MIDI Drum Kits - How Do They Work?

You may be familiar with software drum machines but there's nothing quite like getting behind a real live kit and bashing out some beats. But not everyone has space - or tolerant neighbours - to use a real acoustic kit. This is where MIDI drum kits can come to the rescue. But how do they work? Joe Albano explains all in this short video from the course AudioPedia 109: MIDI.

AudioPedia 109: MIDI

Joe starts with the fact that MIDI kits by themselves are really large triggers and need to be connected to a sound source in order to make any noise. Sometimes the "brain" containing the sounds comes with the kit, and other times you might want to connect it to your own drum synth or sampler, either in hardware or software format.

You may also be surprised to learn that while early MIDI kits had hard surfaces, which did not always feel natural to the player and could cause fatigue, modern kits look and feel much more like real drums. They also don't make nearly as much noise when struck with sticks, and allow you to perform more advanced techniques like rolls and drags more easily. This is just one of the facts you'll learn about MIDI from this course - check out the other videos to become a MIDI expert.