Triggers and Drummodules ...

Can anyone help me, im thinking about buying a drummodule from Alesis, its called the DM5, and now i wonder if anyone have any experinces from it ... is the sounds natural, and good quality ? The ony type of electronic drums, i´ve playd is the Roland V-drums, and they sounded superb ! Is the drumkits in the DM5, acoustic recorded sets ? Also ... Can you fit in Ddrum triggers in the DM5 module ?? Im seriously concidering to get this one ... but i woul like to hear some of the sounds ... is there any hompeage or so that has the sounds ?? And if i get that, i´ll have to get a mixer, and (at least) two pair of mics for the cymbals. A lot of pro drummers use triggers (as one of my favourite drummer Vinnie paul from pantera), and i know that it can sound great, but he plays Ddrum only i think or ???, is the DM5 comparable to the ddrum module ???

I like the sounds in the DM5, and think they are more reaslistic representations of real drums. (if that's what you want) Ddrums might be a better sound module.....but at what price? I hardly think that they're much better, certainly not 5 times better. (as the price would insinuate) Now that I see stores selling DM5's for $300.....I mean ....how could we even compare that to Clavias ddrums? To compare the Alesis DM5 module to the v-drum module isn't fair; you'd have to compare it to the DM-Pro, because it also includes effects. A very complex effect system which could give a lot more power than the typical reverbs included with some other kits. IMO a DM-Pro sounds better and is much more powerful, as a sound module. On the other hand......v-drums work right out of the box, and may be simpler. V-drums tend to sound like processed studio drums all the time.........which is cool for some. A trigger, is a trigger, is a trigger, is a piezo transducer! They all pretty much start with the same 'radio shack' 3$ part. DDrums has an elaborate mounting method which adds around $60 to their individual prices. Personally, I used the little transducers, mounted with silicon to my heads (back in the day when we still used acoustic drums) and used them over and over with great success. They're pretty hard to damage if you cover the little wire and thing with silicon. Ddrums have a great sample package, (the best for drum set) though lock you out of many basic musical and midi nuances. Actually they ignore: Pitch Bend, System common, System Realtime, and every controller (over 100 continuous controllers) except for #4. (foot control) I think they stick primarily with drum set samples, whereas Alesis includes other percussion and stuff.......which I think is good.......we need not be limited to only having snare samples on our snare. A basketball, conga, or dynamite explosion are other good options, IMHO. They also cost a bunch compared to other stuff. If I had my choice of using anything I wanted.....I'd still play a DrumKAT! Actually maybe I'd add one and play two! I did the trigger thing back in the 80's, and early 90's, man! Old school............ Hope my opinions are of some help. Check out my site to see what I do with electric drums! I even jam lights along with my solos!

Vince http://www.vindrums.com

Hey! You might want to check out www.electronicdrums.com They give you instructions online on how to build your own electronic drums set (triggers, cymbals, rim triggers etc.) I just bought an Alesis DM5 on ebay, and I am currently building my own kit. The website lists this as the recommended module to buy, but you can probably bid on it like I did for cheaper.(Although I was suprised that MarsMusic.com had them for alot cheaper than the suggested retail!)

:Later

Never played the ddrum, but was not all that impressed with the v-drum. There's something 'lifeless' about the whole thing, I can't exlain it.

I should have mentioned before......DrumTech is selling a complete kit called K3S, for 895$. Actual price before sale is 1995. It has 6 flat pads for toms, cymbals, and hats; a 2 zone for snare with rim, a kick pad which is big enough for double-pedal, the DrumTech Hat pedal (the best and most versatile in the business) chrome rack and all cables and hardware. For $300 more it includes the DM5! This is a great price for a mid-range kit, for 1200$. I think the sounds in the DM5 are very realistic, compared to others. Some have paid $3000 to get this much drumset, from others.

Note: you should try these pads before judging! They aren't as bad as some say, and mesh heads definitely aren't as great as some say. Have you ever practiced on a practice pad? (Gladstone especially) That's what these pads respond like. Drum Tech has been making great stuff for 14 years. The FatKAT and HatKAT pedals I've played on for 12 years were made by them......the only maintenance, was replacement of the $5 spring metal piece on the hat controller. (in the same length of time, I'd have oiled and adjusted and tightened, and replaced and repaired many, many things on an acoustic drum pedal; maybe even would have replaced it by now?) These guys also make PolePads, or PoleKATS as I call them, which are great for cymbals, and because they're FSR, there is 0 cross triggering! Really, Zero, that's just how they are! Vince http://www.vindrums.com