Tom Brechtlein on Gen-16 AE Cymbals at WNAMM 2011

[mistrbigg]

they sound SOOOOOO tiny(i have heard them live) LOVE the idea though.. once they figure out how to allow you to send the signal out via midi so i can plug it into a brain or a computer im on these like white on rice hehe. till then, no thanks.. almost though

[judeappetite]

That guy was at the wrong gig :)

[ScrewVev0]

How's the feel and rebound of the cymbals? Thanks

[mogglie]

How do gen 16 sound when turned off? thants my only question.

[tscott6568]

This looks like what I've been waiting for. I never liked the cymbals or their response from Roland, Yamaha's was a little better...this looks like the answer. I need to know how loud are they? Will they pass the wife test as far as quietness goes??? Also, when will they be available in my area (Georgia/Florida)??

[Katsumerisfun]

can it be availible in the uk soon?

[juddgreg333]

u think they would have picked a kit setting a little less boxy. Really intrigued by those cymbals though

[ascetic43]

Price range? Thanks.

[juliadeetruchsess]

@ascetic43 MSRP a little over $1,000 and street price a little under $1,000 I think, for hihat, ride, and crash plus DSP controller, cables, and accessories.

[ascetic43]

@juliadeetruchsess I guess that's "reasonable" for what might be the next logical step in the evolution of e-drumming. This is similar to Korg's Wavedrum, no? I see this as really appealing to people with drum-brains that cant handle hat's properly (love my other TD-9 cymbals). So, do I go for a VH-11 for $400 or this whole set up for 1,000, when that;s not far in price from a TD-12 and consequently a VH-12. If you see what I mean. Where does it fit? -

[ascetic43]

@juliadeetruchsess But, I am glad that the technology is evolving, and any options are good options. Fine drumming, and no need to reply, just thinkin' out loud. Thanks. Cheers.

[debtmediators]

I have a DTX3 like he's playing... how do i run these cymbals in?

[juliadeetruchsess]

@debtmediators The Gen-16 controller has a pair of line inputs for your drums. Connect the stereo outputs of your drum brain to these. The Gen-16 controller has a knob on the front panel called "Mix" - use that to adjust the balance between drums and cymbals. Or you could send the line outputs of the Gen-16 controller and the line outputs of your drum brain to a separate mixer - it's up to you.

[debtmediators]

I have a DTX3 like he's playing... how do i run these cymbals in?

[ZildjianGen16]

@debtmediators If the DTX3 has an aux input, you can run the AE Cymbal module's output into it. Or, the AE's module has an aux input you can run the DTX's output into (along with a rotary pot so you can blend the DTX's output and the AE Cymbals' output.

[juliadeetruchsess]

They are real metal cymbals that have been perforated to make them quieter for use at home or other low-volume settings. Each AE cymbal includes a special pickup that goes on the stand under the cymbal, and all the pickups go to a digital signal processing unit that lets you change the sound of each cymbal, much like guitarists change their sound with effects boxes. So you have a true stick-on-metal playing experience with all its nuance of expression, plus the ability to change the sound.

[Jabarichonicles]

i dont understand how they work...i looked overr the decribtion on zilgjin.com, but it still doesn't make sense...

[ZildjianGen16]

@Jabarichonicles Think of it like a solid body electric guitar. Pickups under the strings (in this case, under the cymbals), run the signal through amplification, bit of EQ (and, for the AE cymbals, tone modeling). Result is very natural cymbal sound, versatile range of tones (thinner, darker, trashier, etc), but the cymbals play at a low enough volume that you can stand in front of the kit and not be in pain when the drummer slams the crash.

[Jabarichonicles]

@ZildjianGen16

so its basiclly a pickup for the cymbal in the cymbal which allows for the volume to be controlled manually, but its quiet unpluged/? sounds alot like a drummers eletric gutar to me...thanks

[The3GoldenBananas]

Pretty sick cymbals, I already plan on getting a starter pack when they're released. The only Gen16 cymbal I don't like is the China, it just doesn't sound very China-like to me, unless it's just the way it's being played. The other cymbals sound pretty good in my opinion, they should make a nice addition to my kit musically and visually.

[juliadeetruchsess]

@The3GoldenBananas: The China is pretty China-ish in person. Prior to this demo Tom had never even seen these cymbals, and he didn't have access to or time to learn how to use the tone-modeling controller unit that is part of the system. The tone modeling is the really revolutionary thing about the AE system as it allows you to change the sound of your cymbals just like guitarists can change their sound with stomp boxes etc..