Great video. I ended up getting the Efnote 7 in December. A few thoughts re this video. I agree with you. I don't ever notice machine gunning in a way that would throw me off while practicing. I can see how if folks are analyzing the audio on any given video, it would be more direct, and easy to hear imperfections. For me, I'm uninterested anyway in just using audio samples in a recording, but the access to frequent, really enjoyable quality practice time that the Efnotes allow me. I'm a songwriter who likes to play drums, but whose main instrument is guitar and bass. It is easy for me to write and record drum parts for a song, but since getting the Efnotes I've been able to practice so much more that my skill as an actual drummer, and not just someone composing parts on the drums, has increased substantially. I'm moving to a townhouse from a single family, though. And I noticed that you are using the Efnotes in an apartment. I was a bit worried that the tapping, really on the cymbals, and perhaps the bass drum, might be a problem in the townhouse. But given that it is an end unit, and only has one shared wall, and I have a contained room away from that shared wall, and the thing has a firewall, I think I'll be fine. But was wondering if you have any stuff to share about your experience playing these in an apartment setting? Have you had any neighbor issues, or do you have any tips for keeping tapping sounds from translating? I'm thinking of some fiberglass compressed boards and a few sound blankets that other drummers have recommended.
Yea I think the machine gunning thing is overblown in general. I have played a very long time. And i would have never noticed had nobody mentioned it. I have never had any complaints. However, my place is on the ground floor. With one shared wall and one place above me. I also have a “musicians” schedule. So when I am usually playing and recording nobody is around during the day. I think the loudest part is the bass drum. Which you could always stuff with blankets or something. But yea I have never had issues.
That AD snare!! I've just started messing around with my 3X and the in-built sounds are truly fantastic, I've yet to really explore it fully but my plan was to hook to Superior Drummer especially for live work..now I just want that snare in my life!
Yes I like the AD sounds. Very natural. Slate has great record ready sounds. I have never tried Superior Drummer. I had a trial of EZ drummer and really did not like the sounds. For what its worth
Hey man, thanks for making Efnote videos and taking time to share and explain stuff, i got one particular situation for you, kind of a tough one, see if u can help... i just got an Efnote a few weeks ago and its driving me crazy at the time of recording the original Efnote module sounds, the thing is, i upgraded to Efnote from a Yamaha kit, and i kept some Yamaha pads and cymbals to expand the set, so i have the two modules plugged into Cubase, the Yamaha one via original Yamaha MIDI cable and the Efnote one with a simple phone to USB cable, them both go thru ASIO4all into Addictive Drums 2, the thing is, i dont like at all the cymbals sounds of the Efnote (actually, i dont like any cymbals sounds from any modules so far, for what i experienced), so, i wanna stick with Addictive Drums cymbals, so what i wanted to achieve, is to be able to record the MIDI signals of both modules (succeed), but i want Cubase also to record the orinigal Efnote module sounds of the snare, bassdrum and toms, and its only recording the MIDI signals, so far i can play along the way im telling you, because i mute everything on AD except for the cymbals, so, thru the headphones that comes out from the Efnote module, im hearing AD + Efnote module sounds (i do the other way around, i mute the cymbals on the module so i get the AD2 cymbal sounds and i keep the toms and snare of Efnote), but thats as far as my patience goes, i feel like im at the edge of getting it, but im missing something, a detail, and i cant get to that final step, i cannot make Cubase to record everything at the same time as i hear it on the headphones because i also want a register of the MIDI notes and i want to be able to mute the background music later or whatever track im playing along to, i dont want just to register whats going on the output headphones jack, i want to edit everything..., what would you do or recommend??? Maybe theres an easier way, plug everything differently ? i did the best i could and im stuck, and Efnote developers, totally wash their hands, as im sure you already know... no support at all, no mail, no live chat, no nothing, they want us to call the store provider, the store we bought the drums from, lol, nonsense.... what can i try man? Thanks in advance and congratulations for your drums and your technique and playing.
There is actually a solution. But I don’t think it works in cubase. My efnote 5 module can send out of its micro USB output both midi information and think its 7 tracks (5 mono and one stereo) of audio. The catch is, as far as I know this only works in Logic Pro. I have always wondered why that is. Maybe a firmware can fix. Out side of that, I don’t think it can output both midi and line level audio at the same time through its other outputs. Only the usb. I will link a video on the subject.
