Choosing drums for home and choosing drums for studio are, in fact, two different disciplines, but sometimes they seem similar. When you are short of space in your room or booth, you better choose the most compact drum set available. From kid-size to jazz/fusion versions, there are many drum sets that will fit at your home or a small studio.
Choosing Drums for Home
When it comes to home drums, you will probably be good with a compact drum kit. If you are not tall, even kid-size ones may do. Not only will it save place in your room or basement but also it will be easier to transport if necessary. If you play in a band that has gigs at smaller venues, a compact drum set will be even better, as it requires less space on the stage.
If you don’t settle for practice drums with silencers, you should choose the room with the best acoustic insulation for your rehearsals. It may be even the basement, and if it’s short of space, a compact drum kit will be preferable. While choosing the kit, though, pay attention to this:
- Are you comfortable behind them? If not, you better choose another place for practicing. If not, nothing pays for that.
- Do you think of switching to a full-size set any time soon? If so, think again whether it makes sense to master a compact set.
- If a kid-size set is too small for you, you may search among jazz/fusion sets. They offer basically the same set of drums, but their size is smaller, and they are positioned closer to each other.
Choosing the Studio Drums
For a studio, you need not just quality drums: you need versatile drums that sound good enough for most genres and styles. Manufacturers like Gretsch and Tama have specialized studio sets that are not meant to be moved. You just install them in the recording booth with the right number of microphones to record their sounds directly.
Though studio drums are not to be moved, you may have your reason to choose a smaller set if the booth is rather small. Of course, we are not speaking kid-size sets, rather jazz/fusion instead of rock standards. It’s great if your studio is focused on electronics and vocals; if you don’t consider going for an electronic drum set, a compact one will do. Some more hints about studio kits can be added.
- Buy extra sticks. Though drummers usually come with their own ones, it’s easy to break one. Or they may want it for a different sound.
- Drummers may want to replace certain parts of your kit: cymbals, toms, snares, or even the bass drum. So make them easy to access.
- When buying and positioning hardware for microphones, take care about accessibility. If the drummer insists on replacing some drums, it should be easy to install the mics back to record them.
The Coda
Though these drum sets may seem small next to the professional ones famous drummers use at their gigs, they are capable of completing their mission, be it training, live playing, or recording. Of course, in each situation, you should ask yourself whether you feel comfortable with these. If so, this is yours. And don’t forget an extra pair of sticks!
