Zen Drums

[doncolga]

Hey,

Anybody with experience with these? They're made right here in my native Georgia.

http://www.zendrum.com/

Quite a list of users. I noticed a Moroccan band with the drummer using one instead of a kit...I only noticed after I reeled my tongue back in my head from enjoying the belly dancing girl.

[cheapbasslovin]

I played bass with a drummer who was trying to implement a Zen Drum into his repertoire. It actually has a lot of pretty cool sounds, but it is really touch sensitive (volume control was difficult at times due to a heavy thumb versus a light pinky) and requires you learn how to play it. Sometimes the guy I was playing with could integrate it pretty seamlessly, but when he couldn't it got ugly fast.

The other problem is that it is pretty computer technology heavy, so there is a lot of 'moving parts' that can go wrong in its setup. The guy I was playing with had a nightmare of a time getting PA and monitors set up, and it could be even worse getting the Zen Drum up and running.

If you can use computers with little trouble on gigs, and can use your fingers with touch and timing it can be way cool and really fill out percussion in ways you hadn't expected. If you're going to struggle with the above, it will kill you at every turn.\

As a point of reference, I am a midiot, and so was the guy trying to implement the tool. A skilled midi-smith could probably get some great stuff out of it.

[Drey Chennells]

Nice looking finishes.

[Dan30]

They're very expensive. You could probably make one with a bunch of piezos.

[88h88]

They're midi controllers, right? How are those managing to be well over $1000 when you can buy a Korg nanopad for $50 or a Novation Launchpad for $150 which has a million more options?

Is it doing something ridiculously specific and not available elsewhere??

[doncolga]

They're midi controllers, right? How are those managing to be well over $1000 when you can buy a Korg nanopad for $50 or a Novation Launchpad for $150 which has a million more options?

Is it doing something ridiculously specific and not available elsewhere??

I'm a midi geek and have been using it alot for the past 23 years, so this thing really appeals to me, but that's a very good point.

[Gregory East]

Add 500 for the nice handiwork with fancy timbers.
Add another couple of hundred cause they give you multiple individual pads all tuned sensitive to finger taps as well as bashes.
Top up for made in USA.

[Dan30]

A little OT:

I'm working on an acoustic to electric set with my Sonor. I just need a brain and a few hardware pieces. I'm stoked to try it out.

[cheapbasslovin]

Add 500 for the nice handiwork with fancy timbers.
Add another couple of hundred cause they give you multiple individual pads all tuned sensitive to finger taps as well as bashes.
Top up for made in USA.

I don't know much about midi equipment, including the Novation and Korg, but I can tell you that this thing is REALLY responsive to different type of hits. Too much so for my drummer, who was clearly more at home with a set of sticks than he was with his fingers. He would often apply the kick to his thumb pad and he couldn't keep it in check. We'd be playing along with a tap, thump, tap tap, thump, tap, THUMP, tap, THUMP THUMP. It would sound great until those last thumps and then it sounded like his entire PA was going to go up in flames.

I wish I knew more about the Korg and Novation to be able to compare them to the Zen Drum. I can say with confidence that the ZX and LT versions look to be much more ergonomically sound than either the Korg or Novation, although for me that wouldn't be worth anywhere near $1500 worth of difference.

[slavedave]

Hi, I have a Zendrum XT ( I have also had at various times - a custom vdrum kit, A.M drumkat and AM trapkat, a roland handsonic hpd 15, handsonic hpd10, DIY edrum module and Korg nanopad). They all have their merits when you consider cost, playability and function. There is a trade off in all examples. The korg nanopad works well but it only has limited trigger pads, the handsonics feel like "playing" an instrument and have built in sounds, the v-drums can be played with sticks that allow different techniques to be employed and the module has built in sounds, the drumkat /trapkat are played with sticks and have great sensitivity but need a sound source, and the Zendrum......
Well, the recent software/hardware upgrade means that each pad is highly configurable. Sensitivity is the best of the bunch allowing very sensitive playing with practice. Lots of pads at your fingertips. Flexible set-ups. Can be made wireless for prancing around as you play! They are well made and have EXCELLENT support from the manufacturer. There is a strong community of players around the world. Portable to set up with a module or a laptop with vsti's. Craftmanship in the build too.
Downside is initial outlay - they are not cheap. There is a learning curve to playing one - you have to adapt your playing from a kit to the Zendrum. It can feel a little less engaging than playing with sticks - interaction is with very subtle movements.
Otherwise it is great! I used to play mine a lot when I was happy to take sound sources around with me. For convenience, I tend to default to the handsonic 10 internal sounds when I want a minimal set up but add in a laptop if i want to up the quality of sound. If I am taking the whole shebang with me then the Zendrum comes. Don't let that put you off though. You can set up for a gig in no time at all with a ZD + module or a ZD plus audio interface + laptop.
Hope this helps.

[Tom Smit]

Reminds me of Victor Wooten's brother who plays something similar in Bela Fleck's band, the Flecktones.

[doncolga]

I'd love to try one of these things or play with someone who knew how. It'd just be really cool for me to play bass and keys, then a Zen drummer playing, all of us sharing one instrument as our sound source. The older I get the more I appreciate less cooks in the kitchen. After putting alot of time into a band, along with a bit of frustration, but with some fun too of course, a bass player buddy of mine now understands why I've played solo/duo all these years.