop and rock drums. Anything that you would likely produce to try and sound " Steady state " if you will. But, for subtle nuanced playing like jazz or quiet acoustic styles.... E drums just won't quite do it.

For what it's worth Dig2NS... We're pretty close in proximity, I might be able to find you a good deal on that Roland TD-20 Kit....lot's of extras including a full frame rack.

Yeh the subtle thing kinda had me wondering. Wasnt sure about velocity controls, intensity or how ever it even works on the VDrums as far as something like that. 
If you see a set, fire me a PM with the info if ya dont mind.  Im in the middle right now of storm damage repairs and trying to get the roof replaced so once I know water isnt going to be a factor, Im jumping on em, hopefully not to much longer, StateFarm is rather tied up right now as ya can imagine. Contractors and insurance adjusters will be here Monday.
I think the area Im looking at as far as the VDrum kits go will be the TD9 or 12s as long as it has atleast the 10 Module.  The TD20s is probably more than I want to go for what Im doing. (Unless its a steal of a deal   )

Hey Danny,  Tremendous help as usual-Thank You.
I think what I am calling the module is what you are refering to as the brain? LOL  (if not try and straighten me out     )
Its kinda hard for me to tell but I believe Im thinking along the same lines as you are explaining with the Pads. 
On used kits, Im wanting to stay with the Mesh type pads, not the little black solid ones.  I have noticed that for the modules, Im seeing are a small one and a much larger one available. The 2 used kits I am checking out now appear to have a module of this size - but are advertised as TD10s. 
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TD12/

But they do have the white mesh pads.  Sorry for my lack of knowledge/terminology on the components.

Thanks again

If you spring for electronic drums, you may never be happy with the onboard sounds in the brain, regardless of the model. Using them to trigger Superior, BFD etc is the way to go if you get an electronic kit. The biggest hurdle is usually getting the hi-hat to respond exactly the way you want it to.