Drum Sets

Roland group of corporation is in two major category of business and the electronic musical instruments is one of them. Roland is well known for manufacturing standard and trust-worthy products in the musical equipments industry, ranging from pianos, guitars, keyboards, digital recording units, audio processing devices and amplifiers. Roland group are engaged them constantly in the field of development and invention. The rapid development in the technology enhances the creativity and Roland becomes the world’s first place for many products. From such a leading group, we have one more latest launch to discuss with. It is Roland’s TD-4KX2 V-compact series electronic drum set.

Overview:

Roland apparently promises you for a gala entry to the world of V- series drum sets which is very much affordable. Vintage instruments have gone all the way, musicians themselves have got used to play the modern world electronic instruments, which of course gives them a wide platform for adopting the advancements and inspire them to perform up to the best on the professional front. Roland’s TD-4KX2 has challenging features that easily replaces the prior model under the same banner TD-4KX in so many aspects. This V- series drum set would be a vital part of increasing the duration of practicing and the quality of playing on drums. The MIDI capabilities ease the connectivity to a computer and as everyone expect, we can record while playing.

Design:

Roland TD-4KX2 is classic and very much of a room-fit once we have arranged the drum kit. Arranging would not trouble if you had prior experience in setting a drum kit. Unfortunately if we happen to be the first time assembler, then it would take some time to get used to handling them. It is a four legs arrangement yet it is as compact as a two leg drum sets. Even though the body is made of aluminum, it is well-built and no doubt that it will definitely hold some harsh and strong hits on the playing swing. And the crash clamps are much supportive when tightening and loosening process of the arrangement. The setting instructions are clear and set the assembling process a bit easy. The manual provided is user-friendly. Still, there are chances for amateurs to search for someone to help them out. Yet it is easy if we confidently approach it. Enough cables have been provided with the drum kit; still we face some difficulties in the arrangement, because the cables are pre-cut. While arranging hi-hat cymbal, the hi-hat stand fixing takes only less time. The clutch screw is adjustable with that tightening becomes easy. There would be two cables HH trigger cable and HHC trigger cable. Connection should be made like the HH trigger cable to the trigger out jack and HHC cable to the control out jack. This model comes with the very compactly designed MDS-4 rack just to follow the standardized pattern. TD-4KX2 has been added with a new kick drum pad that of the prior model. TD-4KX2 differs in features compared with the prior model, TD-4K2. TD-4KX2 contains all mesh pads such as PDX8 for floor tom and PDX6 pads for rack toms. One more worth noticing feature is a cymbal-12C dual zone for bow and edge crash cymbal pad enabled with choke control feature. In addition to that, a cymbal-13R triple zone for bell, bow and edge ride pad is also included. However, the cymbal-5 is the selective pad served for hi-hat in this drum kit. The FD-8 remote hi-hat pedal is present here too as of in the TD-4K2. Wiring up can be done just like that; the reason behind this is obviously the coloured labels guide us throughout the wiring process.

Sound Quality:

The complete unit of this TD-4KX2 is simple yet sturdy. 125 first-rate quality sounds are included along with the traditional sounds for a drum kit such as kicks, toms, snares, cymbals and percussion. Both head and rim sounds are for snare and toms. We can turn on each sound and there is an option to dampen down and control the complete unit’s sound. Features like panning, threshold and crosstalk can be used and the volume of every single pad can also be adjusted. Multitude editing functions are available for creative purposes. There is a wide-ranging metronome and coaching module for rhythms which will provide us a great opportunity to try out bundled options just by spending some time and that would channelize and harmonize our playing. Headphone out and MIDI out and a mix input are aided to connect the entire unit to the supplementary sound unit.

User Interface:

Roland’s TD-4KX2 kit performs better than the rival products in the market wearing a huge price label on the head. It produces good sound quality in addition to brilliant response and friendly mode functional options. Both the headphone and the PA system join together in a kit seem to be a great deal. The full-mesh pad sounds so natural and lively than playing on a usual rubber padded configuration. This is surely a wild beast that we do not want to miss out and it is well worth the money we pay. The positioning of the TD4 module neither as per the instruction nor as per the usual assembling seem to be perfect. The reason behind this is the brain mounted on the front positioned bar of the MDS-4 occupies a lot of space and this makes us a bit of convenience to get to the module. This is a negligible setback where we would get used to the arrangements. Easy editing feature is one more plus, where we can edit and change the tunes just like that while playing on live.

