When it comes to ways to set up your drums to an electrical source, there have been many advancements over the past few decades. Even with all the new-fangled gadgetry that drummers can choose from, many of them still stick to the tried and true drum trigger.
But why when they could just go with mesh heads or rubber pads? Well, there are a lot of reasons, including taking your acoustic instruments and giving them the ability to produce a sound that is similar to an electronic drum. And that is just one reason.
How do you choose a drum trigger that will work for you? Well, we have recommended some of the best drum triggers in this guide, along with everything you need to know before making the purchase.
What Are Drum Triggers?
Triggers are pieces of equipment that you add to your drum kit that allow the acoustic sound of your drums to be transferred into an electrical sound. These triggers, once mounted, can detect vibrations from one of three different parts of that drum. These three areas are the drum head, rim, or shell.
They come in mainly two designs. One of these is a trigger that is mounted to the head or shell; these are often referred to as head contact triggers. The second option is a housing that is mounted to the rim. These press the trigger to the head and are called rim mount triggers.
How Do Drum Triggers Work?
The trick to this technology is that it uses the piezo crystal technology that we have all around us every day. This crystal vibrates to electrical voltage and creates sound.
But when it comes to the drum trigger, the process is flipped on its head. As you pound on the drums, the vibration from the drum head radiates through the crystal, which creates a little jolt of voltage.
That voltage is then sent into a MIDI converter, and that is transferred to a source to turn the vibration into amplified sound.
How to Use Drum Triggers
In order to really use the drum triggers to their fullest, you will need to understand the parameters and what they do. They may appear on the piece of equipment in different terms depending on the brand, but they will all work basically the same. This means the best thing to do is start by reading the owner's guide that the drum trigger comes with and the one for your drum module interface.
Some trigger interfaces will give you the ability to choose a trigger type. This will help give you a good base parameter setting that you can then tweak with the other settings that are available.
The next big setting is sensitivity. This will need to be chosen according to your playing style. Are you a soft or hard player? You want a good dynamic range.
Other settings you will need to look at are threshold mask time and then any of the model-specific settings. By taking your time to set these up, you will optimize the results you get from the drum trigger.
What Do Drum Triggers Do?
So why use one of these drumming peripherals? A drum trigger can do a lot of for your sound. The addition of one to your drum kit will help give you a broader sonic capability. This tool can, as we have already said, take your acoustic instrument and give you the ability to amplify that sound.
Using them in a live performance can help elevate your sound by adding more definition to your drum's sounds. This is why a lot of drummers that play metal use them as they allow them not to be overpowered by all the shredding guitars. They can also help with clarity in the studio.
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Things To Consider When Choosing The Best Drum Triggers
There are different triggers for every type of drum in your kit. For instance, there is a snare drum trigger and a bass drum trigger, so you can see why it is so hard to make a choice. On top of that, there are many different brands to choose from.
So in order to find the best drum triggers for you and your playing style, there are few factors that you have to consider. Here are the ones we used to choose the models we will look into below:
Module Compatibility
The very first thing you should think about is whether the drum trigger model you are looking at will work with your drum modules.
For the most part, each of the triggers will be compatible with most drum kits. You will still need to make sure so that you have the best drum equipment for you.
Versatility
Another factor to look at is the versatility of the drum trigger. For us, this means it is a single or dual trigger source. Most models will be designed as a single-sourced drum trigger.
But there are some models that pick up sound from in a different way. These mount to one point but can detect two sounds from the same trigger.
Trigger Type
There are two different types of drum triggers – head contact and rim mount. Each mounting system is mounted to a different part of whatever drum you are attaching it to.
Head Contact
The head contact may be one of the most popular. These are mounted to the head or shell by way of double-sided sticky tape or some sort of adhesive. These types of triggers are sensitive and often priced lower than the other type. They are not as durable, though, which means you need to take good care of them.
Rim Mount
As the name would indicate, this type of drum trigger is mounted to the rim of the particular drum. This is done with a mount that the trigger comes with.
There are no adjustments for this type of trigger. This means that you will have to ensure that you get the right-sized trigger, or it won't be able to mount to the rim of your drum.
Drum Type
Each of the triggers will be designed for the drum type that is because they are crafted to pick up a specific acoustic sound of that particular drum. So whether it is a tom, a snare, or a bass drum, you will want to pick up a different model to ensure it works and you get the most of the drum accessory.
Of course, some models are universally designed so you can move them easily between drum modules. The ones designed for the specific drum will still give you the best sound results, so that is something to consider.
Drum Trigger Reviews
Taking all that into consideration, we have curated a list of some of the best drum triggers on the market. So whether you are looking for the best drum triggers for death metal or the best drum triggers for the money, we have something on the list for you.
