Molly Ayala
Setting up an electric drum kit is a straightforward process, but it can take time, especially if you're a beginner. The first step is to clear a large enough space for your kit, preferably on a thick carpet or mat to absorb any vibrations. You'll then need to assemble the rack, being careful not to over-tighten the bolts and screws, and mount the drum pads, adjusting their height and position for comfort. The next step is to connect the module (or 'brain') to the rack and plug in the cables, before connecting the drum and cymbal pads and adjusting the pad settings to your preference. Finally, you can plug in your headphones or drum amp and start playing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Space | Ensure you have enough space to set up the kit. Avoid cramming the kit into a small space as it will sacrifice the playing experience. |
| Surface | Build the kit on a thick carpet or mat to absorb vibrations or thumping from the kick. |
| Kick tower | Place the kick tower in front of your right foot and clamp the bass drum pedal to the bottom. |
| Hi-hat pedal | Set up the hi-hat pedal for your left foot. Ensure it is easily accessible and comfortable. |
| Rack | Loosen and tighten the wing nuts to expand the rack pieces and connect them. Ensure the rack is sturdy but avoid over-tightening bolts and wing screws. |
| Drum pads | Add the pads to the rack and adjust the height to your comfort level. Ensure the pads are within easy reach. |
| Module | Connect the module (or 'brain') to the rack where you can easily see and reach it. Plug the main connector into the module and connect to the drum pads and pedals using cables. |
| Accessories | Use a pair of headphones or a drum amp to hear what you're playing. |
| Pad settings | Experiment with different settings to find the perfect balance between comfort and playability. Adjust the sensitivity, threshold, velocity curve, hi-hat splash, and crosstalk to suit your playing style. |
| Bass drum pedal | If your kit doesn't include a bass drum pedal, consider purchasing one separately. A smooth and solid pedal that you can adjust is recommended for a better playing experience. |
| Creative arrangement | If you play both acoustic and electronic drums, arrange your electronic pads similarly to your acoustic kit to ease the transition between the two. |
| Instructions | Refer to the user guide or owner's manual for specific instructions and information on settings. |
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What You'll Learn
Setting up the drum rack
Setting up an electric drum kit is easy, but it may take some time. The first step is to clear up a lot of space and build the kit on a thick carpet or mat to absorb any vibrations.
The drum rack is the foundation of your setup and is quite simple to put together. Loosen and tighten the wing nuts to expand the rack pieces and/or connect them together. Make sure the rack can stand on its own and that you position it around where you’ll be sitting. Avoid over-tightening the bolts and wing screws as the connecting pieces are usually made of plastic and can break.
Once the rack is built, you can start mounting the drum pads. You can do a mock setup first to ensure that the positioning of everything is as desired. The beauty of electronic drum sets is that you can adjust and move things around whenever you like. Leave the cymbal pads off for now, as it’s much easier to access each screw, lug or wingnut on the drum pads with the cymbals off the kit.
Before you attach the pads, make sure everything is within easy reach. Sit on your drum throne with the bass pedal to your right and the hi-hat pedal to your left. Your snare pad should sit comfortably between your legs. Next, check the height of the top rack bar. If the pads feel too high or too low, adjust the rack by moving the bar up or down until you can comfortably strike each pad.
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Positioning the kick tower and pedals
Firstly, if your e-kit comes with a kick tower, place it in front of your right foot. Ensure that your leg can rest at slightly more than a 90-degree angle. If your kit includes a bass drum pedal, clamp it onto the bottom of the kick tower. This will allow you to play with ease and comfort.
Next, consider the placement of your hi-hat pedal. This should be set up for your left foot, mirroring the position of the kick tower on the right. The setup should feel comfortable and allow for smooth, responsive control of the hi-hat. Adjust the pedals as needed to maintain a relaxed posture while playing.
Now, before attaching the pads, sit on your drum throne with the bass pedal to your right and the hi-hat pedal to your left. Your snare pad should be positioned comfortably between your legs. This setup will ensure that everything is within easy reach, which is one of the advantages of electronic drum kits.
If you prefer a more compact setup, you can adjust the distance between the pads to suit your playing style. You can also adjust the height of the top rack bar if the pads feel too high or too low. This will ensure that you can comfortably strike each pad.
Remember to refer to your e-kit's instructions for specific guidance on assembling your particular model.
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Attaching and connecting the drum pads
When attaching and connecting the drum pads, it's important to follow the manufacturer's instructions. This usually involves attaching the pads to the drum rack or stands. Ensure that the rack is built and stable before mounting the pads. You can do a mock setup to ensure the positioning of everything is as desired. The rack can be adjusted to your liking, and you can loosen and tighten the wing nuts to expand the rack pieces and connect them together.