Verdict:

The TD-4KX2 has a very good stick feel, we have to definitely mention the full-mesh pad. The multitude functions and brilliant sound quality are the features almost all the players look for. This kit would be the perfect choice for drummers who start from the beginning level to the top. This can be used for second level of professional purpose and perfect for a proficient practice. The overall performance promises more than what we expect.

Roland TD-4KX2 – Specification Table

Alesis acquires a prominent position in the electronic drum set market. This is indeed achieved by delivering products of exceptional quality at an affordable price. Alesis DM10 Studio kit, the successor of the 2010 version DM10 is packed with exceptional features. On comparing the DM10 Studio Kit 2011 amongst the Yamaha and Roland electronic drum sets, this one has two distinct features. One is the price margin itself and the second is the extreme flexibility it offers to the drummer. Flexibility is rendered to an extent of loading songs and sounds from third parties such as the Toontrack and Addictive drums. In addition to this, the five piece kit has more to offer and is discussed in the review below.

Overview

The Alesis trademark Dynamic Articulation is well embedded in this 2011 version DM10 drum set which produces a very realistic effect of the sound. Moreover, the drum pads produce natural sound and the DM cymbals create realistic sound effect. Accompanied with the stable yet compact stage rack the DM10 Studio kit looks classic. The sound module includes sounds of cymbal and other samples which are produced from acoustic drum set. A wide variety of cymbal sounds collected from all over the world would be the dream for professional drummers. In addition to this, DM 10 Studio Kit is the world’s first drum set which can be connected through USB to the computer. The sequencer function allows the user to record and play simultaneously. All in all, it is projected as the best drum set for playing perfectly and practicing effortlessly.

Set up

The Alesis DM10 Studio Kit can be easily assembled if the user is having good hands-on experience in dealing with the arrangement, but if they are amateur the set-up instructions would be unclear, but the frame can be assembled even by people of minimum expertise. Despite the aluminium body, it is sturdy to support the harsh hits. Unfortunately Alesis has supplied plastic clamps that are slightly fragile in handling and could be broken during the tightening process. We would have preferred to have ball joints that aids in adjusting the tom pads as it is being used in acoustic drums. Once clamped properly, it permits the upwards and downwards movement, however it is rather tricky when playing it hard. Nevertheless, it is all marked respectively and there is less confusion. The cables provided are reported to be of short of length as it is pre-cut in the required dimension. This arrangement creates insufficient wiring to neatly arrange the frame, and therefore the user ought to make adjustment with respect to positioning of sound module or hi-hat cymbals. Albeit the set-up process is complete, the base drum module hinders the playing to certain extent. The bulkiness of the drum makes it impossible for the user to control the wobbliness while playing the instrument. The DM10 Studio kit needs to be calibrated and adjusted prior to being played.

High light features

Drums

The Alesis Dm10 Electronic Drum Kit includes the acoustic imitation of the Realhead pads available in 10” and 8” respectively. The drum set also includes the Mylar pads which enhances the realistic sound effect. The counter hoops which are flanged on the three sides produce the acoustic feel. Besides the rim shots and rim clicks, the availability of the dual zone snare pads produces wind chimes and cowbells and many other sounds. Any pedal can be used, be it single or double kick variety.

StageRack

The stage rack is the best aspect of the DM10 Studio kit. It is because, the drum set is clearly designed to be used for stage purpose and hence rigidity of the frame matters the most. In this respect, the stage rack comprises of good quality 1/12” tubing. The whole set-up is completely adjustable thereby allowing the maximum freedom to the user to bang on. In addition to this, the backbone allows the user to extend the drum set by adding any other percussion instruments.

Performance

DM10 Studio kit initially requires customisation, but once it is done it is at its best in delivering exquisite sounds. The drum pad and the hi-hat pedal are basically highly responsive and as a result produce acoustic feel. As mentioned earlier, the trigger setting also requires tuning. On the downside, we felt that the bell is slightly less bouncy. The set-up as whole is sensitive. Owing to this, a click on the rack, hi-hat produces a sound. Recorded sound tracks were good and reflect versatility.

Verdict

Alesis DM10 Studio kit is a good bargain considering the price it is sold and the features. Nevertheless, the tweaking demands time, however the same problem persists in any electronic drum kit. The brighter side of the drum kit is that it has a futuristic design and therefore refrain the user from upgrading to a higher model rather quickly. DM10 Studio kit possesses all the qualities to be played enormously by a trained drummer and a beginner.

Alesis DM10 Studio Kit 6-piece Electronic Drum Set – Technical Specification Table

Pyle – US based company is a leading manufacturer of high quality advanced woofers. In addition to this, they also specialize in the area of car stereo set, home needs and electrical musical instruments. Amongst the product lines, Pyle Pro’s objective is to cater the needs of professional to amateurs. Pyle-Pro PED04 is the electric drum set which falls in the affordable, compact yet usable electronic drum set.

