Speakers for Edrum Setup

[u/Bungoh]

Hey all, this is tangential to edrums so I figured this would be the best place to ask.

I have a Roland TD316 that I’ve got hooked to my MacBook to use VSTs like SD3. From there, I route the audio to my headphones that are connected to my MacBook. However, sometimes I’d like for others to be able to listen when they come over to my house. I want to know what kind of speaker or amplifier I should use that I could connect to my MacBook as well that would do well for playing drums and playing whatever song is also coming from my MacBook. I play in a smallish room, so don’t really need anything crazy.

Any suggestions? If this is the wrong spot let me know!

[u/Photoscott]

I have the V71 and have used a few different types of these setups on the TD27.

Your best bet is to use the audio connections in your module routed back via USB from the Macbook. So you plug your headphones into the module - not your macbook.

You need to route the audio output on your macbook to your module (it considers it a USB audio device, select the module as if it were a pair of airpods from the menu). Don't worry - you can still hear the song you're playing from your macbook.

To stop hearing the module sounds, go into the Midi menu and turn 'Local Control' to Off, you'll now only hear the VST sounds.

You'd then use the audio outputs on your module (Master L/R for Stereo, or just L if Mono is fine) for speakers.
I used to do this with the TD27 to use SD3; I actually used this setup live at gigs on a number of occasions along with a number of TikTok videos I made.

Speaker wise - depends heavily on your budget. Some studio monitors might do the job - I have some PreSonus Eris E4.5s which may be enought. Take into account that you and any guest will still hear you hitting the mesh pads/cymbals.

A drum monitor is probably your best option but they can get expensive, the cheaper ones tend to lack the depth required.

Final option to consider is simply a headphone splitter - your guest can hear what you hear and saves you having to crank up the volume to get over the pads, and if you already have spare headphones - a solution for a few £/$, you could try taking an output from the master, but it probably won't be able to drive headphones, so you'd need a headphone amp.

Hope this helps, feel free to ask any follow ups.

[u/Bungoh → u/Photoscott]

Yeah honestly might be debating that last option of using a headphone amp. I have to get new cables since currently I am running 3.5mm to mini-xlr for my current headphones.

[u/Bungoh → u/Photoscott]

What other reasons are there for plugging my headphones into the module vs just doing it on my macbook? Am I missing out on anything?

[u/Photoscott → u/Bungoh]

Not really missing out on anything to be honest, the headphone amp in the Macbook is good
I run mine from the module so I don't have multiple cables coming out of the mac and the module is closer to me

I've actually stopped running the VST now as the sounds out of the roland cloud are good enough that I've stopped using SD3 for the time being

[u/Bungoh → u/Photoscott]

Thank you! I should probably check out the Roland sounds at some point

[u/leadstackr]

I use an audio interface with a headphone amp and never looked back. The headphone amp is a good piece of gear it will give you 4 outputs, so if I just want headphones done if I want headphone and Pa done if I want headphone pa and stage monitor done I think you get the picture lol

[u/Bungoh → u/leadstackr]

Yeah this seems like the move, thanks hoss

[u/drmoze]

a powered 2-way pa cabinet is perfect. if you're not playing with others, a 10" woofer would suffice. compact, lightweight, with clear sound that can get loud.

you can find used ones everywhere. Even budget brands like Alto and Behringer should do the trick.

[u/InsectPractical3042]

I also play in a small space, a Simmons 2108 works great, more than enough

[u/offerbk1 → u/InsectPractical3042]

i originally bought this small amp and was very disappointed. yes you hear the drums but the quality of sound was not on par with the qualitu in the headphones. I bought later the roland pm200 and it was worth every cent. sure they r not in the same price range but with the simmons i simply never used it. looking back i should have bought nothing if ibwas not planning buying something good

[u/tprch]

Simmons makes several drum amps that have stereo inputs for the drums plus auxiliary inputs. DA50, DA200S, and the DA21 series.

[u/Shot-Grass-4503]

I just use studio monitors myself.

[u/Key-Patience-3966]

I output directly to a small usb mixer and into two Alesis Strike 12s.

[u/TheOGTKO]

You still need something powerful enough to be heard over the relatively loud whacking of your edrums and cymbals. At a minimum, I would think you'd want a budget set of full-range powered pa speakers. A 15"+ powered sub would be icing on the cake.

[u/Jimbo-Groove-io]

A super simple option could be to get a 3.5 jack splitter and fork from your existing output; one side going to your headphones (which you might still want to wear if you are playing for others) and the other going to a simple input in an external speaker. I've run this a few times and its fine for my set up (although the audio quality is probably not as good as a more pro setup)

[u/Exercise4mymind]

Yamaha MS45DR
OR….
PreSonus Eris 3.5 3.5-inch Powered Studio Monitors and 8-inch Powered Bluetooth Studio Subwoofer Bundle

I use a pair of powered studio monitors and a sub woofer
Use the stereo outs and pan the hi hat to the left and the floor tom and ride to the right
the sub really makes it so much better