Electronic Drums Addendum - The Korg Wavedrum
I've just seen a video that changed my mind again! I was just settling into the idea that what we need is a superb tiny acoustic kit with mics and a Processing system when I saw my old hero Carl Palmer playing a Korg Wavedrum. Now Carl was playing electronic drums before most of them were invented, so if something interests him, it must demand attention. I watched him play this thing and then trawled around other videos for a while and I am convinced - it is a truly versatile, truly sensitive, and truly creative instrument.
Dave Simmons' dream is actually coming to fruition. Dave, with the Simmons pad was the test pilot, Jaeger, out there in the Nevada desert; with the WaveDrum, I'd say 'the Eagle has landed! One giant leap for drumkind.'
Check this out! If you're considering electronic drums, you have to put a big chunk of dough aside for one of these:
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They seem, at last to have gone the route of using mics as triggers and processing the acoustic features of these to both trigger and modify electric sounds. So, like an electric guitar, you still get all the variation and joy of an acoustic instrument, enhanced with electric sound. You can tickle them with your fingers, beat them with your palms, caress them with brushes and whack them with sticks.
CONGRATULATIONS! They've done it! They have finally damn well gone and done it! A truly expressive electronic instrument. KORG HAVE DONE IT! This, I am sure will be the future of electronic drums. I am hoping they go on to build a kit around it - an instrument you can play with 4 limbs. A kit of the 2nd millenium.
I'm just waiting to see how robust they are. Never been keen on those 12 volt adapter things. Are they tough enough for life on the road? A few minor tweaks like a solid mains lead and a bass drum and some extra pad sockets and I'm there!
The Apollo people kind of peaked after the moon and didn't do much else in terms of human travel.
Over to you, Korg. Take us to the next stage; Mars and the planets, if you can!
ADDENDUM 2
Well, it only took a year or so but it DID happen. They used the Wave Drum technology to make a drum kit - partnering with Pearl; who else? And it looks absolutely AWESOME. Here it is - the Pearl emerge drum kit.
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On youtube https://youtu.be/SrwrwMpvfNg
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It seems like, finally, electronic drums can compete with electric guitars. Responsive, natural feeling, expressive, mindblowing. Expensive, for now, but no doubt the prices will fall as the technology lends itself to more budget models. Now there is a genuine alternative to acoustic drums that will create REAL expressive sounds - not just regurgitate samples. Yep. This is a genuine successor to Dave Simmons' crown. The future has arrived. Check it out. Then decide. don't forget, though, the 3 grand you pay for this kit does not include an amplifier! Headphones will be ok for you. But your audience will need at least 300 Watts to enjoy your playing too! Another £400? And you could by a helluva a nice acoustic kit for all those bucks. Oh god! No! Back to square one. Decisions, decisions......!