Overview

Pyle-ProPED04 is a compact electronic drum set containing the essence of nearly acoustic drum set feel. The notable attraction is the natural force drum head. It consists of 128 velocity sensors. In addition to this, the pre-set drum has up to 11 variations. The built-in metronome and the MIDI capabilities are yet another attraction considering the price. Moreover, owing to the compact nature the drum rack is completely adjustable. It comes with five drum pads and 2 drum sticks, bass drum pedal and the Hi-hat pedal.

Design

Rather than the semi-circular or elliptical electronic drum set structure, Pyle-ProPED04 Drum Kit resembles like a rack fitted with soft plates. The unique structure gives better edge to the user while playing on it. The unit has five parts, viz, TOM1, TOM2, Hi-hat, Snare, crash, Hi-hat pedal; kick pedal and the control box. The assembling time differs depending on the expertise level, and the user-manual briefs it anyway. The positioning of the control box receives mixed review. Usually it is placed somewhat in close proximity to the user’s eyes, whereas it is placed below the eye-level, reading the display would be an issue for some. The control box is actually clipped on the supporting bars. Though it looks feeble, it can withstand the playing effects.

Prior to assembling the electronic drum set, the bolts and the connectors must be attached precisely. Once the main connector is ready, the supporting bars to hold the components can be quickly fastened. Once the back bone is assembled, it is essential to adjust the T-shape connector in such a manner that the lower shape connector ought to match the knee length. Once it is assembled, the other components have to be attached. While attaching the pads to the connector, care has to be taken that the depressed side of the connector is attached to the protruding side of the pad. This is followed by the assembly of the snare pads, Hi-Hat and the crash.

Control Panel

The control panel is once again filled with buttons and the visibility is an issue. There are direct controls to the Hi-hat, snare, bass crash and the Tom. Besides this, it has slots that can be connected to speakers, headphones, adaptors and MIDI-In and out. The console is split as, percussion sound module and metronome and the other side as drum voice list. The percussion style module can be operated using the four-way button; consisting of the reverb, patch, style and the click.

Features

Natural Response Drum head
The Pyle Pro-PED04 consists of drum heads with 128 level velocity sensors. This attributes to the sound quality generated when electric signal is passed to the sensor. It produces the sound nearly equivalent to that of acoustic drum head.

Built-in Metronome
The built-in metronome can be turned on and off respectively. The beat and the tempo can be changed using the console and the four-way navigational control. The tempo adjustment can improve the knowledge of playing drums.

MIDI Capabilities
The Pyle-ProPED04 contains MIDI in and out. However, in order to use the MIDI, one needs to purchase a midi interface and transfer the data from the system to the drum-set. Devoid of the Midi interface, we hear delay in the sound which is attributed to the interface and not the drum set itself.

Performance

Pyle Pro PED04 Electronic Drum Kit is responsive and the pads produce good sound. The frame structure is strong and though compact can take up strong beats. Moreover, the food pedals respond to the touch and does not require pressurized press. The integrated drum sounds are good and renders impressive effect when listened through the headphone. Depending on the headphone quality, the sound heard would vary. Once again, the PC speakers are not so good to re-produce the same sound effect. While playing the drum set it is advisable to place rubber feet underneath as they tend to slip away while playing too hard.

Verdict

Pyle Pro PED04 is a compact and affordable drum set packed with essential features which can improve the learning skills of an amateur drummer. The instrument usability is further extended by adding features like MIDI capabilities, built-in metronome, and the 10 drum styles can be chosen to play with. It produces decently good sound and can be practiced without any disturbance.

Pyle-Pro PED04 Drum Kit – Technical Specification Table

XM electronic drum kit has a popular market in Asian market and now gaining good momentum in France, UK and Germany. XM is skilled drum designer and manufacturer. The specialty of XM drum set is that it offers a wide range of varieties which sounds almost similar to that of acoustic drum, but at the same time it is made affordable. The pricing makes it very attractive. Moreover, XM has considered to incorporate ideas such as placing the bass drum mounted on the rack, so it remains intact no matter how hard the hit is, thereby rendering a good playing experience.

Overview

First and foremost, the XM drum pads can be attuned with other drum modules. The XMT-5SR electronic drum Set offers good customisation. To name a few, the user can alter the tension created on the mesh head so as to suit the drummer’s style and convenience. It can afford a maximum expansion of 14 pads. Regarding the set-up it is constructed using unique wood drum shell, wherein the crash consists of both the choke and the edge function. In addition to this, it also hoists five preset drum tones and 70 voices. The display interface is made very approachable and can be used at ease. As a final note, it comprises of features worth mentioning for a low priced drum set.

