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A Beginner’s Guide to a Hybrid Drum Setup

21/02/2022
Hybrid drumming is a popular choice among many drummers, with session drummers for the most successful artists jumping on the hybrid trend – from Katy Perry’s Tony Royster Jr to Brit award winner Little Simz’ live drummer Emanuel J Burton.

Adopting a hybrid setup gives you the chance to create virtually any sound imaginable, opening up a wealth of playing possibilities. Due to its popularity, we have put together a handy guide to get you started on your hybrid drumming journey.


What is hybrid drumming?

The hybrid setup has evolved from the early days of electronic drums, bridging the gap between acoustic and electronic to deliver a scope of sounds and textures. This type of setup allows you to combine acoustic sound and feel with unlimited electronic tonal opportunities.

Commonly used as a way of achieving sounds close to the recorded track, hybrid drumming is a very popular route for drummers to explore. Whilst accuracy is one reason drummers choose to go hybrid, the ability to layer and fine-tune your drum sound is another.

Unlike a standard setup, hybrid drumming allows you to add electronic samples and loops to your performance, creating often powerful and interesting sounds to give you a large bank of options. Hybrid drumming also presents the opportunity to switch from acoustic to electric at the flick of a button, opening a whole new world of possibilities for the gigging drummer.


What do I need to get started?

A typical hybrid setup consists of a standard drum kit combined with drum triggers, drum pads and sample pads. These triggers and pads are then linked to a drum module to provide electronic drum sounds. Some drummers use one of these methods whilst others use a combination of the two, the setup you use all depends on what the performance requires.

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 could positively impact your setup. Your individual playing needs will determine what type of equipment is best for you. Here we have broken down each piece of equipment needed for a hybrid setup and what they can bring to your playing.


Drum triggers

Roland RT-30K Acoustic Kick Drum Trigger

Drum triggers are small devices that attach to the side of your existing drum hoop or directly to the drumhead. They come in a range of different shapes and sizes, all with similar features.

As the name suggests, drum triggers feature a sensor that sits on the acoustic drumhead, detecting any head vibrations and converting them into electronic sounds.

They provide the opportunity to layer sampled sounds over the top of an acoustic drum sound, which helps alter the overall performance to suit the playing environment and music genre.

There are two different types of drum trigger; a single zone trigger, which produces single head triggering, and a dual trigger, which allows for head and rim triggering.

Most standard triggers work via a drum module, this module enables you to upload the samples required to the individual trigger. With specific triggers available for particular parts of the kit, it is worth analysing what part of your kit you want to make hybrid. For example, if you are looking to add triggers to your bass drum, something like the Roland RT – 30K Acoustic Kick Trigger will do the trick. This type of trigger has been created specifically for use with kick drums.

Similarly, if you are looking to trigger a snare drum or tom, a dual trigger such as Roland RT – 30HR Dual-Zone Acoustic Drum Trigger is recommended. Although slightly more expensive than a single zone trigger, the Roland RT 30HR will allow you to achieve a wide range of sounds and tonality. A major benefit of drum triggers is that they offer space efficiency, allowing you to mould your acoustic drum sound to your taste.


Sample pads

Roland SPD-SX Sampling Pad

Sample pads are one of the most popular ways drummers adapt their kit to hybrid. A great way to achieve various sounds in one place, sample pads feature multiple drum pads fixed to one unit. Like drum triggers, each pad can be assigned an electronic sample or loop.

The majority of sample pads come with a bank of preset samples whilst also allowing you to add your own external preferences. Connecting directly to any PA mixer for an easy setup, samples can usually be added either through software or USB, although it is worth noting that some drum pads don’t allow you to upload external sounds –  limiting you to presets.

Most sample pads have basic production features, delivering optimum control over the sound and individual voicings.

There are many different sample pads available, all with the ability to carry out various functions. A classic choice for a sample pad is the Roland SPD-SX Sampling Pad. The Roland SPD-SX comes complete with nine drum pads and features a host of preset samples, with a total of 360 mins available for external samples too.

The two external inputs allow for further expansion of your hybrid set-up – this could mean adding additional triggers or a foot pedal. Other popular sample pads include the Yamaha DTX – 12. This sample pad features 12 pads and lets you add up to 5 external drum pads to your set-up, allowing you to create your own sample patterns.

Perfect for achieving a varied sound, sample pads provide a great start to hybrid drumming, featuring all the basics you need to get started in one place.


Drum Modules

The main part of a hybrid setup is the module. Known as the brain of your electronic drum sound, it is the place where all your samples and modules are stored and uploaded to, and it can easily be connected to a PA mixer via a jack lead. Drum modules mainly come in two different types – drum trigger modules and standard drum modules.

Drum trigger modules are specifically built for triggering your acoustic drums. They are smaller in size and usually include a couple of pre-installed drum kits and samples. Most drum trigger modules provide the opportunity for you to use an SD card for extra sample storage, although this is not the case with 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 hybrid setup.

Utilised for acoustic triggers and standard electric kits, standard drum modules are bigger in size and feature a larger input range. Whilst they do the same thing as drum trigger modules, this type of module provides deeper control over your sound, allowing for a more precise and detailed sounding kit.

More high-end drum modules feature a bigger display, often providing a more in-depth look into what part of the kit you are triggering or editing – for easy use. Due to the nature of this drum module, it conveniently features a large memory along with a wide scope of preset kits and samples.

Modules come with different features, and all at different price points. Most standard modules have basic features such as volume control, a metronome and the option to switch between different samples, but where do you start when deciding on which module is for you?


Roland TM-2 Hybrid Trigger Module

The Roland TM-2 Hybrid Trigger Module is a great starting place, featuring two inputs for dual and single-zone triggers or pads. The TM-2 comes complete with uploaded sounds whilst also providing extra storage via an SDHC memory card. Featuring the option for reverb flange and delay, along with other production effects, the TM-2 delivers a decent amount of control over your sound. Ideal for a small setup, this module is a great starting point, possessing an affordable price tag for anyone beginning to learn hybrid drumming techniques.

 

 

 


Roland TM-6 Pro Trigger Module

If you are looking for a higher-end drum trigger module, the Roland TM-6 Pro boasts a range of useful features to deliver the ultimate control over your sound. This module features six trigger inputs and even provides room for you to apply a foot switch to your kit. The user sampler feature allows you to recreate exact sounds whilst altering volume, pitch and decay, enabling you to sculpt the sample sound to suit the playing environment.

Hybrid drumming comes in a range of different setups. Whichever you choose, hybrid can certainly enhance your playing. With various sounds and samples at your fingertips like never before, hybrid drumming will not only ensure that your playing appeals to a wide audience, but it also has the potential to enhance your creativity and improve your playing. There are many benefits to a hybrid setup, from easy transportation and setup efficiency to enabling you to achieve instrument sounds and samples that you would not usually have the chance of utilising.


Find out more

Now that you have decided which hybrid drum setup will suit you best, why not check out our range of drum accessories and hardware to kick-start your hybrid journey?

Shop now I Hybrid conversion kits

Shop now I Drum modules

Shop now I Drum triggers

Shop now I Drum pads

 

Digital Marketing Apprentice

Laura is a Content Writer with 15 years of drumming experience. Laura's musical tastes range from Led Zeppelin to Phoebe Bridgers.

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