E-drums: could they be a common thing for small bands gigs?

[Orvillain]

The fact that a bunch of guys that primarily play guitar

I've played drums since 2008. In fact, I've played keys a lot longer - since 1996, if you want to get super technical. I've gigged in a few bands playing bass too.

If there's one thing I'd like you to stop doing, it is assuming that you know the details about everyone here. Because you clearly don't.

 

[Orvillain]

Most everyone else only hears the kick, bass and vocals.

This is a stupid statement. Ears don't filter based on instrument classification.

 

[Orvillain]

A natural sounding drum kit has a musical value and we can't trade that with a bit of clarity and control - in any - just because FOH mix might be "better".

10000% this.

That e-kit live performance you posted was exemplary of a lot of the problems with using an e-kit. The fact that OneEng liked it speaks volumes.

 

[OneEng]

I've played drums since 2008. In fact, I've played keys a lot longer - since 1996, if you want to get super technical. I've gigged in a few bands playing bass too.

If there's one thing I'd like you to stop doing, it is assuming that you know the details about everyone here. Because you clearly don't.

... and yet you haven't the vaguest clue about anything related to live sound at FOH.

This is a stupid statement. Ears don't filter based on instrument classification.

I'd like you to quit making stupid statements period, but I realize this is your normal mode of operation.

People are more sensitive to HF. We hear it better, and it hurts our ears at a lower SPL than LF. As a result, what sounds "good" to most people (you and your ilk being the exception) is a band re-enforced with good low end and de-emphasized high end. This is particularly true as you raise the volume. The mix requires less and less HF to sound "balanced" to our ears.

The kick, bass and vocals make up the meat and potatoes of the music. Everything else is mostly frosting. Of course, this is a generalization as there are definitely different types of music where some instruments stand out more than others. With Metal, the guitar is much more present in the mix than most other types of music. I'd still argue that the drums are what carries most metal songs.

 

[Orvillain]

... and yet you haven't the vaguest clue about anything related to live sound at FOH.

This doesn't get any truer the more you say it, fella.

I'd like you to quit making stupid statements period, but I realize this is your normal mode of operation.

My judgement of your statement being stupid is based on factual evidence and reasoning. Your judgement of me making stupid statements is just based on prejudice and butthurtedness.

People are more sensitive to HF. We hear it better, and it hurts our ears at a lower SPL than LF. As a result, what sounds "good" to most people (you and your ilk being the exception) is a band re-enforced with good low end and de-emphasized high end. This is particularly true as you raise the volume. The mix requires less and less HF to sound "balanced" to our ears.

I see what you're getting at. But unfortunately you're trying to apply an objective measurement to a subjective phenomenon, and you're trying to position your own subjective experiences as the gold standard. They are not.

While it is true that there is a physiological tendency to be more sensitive to HF, this actually is not universally true. So please, make all of the "as a general rule" statements as you like. But please don't speak in absolutes. You Sithlord wannabe.

The kick, bass and vocals make up the meat and potatoes of the music. Everything else is mostly frosting. Of course, this is a generalization as there are definitely different types of music where some instruments stand out more than others. With Metal, the guitar is much more present in the mix than most other types of music. I'd still argue that the drums are what carries most metal songs.

I'd argue that for a lot of hard-rock and metal, remove any element, and the whole thing falls apart. Which is not always true for other genres. Remove the Kenny G from jazz, and it gets better.

 

[sashimi]

The golf course sound guy always knows best. Poor genius probably has to deal with idiot musicians all the time that don’t understand that the kick snare and cymbals are the only important components of their music. And what do you do with the most important instruments in the band? Replace them with triggered samples that sound unnatural and suck all of the dynamics out of the performance. What a bunch of morons for arguing with this premise. When your golf course sound guy gives you advice you shut up and thank him for sharing his wisdom. Everyone knows all of live music sounded like complete shit until e drums hit the scene. That’s why all the best bands are using them.