Design

The highlight portion of the XMT-5SR Electronic Drum Kit is the user friendly graphic display set-up. The set is accompanied with module box and can be connected to the module rack. The cross point screw driver can be used for this purpose. The XM 5SR electronic drumset look phenomenal. It is made by using the wooden drum shells thereby giving a classic acoustic feel to it. Furthermore, it is possible to adjust the tension of the drum head. The process involves either tightening or loosening the drum scrum which is located on the drum rim. The drum key can be used for this purpose. The trick is it has to be turned clocked wise for the tightening adjustment and the anti-clock wise for the loosening adjustment. However care must be taken in the fine tuning process. The revolution involved in each screw must not cross the half circle. In addition to this, it must be in the diagonal locking condition. It is essential to understand that the tension adjustment no way improve or depreciate the sound quality. It is done to get the user accustomed to the beat. In other words, tighter the drum head better would be the sensitivity.

The graphic display consists of all the controls to play the drum efficiently. The power switch, display screen, the volume switch, is all accommodated on the front region. The rear side hosts the connection for input and output interface for stereo. The LCD display consists of tempo, beat, volume and direct access to control each of the drum or the snare sound. This usability makes the drum set easy to operate and return for the value of money. The operating procedure is also simple. It has the areas in the display that flashes off when the drum kit itself is in the tone switch mode.

Features

Drum and Cymbal
The most unique feature of the XMT-5SR MIDI in/out Drum Set as a whole is that the tone can be adjusted fro each and every individual drum, cymbal and the hoops likewise. The adjustment part is simple. It is all accessed using the display, amongst the various menus; one would choose the respective adjustment by pressing the mode button present adjacent to the display. The so-called function flashes to start the adjustment. Simultaneously, a beat should be created by hitting on the drum which needs to be tuned. It is done so that the module can detect the one that has to be adjusted. Likewise, the volume, sensitivity and the tone adjustment ought to be carried out by pressing the function button till the particular button flashes. Unlike certain electronic musical instruments that deletes the settings and adjustments once it is turned off, this one registers the latest value of the adjustments and will continue to maintain the same, unless if some other adjustment is made.

Metronome
The XMT-5SR drum set has in-built five tones that can be selected from the display and played. The metronome adjustment can be made with the help of the mode button. The downside is that the metronome must be activated with the plus or minus button. It is because, the plus and minus button is normally used to control the volume level and when it is employed as start or stop function, it can lead to some familiarity issues in the beginning. The metronome’s speed beat and volume can be adjusted effectively in the same manner.

Expansion Slot
The drum kit expansion makes it more flexible. Within the drum set, the AUX and CHN is the expansion rail. It can be extended by pulling it from the rim up to the single drum. The same can be configured and adjusted once the set-up is complete.

MIDI
MIDI In and out slots are located on the upper side of the interface. The MIDI can be activated in the same procedure that is adopted using the display screen and the mode button.

Package

The package content is inclusive of drum module, electronic drum and bass, cymbal, hi-hat, rack stand, pedal and cable unit.

Warranty

The product comes with one year warranty.

Verdict

Considering the competition amongst the big giants such as the Alesis, Roland and Yamaha the XM though new to the European market has come packed with exciting features. Firstly, the extension capability offered for a drum set model at an affordable price is quite attractive. Secondly, the product quality is also not compromised which is very important overall. Moreover the customisation can attract the crowd. The tension of the mesh head can be altered and the drum set can be expanded depending on the player’s expertise. Hence, we could say that XM-5SR pose a better potential in the UK market for its simplicity and quality.

Check all Latest Drum Sets in this website.

XMT-5SR Electronic Drum Kit – Technical Specification Table

Yamaha DTX550K centres on the fundamentals and also increases the customisation of adding additional set-ups. The compact configuration of the Yamaha DTX550K is something impressive. Yamaha’s DTX range is well acknowledged and this product is positioned in between the DTXpress and the DTX900 range. Needless to say, the word DTX has brought tremendous expectation to the crowd. The credit completely goes to the award winning “DTX PAD” technology, which is used in this product too. The pads are based on the cellular silicone face. The particles control the extent of rebound when struck and produce a great drumming effect. Owing to this, Yamaha DTX550K with the DTX pads is priced in the mid-range and a bit expensive than Roland.

