Making music.

[Tungtvann]

I want a new hobby and I want it to be something music related.

I can't play any instruments, but was thinking of learning something electronic music related. I also like drums, and was thinking of an electronic drum kit like the Roland TD-11kv, which I could obviously play like a real drum kit, but also pretty much play with different electronic music kits like techno and house.

Anyone have any drumming/e-drum experience? Could I teach myself? Worth going in at a mid level or definitely go for a base level kit but would likely outgrow if I got into it?

How about any music controllers specifically for creating techno type music? Rather than playing and recording techno drumloops manually, I could use actual equipment to do this.

I have zero experience in this but how could I learn?

Ideally, I'd get a load of kit and actually learn how to produce my own music. I understand this isn't learnt overnight, but are we talking 10 years of learning before I'm any good?

I put this in the geek zone because I know there's a lot of PC integration with this sort of stuff. I have Reason 5 on my PC with a midi controller, but I don't actually know how to put stuff together in an actual song yet! I like making cool sounds though.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

World's your oyster sir.

1st rule of music is 'There is no rule'.
If it sounds good played on plastic tubs or a TR808 or TR909 it sounds good.
Some of the very best and innovative music has been made without the use of $$$$.

Don't be in a rush to splurge cash on electronic drums, unless you don't mind the hassle and depreciation of selling.

Check out the Korg Micropad. That will enable you to trigger drum sounds and IIRC it is velocity sensitive.....and affordable. It comes with EZ-Drummer and although basic it does sound ok.

If you're stuck on the idea of a drum kit then invest in some basic lessons. Tell the tutor the music styles you like. Roland TD drum range are excellent, but will you be disciplined enough to actually stick with them? They do make noise so best suited downstairs.

If it's Techno type music then have a look at the Roland Aira range.
If it's VSTs you're into I can't really help as I'm very much 'out of the box' when it comes to recording.

Seek out youtube tutorials on Reason etc. SoundonSound.com has lots of help. Gearslutz.com if you can sift through the crap. Studio Pics thread will show you what kind of equipment and setups people generally use.

In short.
You choose the instrument/controller. You do the research into it's uses, and any shortcomings.
It's all down to you.

[edit] IIRC most if not all of the 1st Prodigy album was made on the M1 workstation keyboard and the last album was made with Reason using a laptop.
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[P.addy]

Roland kits are decent, especially mesh based ones.

I had an Alesis DM6 I think it was, superb for the £££

[grr666]

I use mesh batter heads on a normal 5 piece kit. Just to dampen the sound and they work pretty well.
They reduce about 80% of the volume, made by a firm called ZED.
Fit as you would normal heads. Tuneable too and a more realistic sticking response than some digital drums I've
tried. My kit is in my conservatory and despite me being heavy handed when playing and the heads
sitting in extreme sunshine and heat they just keep on going, they are well made I think. I've only replaced
a snare head as I broke a stick and stabbed a hole in it. All the rest are over 4 years old now and they get
a regular bloody good hiding. I tend to hit them harder than I would normal drums as they are very quiet otherwise.
My only gripe is that they are a bit bouncy if you catch my meaning.
My next door neighbour is as deaf as a post and wears 2 hearing aids so happy days.
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Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[RhynoCZ]

First of all, yes you can learn how to play by your self, second, if you want to play drums, get something like Medeli or Alesis basic electronic kit. They are quite cheap to get which is good because it will let you try if you even have patience with learning and if not, it's not gonna make a hole in your pocket. It should be around 240-250 pounds. Those are really basic drum kits, but they'll do the job just fine.

If you are going to like this a lot and you'll get better then buy something that really suits you, but so far it's pretty much what you need. I've seen too many people that bought expensive music instruments to find out, that they did not like the learning phase of their dream. Also being electric you won't piss off everyone around practicing. This applies to any electric instrument. Acoustic instruments are only for good players. I mean, no one wants to hear one pattern or riff billions of times all over again.

I miss the old days, I got headphones, my six string and played it till 4 in the morning, then went to sleep to wake up and play again.

EDIT: Software wise, I've never used anything really, but I really liked the Guitar Pro. I also made music there, it's cool because you can put all the parts into very clear system where you can see what part should be played where and so on, nice application I must say.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Tungtvann]

I've seen the Alesis kits, they're much cheaper than the Roland ones, what's the major reason?