Here is a look at some of the best drum trigger options that are available.
1. Roland RT-30HR Dual Trigger
This Roland RT-30HR drum trigger is a good all-around dual trigger model. It is compatible with a lot of different modules but is, of course, best when used with a Roland model.
When it comes to the performance of the trigger, there are a lot of things we really like. The first is the high sensitivity and the rapid processing of the signals. This will reduce the latency, which is nine in both a live setting as well as the studio.
Along with that, the installation is pretty simple. The mounting system for the Roland RT-30HR helps make it versatile, fitting well on mesh heads as well as a kick drum.
Roland suggests you use it with a snare, and that is because it is a dual trigger. This means you can trigger the rim and head at the same time. Also, unlike other drum triggers, there are little to no mistriggers, which gives it better accuracy and reliability.
Though it offers top-notch performance, there are still some things that we find fault with. There is limited compatibility when it comes to using other brands. All in all, this may be one of the best drum triggers for mesh heads and easy to install thanks to the mounting system.
Pros
Cons
We chose the Aquarian Kickzone bass drum trigger as the best option for any kick drum out there. This is a good alternative for almost any acoustic drum trigger and gives the drummer a good bridge between that and the electronic drum sound.
The mounting system for this model is a simple adhesive that is stuck onto the kick drum. Even though this is a budget-friendly option, it is a high-performance model that offers limited latency. The cable that is attached is held in place by a bracket that comes in the box, which is super nice.
The fact it is attached to the actual kick drum itself will not have any effect on the overall sound, and it is compatible with a wide range of drum modules.
However, there is one issue that might need to be taken into consideration before making your final decision. The kick drum unit's cable is short, and the bracket that is used to mount it may need some attention to ensure it stays in place.
When it comes to who would get the most from this, we think those working on a low budget would probably be the best candidates. It is also really great for studio musicians.
Pros
Cons
If you are looking for a versatile trigger, this model from Yamaha could be the right choice. The DT-50S is compatible with all the trigger modules out here. It is also more durable than many others because it is crafted with a metal cast body.
The durability of the unit, despite the few flaws, makes it a great option for live musicians. It will be able to stand up to the rigors of the road easily. It is also great for multiple styles of music genres.
The versatility doesn't stop there, as these models can be used on all types of drums, including floor toms and rack toms. It is sensitive and provides the drummers with consistency when it comes to responsiveness. The system for mounting is pretty easy to install as well.
But even given all that, there are still some things that could be fixed. The biggest of these is the mounting system, which is nice but not always the most stable.
This drum trigger is definitely a good choice for those drummers that constantly play a lot of live shows.
Pros
Cons
This is another excellent budget-friendly option on our list. Though it may be cheaper than other models, it is still a professional drum trigger. The build of the unit is lightweight and has a free-floating chamber that moves around the drum head when being played.
Along with this, the unit is mounted with a kwik clip very snug fit. Once attached, the unit offers several high-grade features like its sensitivity and its response time. It is a versatile trigger in some ways.
It can be used in a home recording studio once it is connected to software for drums. One of the plusses is that this model can also be used as a converter kit into an electronic drum trigger.
Though it is fertile when it comes to usability, it is not when it comes to compatibility. You will need to make sure that you look at requirements that are necessary for the drum itself.
Even with this one setback, though, it is still a good option for many drummers out there. It can be used in the studio to convert your kit to be like an electronic drum trigger. Along with those two uses, it can also be used as a contact mic if you play guitar.
Pros
Cons
This last trigger we are looking at offers a lot of value if for no other reason than you get a full 5 pc. drum trigger set with this purchase. That will allow you to set up all your drums and do it for a lower price than some single triggers on the market.
On top of that, the trigger for the snare is a dual-zone trigger. This means your sound will be even more dynamic. The set is not mounted using an adhesive which means there is no chance of it getting lost.
One of the best things about this set, though, is that it comes with XLR cables. This will make hooking up external systems way easier as this is one of the most common connection types.
That being said, there is one major flaw with this drum trigger set. They have a limited sensitivity which will make it a poor choice for live performances. Not only because of the sensitivity but because they are not as durable as you need for the road.
This set is good for the drummer who wants the most bang for their buck. It is also a solid choice for home studios and practicing.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
We have looked at some of the best acoustic drum triggers and other variations. From the best internal drum triggers to ones built for the bass drum. With the knowledge we have given you, it should be a cakewalk to find the right trigger for you and your drum kit.
So we hope that this comprehensive guide into the world of the acoustic drum trigger and our look at some of the best drum triggers on the market has helped you.
