While it does have its quirks, the Strike Pro SE is a fantastic option for professional drummers looking for an alternative to Roland's high-end kits.

With decades of experience working for Roland and ATV, EFnote’s product designers have hit the ground running since launching the brand in 2018. The same process also takes place as your hands get sweatier – moisture also activates the grippy coating, again increasing the level of grip on your stick. In 2023, I still the think the TD-50KV2 is a great option, but the VAD series is giving these drums a run for their money (but really, it’s just because of the look of the shells). The first official Roland-branded products were rhythm machines (namely the popular TR-33, 55 and 77 drum machines) - and since then they’ve gone on to be one of the industry leaders in the e-kit game. The TD-07DMK proves that Roland’s main concerns are playability and feel - with the double ply mesh heads providing a real-feel playing experience.Amongst the myriad sound-editing options, building a ‘signature’ sound has never been more thorough - with tuning and muffling adjustments available at the push of a button, as well as drumhead types, cymbal diameter, cymbal thickness, shell sizes and shell depths all up for customisation. In terms of weight, this stick is midway in size between the lighter sticks and the heavier sticks I’ve suggested in this article. Vater have a really great reputation for long lasting, durable sticks – when using cheaper sticks, nylon tips have a habit of flying off randomly – and hitting you in the face. Roland's latest addition to the V-Drums family is a hugely compelling offering if you're just starting out.

We’re talking dual-zone pads which enable you to get multiple sounds/tones from a single pad, more sensitive and sophisticated triggering, better drum sounds and the ability to load your own sounds into the module - the list goes on. The American Jazz 2 sticks from Vic Firth are some of the most enjoyable sticks I’ve ever played with.We’d always advocate recording acoustic drums in a proper studio with microphones where possible, but this isn’t realistic, convenient or affordable for a lot of people, so e-kits are the next best thing. Other kits like the Yamaha DTX (at least the older models) featured an all –plastic hardware stand or had some aluminum and really poor plastic clamps and knobs. However, the new module on the Alesis Nitro MAX features 32 new professionaly-recorded presets from BFD, a long-time player in sampled drums. Another feature is that the tips of the drumsticks light up when in motion, perfect for practising after lights have gone out. The Roland TD-27KV is one of the most impressive entries from the e-kit giant — I just wish the pads were bigger.