Review: Pearl RH-2000 Eliminator Remote Hi-Hat Stand

This is not really a review - I'm just going to spew my two cents on this thing since I couldn't find much information out there before I bought it.

The good:
- As sturdy and heavy as a ten ton truck.
- Swivelling 2 legged tripod ensures zero slippage. Heck, I've used it to prevent my left double bass pedal from moving too.
- The tension can easily be adjusted by turning the tension dial under the hihat.
- The included SGC200C drop clutch is an awesome bonus, although I can't use it with my Roland VH-11 hihat.

The OK:
- The response is smooth and barely noticeable. It also feels quite different from playing on a normal hi-hat stand.
- I didn't mess around much with the footboard settings, but it's product description claims it is super adjustable. You might need a B.Pd (Bachelors of Pedalboards) to work it all out though.

The bad
- The shaft is pretty long [insert sexual pun here], so it requires a lot of clearance space under the hihat (at least 50cm).
- The stand is as transportable as an elephant. The cable is not flexible enough to be curled up tightly, and the pedal is a very awkward shape. Don't expect to find any carrying cases to fit it nicely.
- It doesn't come with mounting gear either, so be prepared to shell out an additional $25 for a clamp.

All in all, I have no major complaints. As far as price goes, this is one of the cheapest Remote HH stands around, so its definitely worth a look.

Rock Band vs DTXMania as a drum learning tool

When Guitar Hero came out, many guitarists bashed the game for bastardizing their art and reducing it to finger tapping game with 5 frets. Others argued the game's merits - that it inspires players, increases their appreciation for music, and that it's difficult songs requires a high amount of technical skill (and immortalizing Herman Li as some sort of guitar god).

This argument was brought over to the drumming community when Rock Band came out. While it's colourful 4-pad controller was similarly dismissed by purists, there's no denying that the game forces you to learn realistic drum patterns. Subsequent controllers (such as the ION drum rocker) amended this lack of realism. Nevertheless, the game is not ideal as a drum learning tool in many ways:

- Firstly, the game's 5-lane limitation makes the notation MORE confusing for beginners since one pad can double as many cymbals, so students may have trouble recognizing when to hit what when it comes to a real set.
- It's coulourful animations and design suggests it to be what it is - a game. Parents would scoff if they saw their son playing Rockband in their $30/hour drum lesson.
- Drum charts cannot be created or edited. Wouldn't it be nice if you could ask your student to transcribe their favourite song and then play it for you?

The computer simulator DTXMania (based on Rockband's predecessor Drummania) solves the above problems by having 8 lanes with separate notation for open hihat/ride/splash etc. As it is a sim, it relies on user-made simfiles, which means that you can find a plethora songs to play for free (including double bass songs). Granted, the quality of notecharts may vary, and there are less charts for beginners. But it's never too difficult to learn how to transcribe your own simfile.

Unfortunately, being a drum simulator, it does have its drawbacks: lack of online play, no free-soloing sections, few guitar simfiles. But for the solo drummer who looking for the most "realistic" drum game, DTXMania is the one.

Review: Inside Out: Exploring the Mental Aspects of Drumming by Billy Ward

An engaging ad inspiring read for drummers trying to go beyond the mere physical exercise of paying drums. The book is a collection of essays which encompasses everything from practicing, improving your time-keeping, being a session player, auditioning tips and getting gigs.

On the surface, it may sound like a "How-to" guide for drummers, but Billy digs very deeply into the issues. Drum beginners will likely find it boring and confusing, as some essays do get quite technical and reference drumming terminology and (not so notable) drummers. Intermediate-advanced players who have gigged, recorded or played in a band will definitely dig this book's material.

The best thing about this book is its breadth and depth. There are 20 essays and each one is about 4-5 pages in length (perfect for bedside or toilet reading). Each essay is enlightening and thought provoking, full of anecdotes and examples. It is also very personal and engaging - a breath of fresh air for drummers used to boring instructional books crammed with drum notation.

Definitely recommended for headbanging death-metal players who think playing 200bpm double bass is an achievement.