Quality Drum Kits

[Mireille Kreines]

Thistopic shows you how to make drum kits for the BeatBuddy. You can make drum kits from any sort of WAV file that you create with your microphone or sounds samples from libraries. This tutorial was written for the latest version of Beat Buddy Manager, version 1.32. Please download and install this application if you do not have it (other forum topics cover this process)

There is a thriving industry of recorded sound samples from great companies like Goran Grooves, EZ Drummer, Analogue Drums, etc. Please honor the copyright agreement of the third-party drum kits and patronize our music industry professionals for all they do.

As I mentioned in the original post, there is a thriving industry of recorded sound samples from great companies like Goran Grooves, EZ Drummer, Analogue Drums, etc. Please honor the copyright agreement of the third-party drum kits and patronize our music industry professionals for all they do.

This consists of adding MIDI notes, giving them a name, and associating the notes to one or more sounds sample files. Repeat until you have lots of notes, especially the ones in the standard MIDI drum map. Save frequently.

BBManager calls it an instrument. Others call it a MIDI note. The point is to give it a name, a MIDI note number, and a list of WAV sound file samples to play. This screen shot shows how you name and give it a MIDI note number in BBManager. (I do not know what Choke Group, Fill Group, or Polyphony mean at this time. Will fill in later).

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This post covers step 4 of making drum kits for the Beat Buddy:

4. Be kind to other users. Test your drum kit with standard songs. Write a README documentation file with the kit. Write a drum map so people know which MIDI notes produce which sounds. ZIP it all up into one file so it is easy to share.

This image shows a typical layout on the file system and the location of the sound files. Do not include sound files if they are copyrighted from a third party kit. Rather include instructions so owners can copy the sound files on their own.

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Finally, once you have everything layed out, tested, and working in your BBWorkspace, ZIP it up. Include only the files you created such as the DRM file, the README file, and new directories. Do not include third party samples. ZIP it up, look at it, and unzip for a test,

I think you need to read the Drumkit maker manual - many of your questions are answered in there. However the way I understand it, those are triggered via an algorithm which triggers them randomly - what you are wanting to do is destroy the natural sound of the BB.

The world of drums and drum sets is an ever changing one, and whilst some companies come and go, there is a core group of brands which produce consistently impressive drums. The companies on this list all make great, versatile drums - but they all have certain qualities which make them more suited to specific styles of music or playing.

Gretsch drums are iconic in the music industry. With a firm grip on the world of jazz drums from the early days, and now a roster which includes Underoath's Aaron Gillespie, Green Day's Tre Cool, and Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters, Gretsch drums have been proven to cope with plenty of different playing and musical styles. Gretsch fans often comment on how warm, rich and resonant Gretsch drums are - great for anyone who wants a really full drum sound.

Tama drums are another brand which has a rich and interesting history. Made in Japan since the mid-'70s, Tama drums have had a varied catalogue of artists, from Vinnie Paul and Lars Ulrich to Billy Cobham and Peter Erskine. Currently, Tama drums are loved for their punchy and bright tones, thanks to Maple and Birch being commonly used in shells.

Pearl makes some of the world's most highly regarded drum sets around. With the Export drums being the best-selling drum set in history, they know a thing or two about creating a versatile, value-for-money drum set - and their Masters, Reference and Masterworks kits are some of the best high-end kits money can buy. Expect punchy drums that respond well to your playing dynamics - as most Pearl kits use Poplar, Mahogany or Maple for their shells.

Mapex is another brand who seems to create drum sets which work in nearly all musical scenarios. Its Saturn drum set is an industry favourite due to its maple/walnut shell materials, and the more affordable Mars, Armory and Storm kits follow in the 'ultimate versatility' footsteps. Mapex drums tend to be pretty lively sounding - all about that 'punch'.

Of course, there are many other brands we could list. Yamaha, Ludwig, DW, Sonor - the list could go on forever. They all make killer drums, which are great in their own right. Go and find out which ones are best for you!

For those people where money is really no object, you can really go all out. Companies like Drum Workshop, British Drum Company and Yamaha will particularly satisfy your needs for some truly staggering drums, both tonally and visually. For this money, you can also start creeping into the world of custom-made drums.