@@Bearvswolf Hey, thanks for replying, yes i saw that video, looks very easy on Logic Pro, i wanted to leave that for like a final desperate move, since i have to install MacOS and then get Logic Pro, and also, i have no idea how Logic Pro works, i used Cubase like since forever... Efnote went too far with the compatibility and auto rejection thing... I see you got Cubase there on the background ? how are did you record the Efnote module sounds to the video?
@@youtubebrowser1635 I dont own cubase. It looks like I am using Luna on this video. It would have just been connecting the two Line level outputs L/R into my interface. Its possible that if you had an inter face you could accept the line level outputs from the module as well as the standard midi outputs. You of course only get stereo drums. But if you are just trying to remove the cymbals from the mix that would work for you. Assuming they output simultaneously
@@Bearvswolf oh i see, im gonna try that.. looked to me like Cubase yeah, the interface and colors are pretty similar, well, thanks very much man for all the info, im gonna keep trying, be well man, thanks.
I noticed the same thing plugging my Efnote into EZDrummer. Definitely an improvement in sound and response. Just a shame there was too much latency at times
Would the machine gunning sound be helped by using something like EZ Drummer rather than module samples? I just got my ef notr 5 kit and this video really helped! Thank you!
Ha! So yes. I do think it gets better via a Software VST. My guess is they can use larger amounts of samples since our computers have huge hard drives. So the pearl mimic can run those VSTs but thats why it’s the price of a MacBook pro and you get no drums….a terrible buy if you ask me. But yes i do think the VSTs have an edge. 🤘
@@tadurall80 based on my research you could go with a Roland kit for about a thousand or 2 more than the ef note 5 but you will still run into the machine gunning issue regardless at a certain threshold (mentioned in the video). I think the solution regardless of kit is to use samples on your computer (EZ Drummer or Superior Drummer or any others with good samples) to increase the dynamic range of the sounds.
I would think so. If you check the replies on the pinned comment in this video: th-cam.com/video/OpxQcLMxH0M/w-d-xo.htmlsi=__hngS3ijpfLFJWX Those are the settings I used on my old Roland kit. Not sure if they would translate but maybe.
So in all honesty. Do you really like the Efnote 5. Thinking of picking this up for home practice and live use with the band I play in. BTW, how is the snare for buzz and press rolls? Thanks.
dear wolf,i want to connect my sound modul from my 3x with my laptop,can you tell me what kind of usb cable i need ? grüsse aus spandau near Berlin ps:sorry for my bad english..
Depends what connections you have. Efnote can use i think usb micro or mini that would connect via usb A type. If you have a macbook with only usb c you need an adapter. Mio I connectivity is what i use. Thats a standard midi 5 pin cable to usb A. Then you get a device to take usb A to usb c. Thats what i do.
@@Bearvswolf I think it's excellent - particularly the cymbals, but (as per your video) the Efnote version of the 'round robin' isn't very satisfying. So, I tend to pair Efnote 7 module with another module that can do sample import (currently a 2Box) so that I can swap out snares and toms that play and sound more acoustic due to the depth of the sample layering. I'll do a video on my channel on that topic soon!
I occasionally teach with one. I use a little 10 inch alto. Just because its light and i can set it up easily. I love yamaha PA speakers in general. But I also think a nice mixing set of speakers 5”, 7” maybe would sound nice in stereo. Some JBL or KRK or equivalent. Depends how loud you need it to go.
I was planning to do a video on that next . Because efnote is generally not included in these VSTs. But for Addictive I just choose the TD-12 map. I think the only thing that didn’t map was the splash. But its easy enough to change in settings. Esp if you use Logic you can see the incoming midi note on the top bar. Near the bars and beats section. Then just switch whichever cymbal you want to map to that incoming midi note to assign to the splash.