Overview

Yamaha DTX550K Drum Set is a comprehensive mix of quality and precision. As stated earlier, the DTX pads offer great drumming experience. The Snare pad ‘XP100SD’ is developed by getting the inputs from top musicians. The textured cellular silicone head not only produces an acoustic drum effect but encourages the player to continue to play. The design set-up is compact and the tunings can be done at ease. Another highlight feature is the hi-hat RHH135, is of moving type. It also contains around 427 sounds, chosen precisely to cover all the genres. With in an in-built practice sessions of 63 varieties, the user indeed grows along with the instrument.

Design

The Yamaha DTX 550K Electronic Drum Kit rocks with a simple yet sophisticated look. Once the assembling is done, the drum set looks appealing and as it contains a two stand leg-stand, the design is still more compact and can be kept quietly in the corner of the room. The rack RS85A is made of metal and powder coated which prevents the rust formation. The rack as such is not heavy and is readily portable. The drum set with the moderate sized tubes forms a sturdy skeleton. The clamps assert a great grip and offers solid positioning. As such the design is compact, but once fitted with the pads and snare, the area and reach to deliver a hit is slightly hindered. Especially, it would be greatly realised by users accustomed with broad acoustic drum set. On the other hand, if it is aimed with the correct technique the issue is far less pronounced. The drum trigger module does not sync well with the rest of the sophistication as it sports an outdated look. Despite the simple appearance with eight buttons and double line LCD display, the device is rather spontaneous.

Set-up

The Yamaha DTX550K drum set is dismantled and packaged in to four sections, the electronic drum rack, pad set, trigger module and the three zone drum pad. The first step is the assembling of the electronic drum module. Primarily, the position of the pipe is fixed in the counterclockwise direction from the curved pipe. The knobs are tightly fastened in that angle. The pipes are to be moved and fitted in the counterclockwise direction and if it is done the opposite, the pipes are sensitive to collision and could bend. While inserting the rubber foot on the end of the pipe, the pipe is slid outwardly up to 7cm to the farthest and then the knobs are tightened. The intersection area of the rack is handled the same way with the pipes rotated in either clockwise or counterclockwise. Finally, the cymbal holder and the trigger module attachment are attached to the rack mount. The only area of concern in the rack set-up is the pipes must be aligned and fitted in the correct direction as demonstrated in the manual. Otherwise it could bend, and moreover the advisable approach in the set-up is when handling each area, the knobs are to the loosened first. The rack set-up might take some time depending on the expertise level, however once it is completed the user ought to the check the stability by shaking the upper area of the vertical pipe. In case of unstable finish, the knobs need to be fastened even more. The next step is simple and it involves the mounting of the pads and the trigger module.  The cymbal pads are placed on the holder by removing the wing nut and the washer from the holder. Once it is secured tightly, the wind nut can be bolted on to it. The user must be cautious not to replace the cymbal pad with Real hi-hat pad as the two of the pads strikes a close resemblance. The kick pad assembly comes in four parts viz, the base, body, wing nut and the washer. The base is set on the body and attached using the nut and the washer. Followed by the kick pad assembly, the Hi-hat and the trigger module are installed. Once, the pads are positioned it can be connected via the 9 channel snake cable to the rear side of the trigger module. The assembling part takes up some time and must ensure that the small wing nuts and washers are not misplaced.

Sound Effects

The Yamaha DTX550K Digital Drum Set equipped with the RHH135 hi-hat gives the better splash and bounce. The drumming is all the more great as it has a two zone construction enabling the drummer to play in a variety of styles. The snare pad benefits from the durable and floating structure that gives the great feel. On the other hand, the snare pad can be readily tuned and adjusted using the conveniently located control system. Though the sounds generated from the snare pads and the toms give a metallic effect, they are more or less in the right place.

Highlight Features

The highlight feature of the drum set is the in-built 427 sounds. The 50 preset sounds cover a wide spectrum of genre. Additionally it can store even up to twenty drum kits. It also offers a neat training program that uniquely blends the perfect 63 internal practice sessions. The user interface is also increased by functions such as mute drum part that gives a live on stage feeling. The drum set can be connected to music player to be practiced along with the preferable tune.

Package

Yamaha DTX550K is packed with electronic drum rack, pad set, three zone drum pad, and the trigger module.

Warranty

The product comes with one year warranty.

Verdict

Yamaha and Roland always goes for a neck to neck competition as both supply drum set in the mid price range. Yamaha DTX550K, though is bit expensive than Roland, the Yamaha beat and the feel would render a great drumming experience for the money invested.

Yamaha DTX550K Drum Set – Technical Specification Table