Electronic Drums · Models

Model

Simmons SDS-V

Electronic drums · United Kingdom

The SDS-V put hexagonal playing surfaces and an analogue drum synthesizer in front of drummers in 1981, and its pitch-swept toms are so tied to the decade that using one now is a period reference. The pads were also famously hard on wrists.

Model

2box DrumIt Five

Electronic drums · Sweden

The DrumIt Five's module stores user sound libraries in an open format on flash memory, so a drummer can load their own multi-velocity samples rather than waiting for the manufacturer. That openness is the reason the instrument has the following it does.

Model

ddrum Acoustic Pro Triggers

Electronic drums

ddrum's triggers clamp to an acoustic drum's hoop and pick the head up cleanly enough to drive a module, which is how most hybrid kits are built. They have been the default choice for that job for decades.

Model

EFNOTE 5

Electronic drums · Japan

The EFNOTE 5 uses full-size shells, real cymbal shapes, and a hardware set that assembles like an acoustic kit, on the argument that an electronic kit should not have to look like a rack.

Model

ATV aDrums Artist Standard

Electronic drums · Japan

The aDrums kits use real wood shells with mesh heads and the aD5 module, whose engine plays back continuous samples rather than crossfading between velocity layers — which is what makes soft playing sound soft rather than quiet.

Model

Roland SPD-SX PRO

Electronic drums · Japan

The SPD-SX PRO is the standard sampling pad on modern stages: nine velocity-sensitive pads, generous onboard sample memory, multiple outputs, and per-pad lighting so a player can find them in the dark.

Model

GEWA G9 Drum Module

Electronic drums · Germany

The G9 module was GEWA's entry into serious electronic drums, with a very large factory library, deep per-instrument editing, and a touchscreen — unusual in a category that mostly still uses knobs and small displays.

Model

Yamaha DTX-MULTI 12

Electronic drums · Japan

The DTX-MULTI 12 packs twelve pads of three sizes into one surface with a large onboard voice set and sample import, and is as common in percussion setups as on drum kits.

Model

Yamaha DTX6K

Electronic drums · Japan

The DTX6K uses the DTX-PRO module, whose Kit Modifier controls — ambience, compression, and effects on one knob each — make useful sound changes reachable without menu diving.

Model

GEWA G9 Pro Kit

Electronic drums · Germany

The G9 Pro kits put the module behind mesh-headed wooden shells and multi-zone cymbals, positioned directly against Roland's and Yamaha's flagships.

Model

Alesis Nitro Max

Electronic drums

The Nitro Max is the kit most often bought as a first electronic set: mesh heads on every drum, a compact rack, and a price that undercuts almost everything with the same specification.

Model

Roland TD-07

Electronic drums · Japan

The TD-07 puts a mesh snare pad and Roland's sound set into the cheapest kits the company badges as V-Drums, aimed at first electronic kits and quiet practice.

Model

Yamaha DTX402

Electronic drums · Japan

The DTX402 series is Yamaha's first-kit electronic set, with rubber pads, a compact rack, and a companion app that turns practice into exercises.

Model

2box DrumIt Three

Electronic drums · Sweden

DrumIt Three carries the same open sample architecture in a smaller, cheaper module with fewer inputs, aimed at compact setups and hybrid use.

Model

Alesis Strike Pro SE

Electronic drums

The Strike Pro SE is the biggest kit in its price class: real wood shells, mesh heads throughout, multi-zone cymbals, and a module with a colour screen and sample import.

Model

Roland TD-50X

Electronic drums · Japan

The TD-50X sits at the top of the V-Drums range, with a Prismatic modelling engine, deep per-instrument editing, multi-channel USB audio, and the digital snare and ride pads that sense position and technique rather than only velocity.

Model

Yamaha DTX10K

Electronic drums · Japan

The DTX10K pairs the DTX-PROX module with either silicone or textured cellular silicone pads, the latter of which give an unusually acoustic rebound, and a hardware set built to acoustic-kit standards.

Model

Roland VAD706

Electronic drums · Japan

The V-Drums Acoustic Design series puts Roland's pads and modules into real wood shells of acoustic proportions, so the kit looks and sits like a drum set rather than a rack of pads.

Model

Alesis Crimson II

Electronic drums

Crimson II sits between the Nitro and the Strike: larger mesh pads, dual-zone toms, and a module with enough editing to be worth learning.

Model

Alesis SamplePad Pro

Electronic drums

The SamplePad Pro loads samples from an SD card onto eight pads with two trigger inputs, and is the cheapest reliable way to put backing hits into a live drum setup.

Model

ddrum DDTi

Electronic drums

The DDTi converts trigger signals to MIDI over USB, letting a drummer play software instruments from acoustic drums or old pads without a drum module in between.

Model

Roland Octapad PAD-8

Electronic drums · Japan

The original Octapad was eight rubber pads and a MIDI socket, and it made "octapad" a generic word for a percussion controller. It is still the reason a drummer's auxiliary pad set is called that.

Model

Roland TD-27

Electronic drums · Japan

The TD-27 brings the flagship's digital pad support and modelling engine down a tier, and adds a well-regarded hybrid mode for triggering alongside an acoustic kit.

Model

Roland TD-10

Electronic drums · Japan

The TD-10 introduced mesh heads and physical-modelling drum synthesis in 1997, and it is the moment electronic drums stopped being pads that triggered samples and started being instruments a drummer could play dynamically.

Model

ATV aD5

Electronic drums · Japan

The aD5 is sold on its own as well as in kits, and is chosen by drummers replacing another maker's module while keeping the pads.

Model

Roland TD-17

Electronic drums · Japan

The TD-17 is the point where mesh heads, a modelled engine, and Bluetooth practice features meet a price a home player will pay, and it is the best-selling serious electronic kit of its generation.

Model

Pearl e/MERGE

Electronic drums · Japan

e/MERGE puts Pearl's shells, hardware, and hi-hat feel behind an electronic voice engine, aimed at acoustic drummers who want their own kit's ergonomics in an electronic set.

Model

EFNOTE PRO

Electronic drums · Japan

EFNOTE PRO is the top of the range: larger shells, more zones per pad, and a module with the routing and outputs a touring setup needs.

Model

Simmons SDS-8

Electronic drums · United Kingdom

The SDS-8 brought the hexagonal pad and analogue voicing to a price home studios could reach, and is the Simmons most often found today.

Model

Simmons Titan

Electronic drums

The Titan series is the modern Simmons: mesh heads, a conventional rack, and a module with Bluetooth practice features, sharing nothing with the 1980s designs but the name.

Model

Simmons SDS 1000

Drum machine · United Kingdom

The SDS 1000 put the Simmons voice — pitch-swept toms, that hollow snare — into an affordable module driven by pads or MIDI, and carried the sound past the end of the hexagonal kits.