If you'd like to read some expert buying advice to help you choose the best drum kit, we've included some at the end of this guide. If you'd rather get straight to our recommendations, keep scrolling. We've arranged them in price order to make finding a killer drum set just that bit easier.

This small drum set has been considered by many as the king of mini kits for portability, small stages and even for younger players since its launch in 2013. It comprises a 16"x14" bass drum, 10"x7" rack tom and a 13"x13" floor tom, with a standard 14"x5" snare. The chromed shell hardware feels solid in our hands, with a weighty tom-holder, smooth hoops and a sturdy bass drum riser.

The arrival of the Pearl Export in 1982 set a new benchmark and in 2007 the kit was revived with upgraded shells, new lugs, new tom bracket and a superb hardware package. The new, smaller sculpted lug with a reduced footprint allows the shells to breathe better. The supplied 830 series hardware pack and brushed silver and orange Demonator bass drum pedal are absolutely brilliant for the money.

Most budget kits at this price have poplar shells, however Pearl has reintroduced Asian mahogany into the mix and that inner lining of semi-hard red wood adds warmth and depth to the shell tone. The tom heads on this EXX model are Chinese-made transparent Remos and deliver the requisite blam with plenty of depth and authority.

Within the world of the Pearl Export, there are a couple of different models - the EXX (pictured) and the EXL. There's not much that separates the two, other than the EXX being covered in a coloured wrap, and the EXL having a gloss lacquer finish. Both look equally nice, but it's worth considering whether you want something more subtle, or something with a bit of 'wow'.

The Saturn centres around hybrid shells comprising plies of maple and walnut. One of the most significant features of the kit is the SONIClear bearing edge. While the inner edges are trimmed to 45 for the rack toms and 60 for the kick and floor toms, instead of the usual sharp summit, the edge has a slightly rounded, flattened back-cut which extends out to the shell's outer edge. This allows greater contact between the head and shell which is designed to coax maximum depth out of the drums - and we found it also helps with tuning.

Tom batter heads are dual-ply Remo Emperors, partnered with single-ply Ambassadors on the resonant side. The combination of relatively shallow depths, decent twin-ply heads and the rounded bearing edge all contribute to what we feel is a great sound. The Mapex Saturn is a fantastic all-rounder kit which is equally happy on stage or in the studio, whatever the style.

As we all know, Pearl is one of the biggest names in the drum world. You'd expect then, that they'd produce some of the best drums. In every price bracket, Pearl makes a drum set which is a true contender for the title of 'best' - the most iconic being the Export. With this - the Masters Maple Complete - they've thrown a 6-ply all-maple hat in the high-end ring too.

Speaking of 6-ply all-maple, the shells that give this series its name are truly impressive. Constructed from reduced thickness (5.4mm), cross-laminated North American maple, the 'EvenPly' shells - during our testing - proved themselves to be resonant, responsive and have a great punch and projection - assisted by the 45 degree bearing edge, as well as the 2.3mm SuperHoop II hoops and bridge-style CL lugs.

The available configurations offer up a Masters maple Complete kit for any style of playing, with any of the 22" bass drum toting options offering the best versatility if you're looking to spend a bit more on a drum set that will cover all bases. These are just shell packs, mind - a snare is an optional extra. You'll probably want one, though - they sound awesome.

The Legend series brings power, projection and sophistication to the table in spades. The 6mm Scandinavian Birch shells are punchy and present without taking your head off, and with a 45 degree bearing edge these drums are brilliantly versatile - perfect for both studio and stage. Two ply reinforcement rings help to just tone down those lairy overtones, achieving lower tunings and a gorgeous controlled sustain.

The Remo Ambassador-topped toms produce a long and sweet sustain, while the bass drum has an archetypally modern, tough and present tone. The lower regions - with wrinkles just about tuned out of the batter - bring more depth into the blend. The snare drum is a bit of a contrast as it is deep with a slightly more open and unruly voice.

There are also seven new Recording Custom snare drums with stainless steel, aluminium and brass shells should you wish to go all-Yamaha in the studio. A masterful return from one of the most famous drum sets ever made.

Another nod in the vintage direction sees Tama rounding off its bearing edges, allowing broader contact between the head and shell. During our review process, we found that the rounded edges- which are designed to allow the shell tone to make more impact - warmed up the sound delightfully, slightly subduing the attack and controlling the sustain.

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