The Wavedrum

After playing with a Wavedrum or two for a few months, I've come to really enjoy them. No, it will never replace a high quality doumbek, riq, snare drum, cajon, or djembe. That's not the point of the Wavedrum anyway. It is however the most 'live' sounding and feeling electronic drum I've ever played with. To get the most out of it, I've found generally you have to dive in and create/modify your own sounds. I Mostly did this video for 3 reasons:
1. I wanted to see what the quality of recording the wavedrum directly into the stupid little 'line in' jack of my computer was.
2. I wanted to perhaps demonstrate some capabilities of the Wavedrum in standard and subtle playing using different customized programs (some are brand new, others are just tweaked a little). I got kind of frustrated at some of the videos on youtube where many people were using the most bizarre and (in my opinion) useless sounds on the Wavedrum to showcase it. I get into some of the Oriental algorithms later in the video (they are not changed too much).
Anndd 3. I wanted to see how well a 7D could record some compressed 720p video at 60fps with a very shallow DoF :).

[@mirageguitar]

By far, the best demo on some very usable sounds. Very skillful drumming too!!

[@MrLlamajockey]

So for percussionists like me, that's great! I like how real drums respond and feel, and the Wavedrum can get pretty close. The pickup uses the algorithm and a PCM (high quality) sound to make what you hear. Because of that, one patch can sound different depending on how you hit it and what you hit it with. Once you get into it, it can be very 'real'. The strength of the HPD 10 is you can have a different voice assigned to each pad if you wanted... lots of potential versatility there.

[@dr2050productions]

Thanks for the video: really nice playing. I'm working with three Wavedrums and an HPD10 now, but videos like this remind me how expressive one WD is... sweet. I've taken to wearing metal rings on my index fingers because both HPD10 and the WDs react to them quite well, and they're easy to avoid too... Anyhoo... nice stuff, look forward to seeing more.

[@MrLlamajockey]

@leefuji The Oriental. The Oriental is red, the standard is silver, and there's a special black edition that's basically just the standard in a black color with a limited edition drum head.

[@marcinnsz]

Very interesting and realistic sound. Reverb and delay effect work great!

[@MrLlamajockey]

Well, it just depends! If you're just looking for something with cool sounds to beat on and experiment with, the standard will be great. If you love mid-eastern/Asian drums and have big plans for it, definitely the Oriental. I own a riq, darbuka, bendir, etc. so I was familiar with the instruments the Oriental added. When it was announced, it was a no brainer for me to get it, as I knew I would definitely make use of the new stuff. You get more good algorithms and PCMs to use, can't go wrong.

[@stevenoct1967]

one thing .. I notice your leading with your right hand ... what if your left handed ? can you produce the same sounds playing left handed .. or are the major sounds all geared towards the right hand ? .. I am a lefty .. lovely playing btw

[@MrLlamajockey]

@leefuji On the standard there are 100 presets, all of them are able to be modified however you want. The Oriental has 150. Editing is a very in-depth process...there are algorithms and PCM sounds that can be mixed, there are also settings that involve delay, reverb, sensitivity of the pad/rim, etc. It's actually somewhat complicated, some of the reason being you have to use the on board controls to do it. It's not hard, but, it can be tedious. However, it's very deep regarding what can be done.

[@HALmotohashi]

So coool performance !! I feel, your wonderful play is having drawn out the possibility of WAVEDRUM 100%.

[@hirodotsu]

Of all the Wavedrum videos I've watched on KZbin, you certainly made the best, really showing the potential of the instrument and the different sounds it is capable of. Plus demonstrated how sensitive it is to subtle playing techniques. Kudos. Question though- mind sharing the settings you set for the sound at 2:45? Just the algorithms and PCM's would suffice, or if you want to go into more detail I certainly would not object. Many thanks!

[@DJeATt]

Please more...you convinced me to get one.

[@MrLlamajockey]

It's just a strike with the palm area (mainly closer to the knuckles), followed by an immediate 'slap' with the finger tips as the hand is lifted a bit. Think in terms of slapping your palm with the fingers on the same hand, only you don't actually have to hit the palm, just the drum head. It's not really a roll as it can get pretty fatiguing haha, and very hard to do steadily. So I just do it in short bursts in between the beat I'm keeping with the other hand.

[@magikarpp]

nice playing and awesome demostration brah

[@PianoManChuck]

That was awesome!!! You're an excellent hand/finger drummer!!!!!!

[@MrLlamajockey]

The Rolands (and every other electronic drum that I'm aware of) are a different animal altogether. I like the HPD 10, from what I've heard it sounds nice and it's pretty deep. I wouldn't mind owning one myself. The HPD 10 and other electronic drums are glorified trigger pads though. You hit a pad, it plays a sound. That's basically the jist of it. The Wavedrum on the other hand, is actually pickup driven...kinda like in a guitar. It's meant to respond more like real drum would... (continued)

[@MrLlamajockey]

Thanks! Still love it...actually I wish I had more opportunity to play it live. My typical live set up that doesn't include a trap set is a cajon w/ a mic as well as the Wavedrum. Maybe that will be my next video...but anyway: I Have NOT played the mini. I toy with the idea, but that's one I'd like to play around with before I buy one. I'll have to look at that soon. The red one is the oriental. It has extra sounds, algorithms, and fun stuff like that. I'd recommend that over the standard.

[@MrLlamajockey]

@casiustonen To an extent. You would either have to rely on some of the scale algorithms (which just go through the scale sequentially when you hit the drum on the surface it's applied) along with a PCM sound or use the pitch tune feature to make a bass line. If you want an elaborate bass line though, that may not work too well as it might be difficult to get exact pitches. You might also want to look at the just released Wavedrum Mini if you're doing any street beat performing.

