Amplifier: Amplifiers tend to be more affordable. They are specifically made for electric drums. They are capable of pushing a wide range of frequencies, so the low kicks sound just as good as the high cymbals. An amp is a good option if you are practicing at home or in a practice area. [1] X Research source PA System: A PA system is a bit more expensive. The bass may not sound as good as on an amp (unless you purchase an additional subwoofer). A PA system has a mixer with multiple inputs. This allows multiple instruments or microphones to be connected at the same time. You can also connect a mobile phone or laptop computer to a PA system. A PA system can also push louder volumes than most electric drum amps. You can also connect both the left and right inputs of your electric drum kit module to a PA. This allows you to take advantage of different panning options. A PA System is a good option if you are practicing with a band and/or performing in small to mid-sized venues.
A sound system with an SPL rating of 100 decibels (dB) will require an amp of at least 100 watts. However, a sound system with an SPL rating of 112 decibels will require at least 1600 watts. Consider your needs. You probably won’t need that much power if you are playing in your own personal practice area. However, if you are playing for an audience or you play in a death metal band, you’ll probably need more power. [2] X Research source
If possible, go to a music shop and try out different electric drum amps to see what you like. If you can bring your drum kit (or at least part of it) with you, even better. This will let you sample what the amps sound like with your electric drum kit. Guitar and bass amps may not be suitable for an electric drum kit. Guitar and bass amps are designed for a specific frequency range. The lows and highs may not sound as good. Keyboard amps may be suitable for electric drums. They are designed to handle a wide range of frequencies, which is needed for the low kicks and high cymbals.
Check the power output of the mixer and the capability of the speakers. If your powered mixer is capable of pushing 1000 watts, but your speakers can only handle 500 watts, you may damage your speakers. Likewise, if you have a low-powered mixer, it will reach clipping levels much quicker than a higher-powered mixer. This can damage higher-powered speakers that aren’t rated for that mixer. It’s also important to check the RMS Watt rating on a speaker and compare it to the Peak Watt rating. The RMS Watt rating is how much continual power usage a speaker can handle. The Peak Watt rating is the maximum power output a speaker system can handle in short bursts. Many companies advertise their Peak Watt ratings because bigger numbers are more impressive. However, a speaker that has a 150 Peak Watt rating may be no better than a speaker that has a 75 RMS Watt rating. [3] X Research source
As with a powered mixer setup, make sure the power output of the amplifier matches the power capabilities of the speakers. Also, check the RMS and Peak Watt ratings of the speakers. [4] X Research source
Don’t plug anything into a power source until all of the equipment is connected via cables.
Most output jacks take ¼ inch cables. However, some PA systems allow you to connect to it using an XLR cable. An XLR cable can be very long and doesn’t lose signal quality. ¼ inch cables can lose signal quality after so many feet. [6] X Research source
Do not connect to the headphone port unless there is no other option. If your module has two separate outputs for left (L) and right (R), connect to the left one for mono sound. Only connect to the right (R) output if you want to use both the left and right outputs for a stereo sound.
If you’re using an active speaker, use a ¼ inch cable to connect the drum module’s output jack and the speaker’s input jack or the mixer directly to the speaker. Some venues may have a direct input box on stage that you can connect to. This is a box with an input port that connects directly to the mixer.
The sound can be adjusted from the drum module, the speakers, or the amplifier.
If you purchased an inexpensive drum kit, these features may not be available. If you still don’t like the sound of your drum set, consider upgrading the module. [7] X Research source Purchase a higher-quality version from the same brand to replace your old module.
Reverb: Reverb is an echo-like effect that emulates the sound of playing in different sized rooms. It emulates sound bouncing off walls. Delay: Delay is another echo-like effect where the sound actually repeats after it is played. You can adjust the speed at which it repeats, the volume, and how many times it repeats Gain: Gain adjust the volume of a sound wave right after it goes through the input. It’s the first process a sound wave goes through in a mixer. Adding too much gain can cause distortion. Distortion: Distortion is any effect that purposely distorts or corrupts the audio signal. This is generally used to make your instrument sound dirtier or rougher.
