The final part of an e-drum set is the controller which monitors the triggers and generates the appropriate signal when a strike is detected, and the computer which generates the appropriate wave form for each signal.  These are often in the same box, called the drum MODULE or ‘brain’.  Or they can be separate, with the ‘computer’ perhaps being an actual personal computer or laptop.  Alesis makes such an interface (their Trigger|iO) to go between the triggers and your computer, via USB.

Many modules have MIDI in and out, which means you can use the drum pads to control some external device (like a standalone sound module) or have some external trigger source (like a keyboard) trigger the drum sounds.  This also allows you to connect it to a computer which has the appropriate hardware and software, for control and recording, and possibly for data transfer.  In addition, some modules have USB ports for easier computer connection.

Generally a module will have a set of built in sounds available to choose from to be assigned to each pad.  There may be only a few hundred choices in the lowest level modules to over a thousand in the higher level modules.  Some modules allow you to add additional sounds in the appropriate format (which you can buy from the company or get from user groups or generate in a computer program), and a few allow you to ‘sample’ and store sounds.

Most modules have a built in metronome, and many have a built in sequencer (which allows you to program it to play a pattern).  Some also have teaching and/or practice aids, including built in songs to practice.  Most modules allow you to plug in an external sound source to ‘play along with’.  Most have some form of ‘editor’ which allows you to modify the sounds and setup.  The latter is fairly important, since one of the advantages of the electronic set is allowing you to easily assign the exact sound you want to a particular pad.  If that function is limited or tedious, the set tends to be a lot less attractive compared to an acoustic set.

All modules will have a combined output, and a headphone jack.  To control the mix of sounds is generally under the control of the sound editor.  This is versatile, but clumsy.  Some of the higher end modules will have multiple outputs with individual controls so you can easily control the ‘mix’ of the various sounds.

There will be a number of trigger inputs.  These may be mono (single zone) or stereo (either multi-zone or two single zones, accessed via a mono to stereo ‘Y’ cable’), or a mixture of these.  It is best if the module you get has ‘extra’ triggers beyond what is needed for the pads which come with the set.  This allows you to add pads later.

In order to mount the module to the rack, usually the module has a plate which screws to the bottom, which has a post which fits into a standard clamp, mounted on the rack.  One exception is the Alesis DM5, which says it is a ‘rack mount’ component, but the rack they are talking about is not a drum set rack, but a standard 19” electronics rack.  These modules CAN be mounted to a drum rack, often vertically along one of the legs, but it requires a different mounting methodology.

 BACK                                                                                                                       NEXT