Great video. I ended up getting the Efnote 7 in December. A few thoughts re this video. I agree with you. I don't ever notice machine gunning in a way that would throw me off while practicing. I can see how if folks are analyzing the audio on any given video, it would be more direct, and easy to hear imperfections. For me, I'm uninterested anyway in just using audio samples in a recording, but the access to frequent, really enjoyable quality practice time that the Efnotes allow me. I'm a songwriter who likes to play drums, but whose main instrument is guitar and bass. It is easy for me to write and record drum parts for a song, but since getting the Efnotes I've been able to practice so much more that my skill as an actual drummer, and not just someone composing parts on the drums, has increased substantially. I'm moving to a townhouse from a single family, though. And I noticed that you are using the Efnotes in an apartment. I was a bit worried that the tapping, really on the cymbals, and perhaps the bass drum, might be a problem in the townhouse. But given that it is an end unit, and only has one shared wall, and I have a contained room away from that shared wall, and the thing has a firewall, I think I'll be fine. But was wondering if you have any stuff to share about your experience playing these in an apartment setting? Have you had any neighbor issues, or do you have any tips for keeping tapping sounds from translating? I'm thinking of some fiberglass compressed boards and a few sound blankets that other drummers have recommended.
Yea I think the machine gunning thing is overblown in general. I have played a very long time. And i would have never noticed had nobody mentioned it.
I have never had any complaints. However, my place is on the ground floor. With one shared wall and one place above me. I also have a “musicians” schedule. So when I am usually playing and recording nobody is around during the day. I think the loudest part is the bass drum. Which you could always stuff with blankets or something. But yea I have never had issues.
That AD snare!! I've just started messing around with my 3X and the in-built sounds are truly fantastic, I've yet to really explore it fully but my plan was to hook to Superior Drummer especially for live work..now I just want that snare in my life!
Yes I like the AD sounds. Very natural. Slate has great record ready sounds. I have never tried Superior Drummer. I had a trial of EZ drummer and really did not like the sounds. For what its worth
Hey man, thanks for making Efnote videos and taking time to share and explain stuff, i got one particular situation for you, kind of a tough one, see if u can help... i just got an Efnote a few weeks ago and its driving me crazy at the time of recording the original Efnote module sounds, the thing is, i upgraded to Efnote from a Yamaha kit, and i kept some Yamaha pads and cymbals to expand the set, so i have the two modules plugged into Cubase, the Yamaha one via original Yamaha MIDI cable and the Efnote one with a simple phone to USB cable, them both go thru ASIO4all into Addictive Drums 2, the thing is, i dont like at all the cymbals sounds of the Efnote (actually, i dont like any cymbals sounds from any modules so far, for what i experienced), so, i wanna stick with Addictive Drums cymbals, so what i wanted to achieve, is to be able to record the MIDI signals of both modules (succeed), but i want Cubase also to record the orinigal Efnote module sounds of the snare, bassdrum and toms, and its only recording the MIDI signals, so far i can play along the way im telling you, because i mute everything on AD except for the cymbals, so, thru the headphones that comes out from the Efnote module, im hearing AD + Efnote module sounds (i do the other way around, i mute the cymbals on the module so i get the AD2 cymbal sounds and i keep the toms and snare of Efnote), but thats as far as my patience goes, i feel like im at the edge of getting it, but im missing something, a detail, and i cant get to that final step, i cannot make Cubase to record everything at the same time as i hear it on the headphones because i also want a register of the MIDI notes and i want to be able to mute the background music later or whatever track im playing along to, i dont want just to register whats going on the output headphones jack, i want to edit everything..., what would you do or recommend??? Maybe theres an easier way, plug everything differently ? i did the best i could and im stuck, and Efnote developers, totally wash their hands, as im sure you already know... no support at all, no mail, no live chat, no nothing, they want us to call the store provider, the store we bought the drums from, lol, nonsense.... what can i try man? Thanks in advance and congratulations for your drums and your technique and playing.
There is actually a solution. But I don’t think it works in cubase. My efnote 5 module can send out of its micro USB output both midi information and think its 7 tracks (5 mono and one stereo) of audio. The catch is, as far as I know this only works in Logic Pro. I have always wondered why that is. Maybe a firmware can fix. Out side of that, I don’t think it can output both midi and line level audio at the same time through its other outputs. Only the usb. I will link a video on the subject.
th-cam.com/video/eHZU4p6oiao/w-d-xo.htmlsi=yXaS-7gBzX0wvPQ-
@@Bearvswolf Hey, thanks for replying, yes i saw that video, looks very easy on Logic Pro, i wanted to leave that for like a final desperate move, since i have to install MacOS and then get Logic Pro, and also, i have no idea how Logic Pro works, i used Cubase like since forever... Efnote went too far with the compatibility and auto rejection thing... I see you got Cubase there on the background ? how are did you record the Efnote module sounds to the video?
