| Back in the 60's and 70's most people would | | | | By saying this I'm not suggesting that you have to |
| associate drum kits with the traditional bass, snare, | | | | completely replace your acoustic drum kit for an |
| toms and cymbals set up with a rock and roll | | | | electronic version. For starters the reality is you have |
| drummer bashing out some beats, seemingly in a | | | | to pay a lot of money for a very good electronic |
| world of their own. With the advancement of | | | | drum kit - over £2000 in some cases. And aside |
| technology this would soon change. | | | | from the money aspect, setting up an electronic |
| In the late 70's technology allowed for the | | | | drum kit is quite technical. |
| introduction of electronic drum kits. Imagine if you | | | | Another way to look at bridging the desire to keep |
| told Keith Moon that his hallowed acoustic drum kit | | | | your acoustic drum kit and embracing technology you |
| would be replaced with an electronic version. The | | | | could have a look at including something like the Korg |
| suggestion would have come across as being | | | | WAVEDRUM. This is a second-generation drum |
| completely insane - and for good reason. Electronic | | | | module that you'll be able to take anywhere in the |
| kits back in those days were very basic and the | | | | world and add a whole new sonic dimension to your |
| quality of sound lacking to say the least. | | | | sets. With hundreds of on board sounds, presets you |
| These days though you'd find it very difficult to | | | | will not get bored. |
| choose based solely on the quality of the sound. In | | | | Apart from being portable the great feature of the |
| fact Bill Bruford of King Crimson was one of the first | | | | Korg WAVEDRUM is that it mimics the dynamic |
| to introduce the electronic drum kit to his sets, and | | | | range you would get from an acoustic drum and |
| has almost completely abolished the need for | | | | allows real power of expression by responding |
| acoustic drums. You'll find it very hard to notice the | | | | perfectly to the performers action and how they |
| difference. | | | | play. No Korg WAVEDRUM will sound the same! I |
| In some ways you can understand the reticence of | | | | won't go into great detail about the wealth of |
| drummers to sell out to the digital age. Digital just | | | | features, but imagine you've been hired for some |
| doesn't quite fit with the rock and roll image does it?! | | | | session work that involves some congas fills and you |
| However, with more bands becoming reliant on | | | | don't own congas. You have a decision to make - |
| gigging to make an income and also with music | | | | either buy some congas, which would require a |
| genres constantly overlapping and morphing, bands | | | | significant investment and then the hassle of |
| need to be adaptable to change and how technology | | | | travelling with them, or buy a drum module that you |
| can help them - even your good old rock and roll | | | | can fit into your hand luggage at a fraction of the |
| bands. | | | | cost. Go figure! |
| There is no doubt though that any drummer worth | | | | So to sum up, I don't think there is a clear-cut winner |
| their salt will be able to maximize the variant of the | | | | between an acoustic drum kit and an electronic drum |
| sound they produce through a variety of tricks | | | | kit. In my view it's about embracing elements of both |
| (sorry I can't tell you these - you'll have to work | | | | and expanding your diversity and sonic capabilities. |
| them out for yourself). To progress as a drummer | | | | Who knows where this journey would take you, but |
| though and make a little bit more money for your | | | | as a musician who can deny themselves the endless |
| back pocket, its important there days to be | | | | possibilities that exist with the inclusion of technology |
| adaptable to different styles of music, and who | | | | into their kits. |
| knows you might just get some session work. | | | | |