[@madebythebird]

Thankyou! I understand your frustration with online demo's. They are usually contrived, horrid and unmusical. This is fantastic and I will be buying one thanks to you, to go alongside the Dumbek, Glocks and Djembes:) ps: Enough short dof! Your challenge with the 7 and 5D is to shoot at smaller than ƒ8! ;)

[@MrLlamajockey]

@magikarpp The advances to the handsonic would be there's more pads, probably a little easier to edit (though perhaps not as in-depth as the wave) and the D beam is pretty cool :). But it doesn't matter what you hit a pad with with, it will sound the same just louder or softer. The wavedrum can sound different depending on where you hit it on the same surface, what you hit it with, and how you hit it. It's only 2 playing surfaces, but it's not your average electronic trigger.

[@polishbroadcast]

Sounds awesome! Nice playing.

[@gwugluud]

I have one now...Well, the standard grey one. It's very advanced as electronic drums go. It detects taps and touches, even. Maybe the electronic route will become more rational for drummers as this technology evolves.

[@PennyNelson]

Hey thanks LJ, I dont get on youtube much but appreciate your input :D

[@TheBirdMamma]

this thing is awesome

[@MrLlamajockey]

If I had the money now, I'd add an HPD 10 to my arsenal and use it too. But, for me on stage with my drums as a performer... I'd never go up without my wavey ;). As for the output, I use a powered mixer or a direct box. The Wavedrum has stereo out (2x 1/4"), and output can be rather quiet compared to triggers. That's because of the pickups. But it's not incredibly quiet, certainly usable by itself even if you have to crank it up a bit.

[@MrLlamajockey]

@magikarpp It's apples to oranges. If I had the money and place to put it, I'd have both! Actually, I'd probably have the handsonic 10 over the 15. From what I understand the sounds in that are a little better than the 15. The handsonics are traditional triggers. You hit a pad, it makes the sound. The wavedrum plays much more organically, and feels more like a real drum to me- while at the same time being different than anything else. It picks up on more details in my playing.

[@MrLlamajockey]

@Tgarland84 You can buy it a lot of places. I got both of mine on Amazon. They dropped in price recently, I think they go for around 500-600 USD now.

[@Sagnad8]

Awesome stuff!

[@MrLlamajockey]

@Pennyn1310 It would take a LONG time and a lot of space to spell out all the individual settings. I'll try to go through some and put it in the comments soon.

[@MrLlamajockey]

@dr2050productions Thanks. Haha actually I wore a ring for a while while playing the wavedrum, some of the sounds were very cool! However, eventually the wavedrum won and my ring broke...not to mention the nice red paint on the oriental started chipping :/.

[@NickUK82]

Great job !! i can't wait to get one too!!

[@mikemagee77]

Are the delay effects straight from the pad itself or are they done through the computer? Just curious if you can fart around with different ambient effects? Thanks :)

[@tmaddrummer]

I am very impressed with your playing! So what's your opinion after playing it for over a year now? Have you played the mini, if so, any comments on their comparison. Thanks for the great info on this fine instrument! I almost forgot.... what's the difference between the red and silver models besides their color? Thanks again!

[@PennyNelson]

Really , Really nice work thanks. I too found the wavedrum setting uninspiring. Play boug normally. Have you got those setting anywhere for us mere mortals to utilise? I love the depth that you have achieved in the sound most impressive.

[@Izegrim59]

Very impressive playing... I am planning to get one myself, can't decide wich one of the two wave drums is the best for me to get...The Oriental version is quite a bit more expensive.. Is there a big difference between them ? And is it really worth it to pay more for the oriental? Would appreciate your vision on this...

[@fUjiMaNia]

@MrLlamajockey thanks for the explaining!

[@casiustonen]

ok, i prefer the big one, no mini, hehe, i think is more expresive. thanks for the answers.

[@MrLlamajockey]

The Wavedrum has built in delay and reverb. The reverb has I think...9? (don't quote me there) different models, with the depth/volume/etc adjustable. I don't remember what all the delay has, but I think it's pretty standard.

[@casiustonen]

i want to use the wavedrum & boss rc-30 loopstation to build hiphop tracks & more free improvisations, i like the sound of wavedrum, is posible to create a bass line with the synth mode? this video is a good example of the good sound of wavedrum, thanks.

[@MrLlamajockey]

@DJeATt Lol. Cool! Ok, well, maybe after Christmas I'll post a little guide on how to edit the sounds with an example.

[@Izegrim59]

Thx mate, really helpfull..

[@MrLlamajockey]

Yup yup. Nothing about the wavedrum favors a side, it's symmetrical in how it responds like pretty much any standard drum!

[@Izegrim59]

Hey, me again.. I went for a closer look and a bit of a try out of the classic wavedrum, sadly enough they didn' t have the oriental in stock. There was another drum synth at the shop, the roland HPD 10, what's your opinion on that if I may ask. For me, I am a singer, guitarplayer and would like to expand my knowledge by learning percussion. What I like about the Roland is the 'coaching' feature and the many different pads to use. Also like to hear your opinion an the output of wavedr. output

[@magikarpp]

@MrLlamajockey Have you ever tried the handsonic 15? Do you recommed this over that one?

[@fUjiMaNia]

@MrLlamajockey Is this the Oriental version or the regular ?

[@MrLlamajockey]

No internal speakers. It has stereo 1/4" outs as well as a 1/8" headphone out.

[@MrLlamajockey]

@UrLeeMuzik I haven't really seen one yet with more percussion stuff... that's an interesting idea though, I'll see if I can kidnap some friends and make it happen.

[@fUjiMaNia]

@MrLlamajockey oh cool ! is there a way to load up custom samples ?

[@MrLlamajockey]

@magikarpp Thanks brah :P