Friday, November 26, 2010

What are Electronic Drums?

By Adriana Noton


Drums are the oldest instrument on the planet. Percussion comes as naturally to human beings as the heartbeat, and there was probably never a time where percussion wasn't used, if not in songs then in some type of rituals. But like all things, modern technology has impacted this ancient tradition in a substantial way in the form of the electronic drum.

Quite simply, the electronic drum is a set of rubber and mesh pieces in the shape of all the pieces associated with a regular drum kit-tom toms, snare, base, hi hat and cymbals. Instead of having the quality of the materials produce the sound, the sticks activate sensors in the drums which in turn activate a synthesizer. The drum sound comes out of an amplifier opposed to being produced acoustically. This gives you numerous benefits.

For one thing, you have countless drum kits at your fingertips. Electronic drums permit you to change the sound of each drum, and kits come in different themes. Even within a genre there's choices and ranges of sound. Instantly switch from a jazz setting to a Jamaican steel drum...very cool stuff! A lot of electronic music relies on drum sounds that are nothing like the sound acoustic drums produce. In this sense, electronic drums have gone beyond the drumming world and have affected contemporary music.

The number one reason parents don't want their children playing drums is the loud volume. When beginning an instrument, it's expected to take a fair amount of time to get sufficiently good, and that interim can be hard to bear on such a loud instrument! Electronic drums makes this no problem as the volume can be adjusted with the turn of a knob. Not to mention, headphones can be worn. This benefit cannot be overstated. Also, the reverse is true. If you're with horn players and you want the volume turned up, it's a simple matter.

Though electronic drums are a new innovation, the past couple years has seen improved technology. One of the most interesting design features is the mesh head. This provides acoustic sensitivity and helps drummers feel like they're playing on a drum, and not a machine; all the practical benefits of electronic drums mean nothing if the musicians don't like playing on them. Since their invention, companies have improved sound quality and have been able to send signals to the sound module with greater accuracy, creating a more realistic drum kit. The newer models allow for more parts of the cymbals and hi-hat to play, providing a wide range of sound and a more realistic drumming experience. Each drum has more sensors and targets zones. Every acoustic drum and cymbal changes sounds depending on where you hit it, and new electronic drums can better duplicate this effect. Though the high end, professional models can be expensive, electronic drum sets can be very affordable, and in some cases even less money than traditional drums.

Electronic drums aren't only cool, but they are extremely pragmatic. Though still in their infancy, the technology has already made them more and more like traditional drums.




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