• Pressure sensitivity in toms, cymbals, snare etc. Also the amounts of "zones" on say a tom, where it will produce slight variations in the sound just like an acoustic tom depending on where you hit it, so not only how hard you hit it. I guess the rim on a tom or snare also plays a role here to some extent? Some electronic toms perhaps doesn't even have this feature? I also assume that the "feel" of hitting an electronic tom, snare or cymbal also plays a role. How much the sticks bounce back etc.
• But the main thing I assume is the actual module that controls everything in terms of sounds. How much these sounds are actually perceived as being real, acoustic drums or if it sounds like some cheap drum machine. But perhaps most of these modules these days sound great and the differences in price has to do with other features?
So if one can't afford a really high-end kit right away, wouldn't it be a smart strategy to at least invest a bit more in the actual module since they seem to be the biggest cost of one of these kits or am I coming at this from the wrong angle?
And if not, what would you say would be a reasonable budget for such a module? Something that would allow me to expand the entire kit by perhaps upgrading certain parts every now and then? Perhaps get some toms, cymbals etc. that have more pressure sensitivity at a later stage? Or would such a module not be compatible with a slightly lower-end kit anyway? Or perhaps it's even hard to find a used high-end module being sold without an entire kit?
"Pressure sensitivity".
Triggers in most pads are simple 49 cent piezos. They produce a voltage depending on how hard they are deformed (struck). The module will take that voltage spike and fire off a sound. The sounds can be generated using a
synthesized models (a-la Roland) or by playing samples; and output at a volume relative to the incoming voltage/hit level. With
models the sound is tweaked to emulate the timbre difference one gets on, say, an acoustic drum (Roland V-Drums: "V" being
Virtual). With samples - it depends on layering - i.e. how many actual samples are stored in the module - then a different sample is played depending on how hard the pad is struck and output at the volume in-line with the incoming strike, e.g. hit 1-10% play sample#1, 11-20% play sample #2, etc. A DTX-PRO, for example, stores 10 drum samples on each zone on each pad (so up to 120 samples on a 3-zone pad). The latter sample method is also generally used with software synths (typically VSTs). Samples give a more authentic [subjective, obs] acoustic drum sound - as that's what they are - recordings of acoustic drums/percussion/cymbals.
I don't know what you want to spend on the project (€250, €500, €1000, €2000, €5000 etc) so it's really difficult to gain what you feel is a "high-end" kit or what is a "reasonable" budget. If you could give an indication on a figure you want to invest, it's easier to point you at things to look at / try out.
But - I would happily gig a 2nd user €500 kit for example. (I've been gigging ekits since 1986 and have stuff from everyone)
Things to note. You can generally use most pads with most modules. Some modules support things like multiple 3-zone pads, some don't. Pads have different "heads" - rubber, mesh, silicone. It's worth hitting a few. Yes, you can get an entry level kit (i.e. module + pads) then swap out the module if you like.
And, obs, remember an electronic kit is a totally different instrument to an acoustic kit, just with a similar input interface; similarly a Korg synth is not a Steinway grand
One can
emulate the other but the former can do so much more.
Hope some of all the above helps!