The snare drum pad should sit comfortably between your legs, similar to how you would sit at a dinner table. The height of the rack can be adjusted to ensure the pads are within comfortable reach. If the pads are too high or low, adjust the top rack bar up or down.
Once the rack is at the right height, start attaching the pads. Leave the cymbal pads off initially, as this will make it easier to secure the drum pads. Each pad should have a cable that needs to be connected to the correct spot on the module or 'brain'. The module is a computer interface that controls the sound samples. Ensure that each labelled cable is connected to the right piece.
After connecting the drum pads, you can adjust the pad settings to your liking. Hit each pad to confirm that it triggers the correct drum sound. You can adjust the sensitivity, threshold, velocity curve, and crosstalk to customise the response of the pads to your playing style.
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Adjusting the height and angle of the pads
When adjusting the height and angle of the pads, it's important to consider your comfort and playing style. Sit on your drum stool or throne with the snare drum pad between your legs, just as you would when playing. This will help you determine the optimal height and angle for the pads.
The height of the pads can be adjusted by moving the top rack bar up or down. Make sure that the pads are within easy reach and that you can comfortably strike each one. If your electronic kit has significantly smaller pads than an acoustic kit, you may want to increase the space between the pads to mimic the layout of an acoustic kit, or you may prefer a more compact setup.
The angle of the pads can be adjusted by loosening or tightening the wing nuts that connect the pads to the rack. Be careful not to over-tighten the wing nuts, as this could put too much pressure on the plastic connecting pieces and cause them to break. Adjust the angle of the pedals so that your legs can rest at a slightly more than a 90-degree angle.
Once you're happy with the height and angle of the pads, start attaching the pads to the rack. It's recommended to leave the cymbal pads off until the end, as this will make it easier to access the screws and wing nuts on the drum pads.
Finally, take the time to fine-tune the drum pad settings to your liking. Adjust the sensitivity, threshold, velocity curve, and crosstalk to find the perfect balance between comfort and playability.
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Changing the module sound settings
Once you have set up your electronic drum kit, you can change the module sound settings by following these steps:
Firstly, ensure that your drum and cymbal pads are set up and connected. You can then adjust the pad settings to your liking. Check that each pad is triggering the correct drum sound by hitting each one. You can then adjust the volume on the pads, headphones, and main outputs until you find your desired volume.
Next, you can fine-tune the settings to fit your play style. You can adjust the sensitivity of the pads, which will determine how hard or light you have to hit the pads to trigger a sound. Increasing the sensitivity will trigger louder sounds with softer hits, while decreasing it will trigger softer sounds with harder hits. You can also adjust the threshold, which determines how hard you need to hit the pad to trigger a sound. If the threshold is set too low, the pad may trigger on its own, creating a "ghost note".
Additionally, you can adjust the velocity curve, which changes the overall response of the pad, and the hi-hat splash setting, which affects how easily the hi-hat's "splash" sound is triggered when you tap and release the hi-hat pedal. Another setting you can adjust is crosstalk (x-talk), which changes how the pad responds to vibrations when another pad near it is struck. Increasing this setting is helpful for heavier players.
You can also connect your module to a computer to access more sound settings. This can be done via a USB connection or dedicated MIDI ports. You will need to install the relevant hardware drivers and open the MIDI settings in your module. You can then install Virtual Studio Technology (VST) software, which offers a computer-based alternative to using module sounds. You can install sound library packs and map your MIDI to link each pad to the relevant drum or cymbal on the VST. Finally, you can select a drum kit preset and swap out sounds to create your desired kit.
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Frequently asked questions
The first step is to assemble the drum pads and pedals according to the manufacturer’s instructions. This involves attaching the pads to the drum rack or stands, and connecting the pedals. Next, connect the drum module to the pads and pedals using the appropriate cables. Once the kit is connected, you can adjust the settings to your preference.
It's important to consider your body when setting up your kit. For example, you might like your toms and cymbals to be at a reasonable distance from you. You should also consider whether you want your kit facing a wall or out into the room. To find the best position for your drum pads and pedals, sit on your drum stool with the snare drum pad between your legs and the kick tower in front of your right foot.
Once your kit is assembled and connected, you can adjust the settings to your preference. You can change the pad sensitivity, threshold, velocity curve, hi-hat splash, and crosstalk. To change the sensitivity, increase or decrease the setting to trigger louder or softer sounds with lighter or harder hits, respectively.
