Technology for Drummers

Surfing the Wave

Things have really changed, haven’t they?

There was a time before when playing drums professionally really meant playing drums, networking professionally, marketing music on the streets in ads and flyers, promoting shows and tours…

Now, it means all of that plus social media marketing, using a DAW, publishing professional looking/sounding content, creating clips for shorts, programming click tracks, running a website…and so much more.

It can be dizzying, and we’re not even close to done; with AI being entering the public sphere, we have a slew of incoming revelations in music production.

The modern musician has a lot of hats to wear, and it can be a lot of pressure. What I’ve learned, though, is that there is one deadly mistake we risk making.

Resisting the change.

I would liken that to standing on a beach trying to block a 10ft wave with your hands. Not gonna work. 

The better option is to learn how to surf (metaphorically speaking).

This of course depends on how deep you want to go with this stuff, and how professional you’re looking to become. 

Here are some standards to learn that are typical “price of entry” skills for this industry. 

Microphones/Interface

Microphones are notoriously expensive, but not nearly as much as they used to be. As technology becomes more available, it also becomes more accessible. There are pre-packaged drum kit mics that work great and won’t break the bank either. The one I started with is this Pyle Set. 

To use your microphones, though, you’ll need some kind of interface. There are a couple different kinds, depending on what you need. 

On one hand is a digital interface; you can see a few examples here. With these, you can connect a microphone, instrument, or the output of a mixer to your computer. These are very useful for getting high quality recordings and accessing software for editing, mixing, and mastering.

A mixer, on the other hand, has many inputs and has controls to let you adjust panning, volume level, and some other basic effects. They are usually used for live performances, streams, etc but can also be used to record. These can range from $100 to $10,000 depending on what you need. Here is a list of some basic ones to get started. The one I use is the Behringer XR18Air. 

A basic microphone/interface set-up for your kit can mean recording demo tracks, auditions, YouTube videos, or an amped up live set. It’s a great way to amplify (heh) your versatility and possibility as a musician!

DAW

This stands for Digital Audio Workstation. This is the software program you would use to mix, edit, or master your tracks. A great option starting out is GarageBand because it comes free with any Apple device. There are other free options like Reaper (at least as a trial) and paid-for options like FL Studio. 

Basic knowledge of one of these systems would include panning, EQ, compression, and other effects to make your drum tracks sound amazing. These are standards in the industry, but are also very useful for the amateur musician. If you plan on doing any kind of recording, a DAW is a necessity.

Remote Communication 

During Covid, we discovered just how much work could be done from home. So many meetings and professional activities have now moved to this, including musical activities. To keep up with the modern music scene, having a basic long distance communication method is extremely important.

This could mean teaching lessons virtually (I offer this myself, you can sign up here), meetings with band mates, live-streams, and even having a live rehearsal!

There’s this fantastic program called FarPlay that magically allows musicians to play together online. Somehow, they’ve reduced the lag enough so that you can have a rehearsal from a different country! You can check it out here.

These points are very achievable for many drummers already, with a relatively small financial investment. They are also useful for people who don’t plan on pursuing music professionally, but perhaps want to play local shows with their band. 

If you’re aiming a little higher with your musical career, here are some other important considerations.

Live Set-Up

In the band scene, it has become standard to use a click-track and backing tracks for live performance. We often enrich our songs with programmed sounds rather than live musicians. Obviously a five person band won’t be able to play all those sounds manually, so it’s important to have a way to play backing tracks on stage. 

For this, you’ll need a PA system, an interface (mixer), in-ear monitors, and a way to play tracks from your DAW. This will also include a way to play the click track in the bandmate’s ears while playing the backing tracks to the audience. This can be quite an investment, so typically there is one member who has this equipment, or the members of the group split the cost. 

Once a band has this, however, they become a competitive group in the scene and have a much more polished show. The audience enjoys this immensely and is generally willing to pay more to see it. For musicians looking to grow professionally, the live-audio component is extremely valuable. 

E-drums/Sample Pads

Electronic drum kits and sample pads are all over the place. In a modern world with more and more programmed sounds (that many producers prefer), it’s increasingly important to become aware of how to use these sounds live. 

This realm of drumming is growing rapidly. What was once a few rubber pads with highly-synthesized MIDI samples is now fully-integrated acoustic/electronic drum sets. As tech progresses, this realm is important to keep up with or at least be aware of. 

Once can enhance their acoustic drum sound or completely replace it simply by plugging in. Amazing!

Video/Lighting

If someone wants their project to be a material success, it’s necessary to promote it. In the modern marketing scene, social media content reigns supreme. 

In order to grab someone’s attention, we have to compete with the massive amount of visual/audio content that’s freely available. Having access to a simple lighting set up and a good camera are necessary to create this possibility. 

The good news is that it doesn’t take quite as much as you think. I’ve been very happy with my videos, and all I use is a ring light and my phone. Past that, it’s a matter of good set up and using your basic tools creatively. 

Another benefit to Apple products is that you have access to iMovie for free, which has many basic editing features that can help you make good looking videos.

The Takeaway

This list is of course not complete. Technology is a rapidly growing sector, and this is just scratching the surface. In fact, I would wager that much of what we consider “standard music tech” will soon become obsolete. 

Some people see that in a fearful light, but I choose to see the hope in it. Imagine the limitless possibilities that our new advancements will bring! Imagine how it will enable us to express ourselves! What are we going to have access to in 5 years that we never imagined before?

It’s a wild world we live in and we are on the precipice of a tumultuous and fascinating journey. 

Let's surf that wave instead of resisting it.