@@youtubebrowser1635 I dont own cubase. It looks like I am using Luna on this video. It would have just been connecting the two Line level outputs L/R into my interface. Its possible that if you had an inter face you could accept the line level outputs from the module as well as the standard midi outputs. You of course only get stereo drums. But if you are just trying to remove the cymbals from the mix that would work for you. Assuming they output simultaneously
@@Bearvswolf oh i see, im gonna try that.. looked to me like Cubase yeah, the interface and colors are pretty similar, well, thanks very much man for all the info, im gonna keep trying, be well man, thanks.
I noticed the same thing plugging my Efnote into EZDrummer. Definitely an improvement in sound and response. Just a shame there was too much latency at times
Thank you! Greate Video 🔥
When using mido it does sound like it has more dynamic range
Listening back I tend to agree.
Would the machine gunning sound be helped by using something like EZ Drummer rather than module samples? I just got my ef notr 5 kit and this video really helped! Thank you!
Oh, spoke too soon haha you mention it in the video
Ha! So yes. I do think it gets better via a Software VST. My guess is they can use larger amounts of samples since our computers have huge hard drives. So the pearl mimic can run those VSTs but thats why it’s the price of a MacBook pro and you get no drums….a terrible buy if you ask me. But yes i do think the VSTs have an edge. 🤘
Man I didn't realize it was that bad on these. Any other kits better?
@@tadurall80 based on my research you could go with a Roland kit for about a thousand or 2 more than the ef note 5 but you will still run into the machine gunning issue regardless at a certain threshold (mentioned in the video). I think the solution regardless of kit is to use samples on your computer (EZ Drummer or Superior Drummer or any others with good samples) to increase the dynamic range of the sounds.
Do you know if you would have the same kind of adjustment capabilities on a Roland TD 50 X thank you
I would think so. If you check the replies on the pinned comment in this video:
th-cam.com/video/OpxQcLMxH0M/w-d-xo.htmlsi=__hngS3ijpfLFJWX
Those are the settings I used on my old Roland kit. Not sure if they would translate but maybe.
So in all honesty. Do you really like the Efnote 5. Thinking of picking this up for home practice and live use with the band I play in. BTW, how is the snare for buzz and press rolls? Thanks.
I love mine yes. Keeps me practicing when i otherwise could not. Its ok for buzz rolls. Not perfect. But no electric is.
dear wolf,i want to connect my sound modul from my 3x with my laptop,can you tell me what kind of usb cable i need ?
grüsse aus spandau near Berlin
ps:sorry for my bad english..
Depends what connections you have. Efnote can use i think usb micro or mini that would connect via usb A type. If you have a macbook with only usb c you need an adapter. Mio I connectivity is what i use. Thats a standard midi 5 pin cable to usb A. Then you get a device to take usb A to usb c. Thats what i do.
Thanks for this excellent tutorial. I am also doing Efnote fixes over on my channel too.
Appreciate it. How do you like you efnote?
@@Bearvswolf I think it's excellent - particularly the cymbals, but (as per your video) the Efnote version of the 'round robin' isn't very satisfying. So, I tend to pair Efnote 7 module with another module that can do sample import (currently a 2Box) so that I can swap out snares and toms that play and sound more acoustic due to the depth of the sample layering. I'll do a video on my channel on that topic soon!
@@Acoustic2Electronic I will look out for it👍
Do you ever play with a speaker? And have any recommendations?
I occasionally teach with one. I use a little 10 inch alto. Just because its light and i can set it up easily. I love yamaha PA speakers in general. But I also think a nice mixing set of speakers 5”, 7” maybe would sound nice in stereo. Some JBL or KRK or equivalent. Depends how loud you need it to go.
The mid level yamaha 10 “ PA speakers sound amazing to me. Circa $400 bucks.
Is there a specific map preset you use for the ef note 5 on Addictive Drums?
I was planning to do a video on that next . Because efnote is generally not included in these VSTs. But for Addictive I just choose the TD-12 map. I think the only thing that didn’t map was the splash. But its easy enough to change in settings. Esp if you use Logic you can see the incoming midi note on the top bar. Near the bars and beats section. Then just switch whichever cymbal you want to map to that incoming midi note to assign to the splash.
@@Bearvswolf a video on that would be awesome! I also use Luna and Addicted Drums like you mentioned in the video so it would be super helpful!
It's bassicaly the same problem that my old roland td3 kit had...