What about 2nd hand? Are they pretty tough or am I going to risk getting a knackered one? I think it's wise not to go all out just yet and spend £1000 on one (seen the TD11kv for about £800 on ebay), but I don't want something that's shit and unlikely to endear me to the art.

[RhynoCZ]

The main difference is in the technology of the pads and the electronic unit that does the magic.

The expensive kits have pads with touch sensitive technology, so when you play hard or gently, it makes difference like if you played real drums. The cheap kits does not have that sophisticated pads so it does not matter how hard you hit it, it'll sound the same no matter what. I'm pretty sure the sound quality would be quite the same, expensive kit or a cheap one. It is midi after all.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[P.addy]

Differences between Roland and Alesis.

Pad reaction and sound. The Alesis was a little restrictive in the sounds department, but I was using for metal.

The Roland mesh based stuff gives brilliant feedback from the pads, get some really "spring" like you would a standard drum kit.

On a £500 tops budget, Alesis DM6/10 if you can get the 10.

Higher would be looking roland mesh.

[grr666]

Here's a few pics of my setup for the OP.
The kit was £40, and gradually I replaced all but the shells as it lives in a conservatory and it gets too hot in there
to have anything decent shell wise. All the cymbals were added after since the ones that came with it
bent when I hit them LOL, all the stands are new, and the snare and the stool but I've built it up gradually.
Drum stuff is bleeding expensive I soon learned, I thought guitars were bad....
All of the replacement cymbals except the bronze china are made by Paiste but are admittedly budget/mid level.
I wear wireless headphones and play along with music streamed from my ps3 which is also out in the conservatory.
Handy as the controller is wireless too so I can skip around tracks etc without getting up off my stool.

Here's some pics.

https://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz250/grrthefearless/Brisky%20shots/IMAG0456_zpsurj0qyxe.jpg

https://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz250/grrthefearless/Brisky%20shots/IMAG0457_zpsbhfekkga.jpg

https://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz250/grrthefearless/Brisky%20shots/IMAG0458_zpsokxyenzp.jpg
____________________
Currently enjoying products from Ford, Mazda and Yamaha
Ste wrote: Avatars are fine, it's signatures that need turning off.

[Tungtvann]

I've been looking at a lot of videos of the Roland Aira set up, I'm really liking the idea of it! I just want to get my hands on some kit like that and maybe speak to someone who knows what they're talking about. Any music shops in the south that have stuff like that you can play on?

[P.addy]

How south?

GAK in Brighton have a drum shop set up.

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

I'm oop north so no help with shops.

The Roland Aira stuff is interesting. The System 1 synth that can have new synths loaded into it. The Tr-8 sounds good. Personally don't like the 303 type unit.

Korg Electribes are incredibly fun and easy to use. Infact as luck would have it, today korg are teasing a new addition to the Electribe series.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOeCxxGcXt0


https://createdigitalmusic.com/files/2014/09/electribesampler.jpg

Also a workstation version.

As I mentioned. I prefer to use hardware instruments and sync them using MIDI/CV. I enjoyed my time using software versions of drum machines and synthesisers, but workflow was slower for me and I didn't like expressing my emotions using a mouse or a MIDI controller.
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Tungtvann]

Yeah, I never quite got the hang of software based kit. Flicking between windows etc, it's not as fun. The live performance/jam aspect of it appeals to me and actually have buttons to press, dials to turn. I also like the idea of being able to buy more pieces of kit as my experience and skill develops. Eventually, I'd love to have a massive array of equipment, launchpads, samplers, sequencers, etc.

Of course, much of this can be integrated with the PC and software. I hear ableton and a launchpad can be pretty capable.

One of my army mates is into this sort of thing and I think he has some kit, hopefully I can have a play and get some hints from him. I'm pretty certain I'm going to get some of the Roland kit and maybe some Korg controllers.

[swampy]

Nothing to add other than to +1 Paddy. I have an Alesis D6 kit and much prefer it to my mates Yamaha set up.

I'm primarily a guitarist, but got offered the kit in a swap for a cheap fridge/freezer that was in my house when I moved in...

Is excellent stress relief after a shitty day...creative and physical
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"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me." Hunter S Thompson
"Faster, faster, faster, until the thrill of speed overcomes the fear of death..." Hunter S Thompson

[grr666]