A Beginner's Guide to Hybrid Drum Setup
Hybrid drumming is a popular choice among many drummers, for the most successful artists in the mix – from Katy Perry's Tony Royster Jr to Little Simz' live drummer' Emanuel J Burton, Brit Award Winner.
Applying a combo setup gives you the chance to create virtually any sound imaginable, opening up a multitude of playing possibilities. Due to its popularity, we've put together a handy guide to help you get started on your combo drumming journey.
WHAT IS HYBRID?
Mixing setups have evolved since the early days of electronic drums, bridging the gap between mechanical and electric drums to offer a wide variety of sounds and textures. This type of setup allows you to combine acoustic sound and feel with unlimited electronic sound opportunities.
Often used as a way to achieve a sound close to recorded music, hybrid drumming is a very popular way for drummers to explore. While precision is one reason drummers choose to mix, the ability to layer and fine-tune your drum sound is another.
Unlike the standard setup, the mix drum feature allows you to add electronic and loop patterns to your performance, often creating a powerful and exciting sound to give you a wide variety of options. select. Mixing drums also offer the opportunity to switch from acoustic to electric at the touch of a button, opening up a whole new world of possibilities for drummers to perform.
WHAT DO I NEED TO START?
A typical combo setup consists of a standard drum kit combined with a drum trigger, drum pad, and sample pad. These triggers and pads are then linked to a drum module to provide the electronic drum sound. Some drummers use one of these methods while others use a combination of the two, the setup you use is entirely dependent on what you require.
Before learning the art of hybrid drumming, you must choose the right equipment for your playing needs. With each of the aforementioned technologies comes different features and benefits that can positively impact your setup. Your individual playing needs will determine what type of device is best for you. Here we've broken down each piece of equipment needed for a combo setup and what they can bring you while playing.
DRUM TRIGGER
A drum trigger is a small device that attaches to the side of your existing drum seal or directly to the side of the drum. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes, all with similar features.
As the name suggests, a drum trigger has a sensor located on the face of an acoustic drum that detects any vibrations of the face and converts them into an electronic sound.
They layer the sampled sound on top of the acoustic drum sound, helping to alter the overall performance to match the playing environment and musical genre.
There are two different types of drum triggers; single zone trigger , which provides single-sided triggering, and dual trigger , allowing face and rim triggering.
Most standard triggers work via an empty module, which allows you to upload the necessary templates to individual triggers. With specific triggers available for specific parts of the kit, it's a good idea to analyze which part of the drum kit you want to create a combo for. For example, if you're looking to add a trigger to your bass drum, something like the Roland RT - 30K Acoustic Kick Trigger will do the trick. This trigger type has been specifically created for use with the drum kick.
Similarly, if you're looking to trigger a snare or tom drum, it's a good idea to use a dual trigger such as the Roland RT - 30HR Dual-Zone Ac oustic Drum Trigger. Although a bit more expensive than a single-zone trigger, the Roland RT 30HR will allow you to achieve a wide range of tones and tones. A key benefit of drum triggers is that they are space efficient, allowing you to tailor the acoustic drum sound to your taste.
SAMPLE PACKET
Sample pads are one of the most common ways drummers adjust their kit accordingly. A great way to achieve many different sounds in one place, sample pads have multiple drum pads fixed to one device. Like the drum trigger, each pad can be assigned an electronic pattern or loop.
Most template boards come with a bank of presets that also allow you to add your own external options. Connect directly to any PA mixer for easy setup, samples can often be added via software or USB, although it's worth noting that some drum pads don't allow you to upload external audio – limits you to presets.
Most sample pads have basic production features, providing ultimate control over the sound and individual tones.
Various sample pads are available, all capable of performing different functions. A classic choice for a sampling pad is the Roland SPD-SX Sampling Pad . The Roland SPD-SX comes complete with nine drum pads and features a range of preset patterns, with a total of 360 minutes available for external samples.
Two external inputs allow for further expansion of your combo setup – this could mean adding additional triggers or foot pedals.
Other popular sample pads include the Yamaha DTX-12 . This sampler has 12 pads and allows you to add up to 5 external drum pads to your setup, allowing you to create your own swatches.
Perfect for achieving a wide range of sounds, the sample pads provide a great start to mixed drumming, including all the basics you need to get started in one place.
Drum Module
The main part of the hybrid setup is the module. Known as the brains of your electronic drum sounds, it is where all your samples and modules are stored and uploaded, and it can be easily connected to a PA mixer via Jack. Drum modules are mainly of two different types – drum trigger modules and standard drum modules.
Drum trigger modules are specially built to trigger your acoustic drums. They are smaller in size and usually include a few pre-installed drum kits and samples. Most drum trigger modules provide the opportunity for you to use an SD card to store additional samples, although this is not true for all modules. They also tend to have a small number of outputs, making them the perfect choice for any drummer looking to create a small combo setup.
Used for standard sound triggers and power supplies, the standard drum module is larger in size and has a larger input range. While they do the same thing as a drum trigger module, this type of module provides deeper control over your sound, allowing for a more detailed and accurate sound set.
The more advanced drum modules have larger screens, which often provide a closer look at which part of the kit you're activating or editing – for ease of use. Due to the nature of this drum module, it has a convenient large memory along with a wide range of tools and presets.
Modules come with different features and all at different price points. Most standard modules come with basic features like volume control, metronome, and the option to switch between different patterns, but where do you start when deciding which module is right for you? suit me?
The Roland TM-2 hybrid trigger module is a great starting point, featuring two inputs for dual- and single-zone triggers or pads. The TM-2 comes complete with uploaded audio and offers additional storage via an SDHC memory card. With options for flange reverb and delay, among other effects, the TM-2 gives you great control over your sound. Ideal for a small setup, this module is a great, reasonably priced starting point for anyone starting to learn combo drumming techniques.
If you're looking for a more advanced drum trigger module, the Roland TM-6 Pro boasts a host of useful features to give ultimate control over your sound. This module has six trigger inputs and even provides room for you to apply foot switches to your kit. User-sampling allows you to accurately recreate sound while changing volume, pitch, and fade, allowing you to tailor sample audio to suit the playing environment.
Combination drums come in a variety of settings. Whichever you choose, hybrids can definitely enhance your playability. With more different sounds and samples at your fingertips than ever before, the combo drumming feature will not only ensure that your play appeals to a wide audience, but it will also potentially enhance your playability. Create and improve your playing ability. There are many benefits to a mix setup, from easy transport and setup efficiency to allowing you to achieve instrument sounds and patterns you wouldn't normally get a chance to use.
See more:
How to Choose Drumsticks By Type, Size, Weight
10 Questions To Ask Before Buying Your First Drum Kit
10 Best Drum Kits For Beginners
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