As you continue to work on your home recording studio, one instrument you might want to have available to those that are visiting your studio is an electronic drum set.

An electronic drum set can match any music genre by producing a countless number of percussion sounds. If you’re going to start hosting musical artists in your recording space, having an electronic drum set available to them ensures that they’ll have a way to incorporate percussion into their music without having to bring their equipment.

Why go electronic

So, why go with an electronic drum set for your space instead of using a traditional acoustic set? Well, one reason is that they are more versatile in a studio space. Electronic drum sets can produce sounds from every genre, which makes it easy for drummers from every musical style to use electronic drums.

Another reason they work well in studio spaces is that recorded performances are easier to edit since you’re able to capture sounds as MIDI data. Electronic drums can plug directly into the mixing board, allowing you to adjust timing and sounds.

Learning with electronic drums

Another reason to consider using electronic drums is that they can help drummers that are learning how to play. Whether you’re interested in learning to play, or you’re helping a beginner, many electronic drums have built-in learning features.

For example, some drum sets come with built-in song patterns. Beginners can play along with these patterns, building their muscle memory and coordination. Other drum sets have features that allow drummers to develop a better understanding of timing and rhythm. So, it could be easier for someone to learn how to drum on electronic drums, especially if they’re teaching themselves.

Getting used to sound and feel

However, if you’ve ever played on traditional drums, you may find it challenging to adjust to the sound and feel of an electronic drum set. The pads used on electronic drums will require different stick techniques than traditional drums.

As far as sound, drummers will have to get used to the more distant sound of their playing coming from speakers. Some drummers will find this distorting at first. While some people can adjust in the distant sound, others need to use headphones to help sounds seem more immediate. Some also find moving the speakers closer helpful.

Going for mesh or rubber heads

Something you’ll realize as you are looking at sets is that some come with mesh heads and others come with rubber heads. There are differences between these two types of heads.

Mesh heads have trigger spots throughout them, which will produce different sounds depending on which spot is struck. They are more responsive and respond similarly to a traditional drum head. You’ll find that some mesh heads even feel like traditional drum heads. Rubber heads, however, have more of a rebound and produce more sustained sounds. Generally, you’ll find that rubber heads are less expensive than mesh heads.

Sound system is a must

Just like other electronic instruments, you will need some sort of sound system to hear the sounds produced by an electronic drum set. All electronic drums come with a drum module, which controls the sounds of the electronic drums.

From there, the drum module needs to be plugged into an amplifier or a mixer. This allows for the sounds from the module and from the playing to be heard. There is also equipment you can plug into electronic drums that allow you to feel vibrations, just as you would if you were playing a traditional set!

Freedom to practice

Another nice reason to include an electronic drum set over a traditional drum set in your studio space is that it gives you or other musicians greater freedom to practice without disturbing your neighbors! You have greater control over the sounds and volume of an electronic drum set than a traditional set.

While the sounds from a traditional drum set can be hard to cover up, you can always wear headphones or turn the volume down on an electronic set. This way, if your jam session continues into the early hours of the morning, you won’t be disturbing your neighbors.

Final thoughts

If you’re building a home studio and are trying to make it a welcoming space for all musicians, electronic drums could be a worthy investment! Just make sure that you buy a set that is flexible in height, which will allow musicians to adjust the drums to be a height that is comfortable for them.