Connecting Electronic Drums to Your Computer

 

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to connect your electronic drum set to your computer. That means we’ll show you how to connect it, update your DAW settings, and then record electronic drums via MIDI and audio. Follow the sections below to get started.

1. Electronic drum setup and connections
   • How to connect the electronic drum module to your computer
   • Enable the module in your DAW
2. Recording electronic drums in a DAW
   • Recording electronic drums as a MIDI track
   • Recording electronic drums as an audio track
   • Recording electronic drums as an audio & MIDI track

Electronic drum setup and connections

Before using and recording your electronic drums in a DAW, you’ll need to connect them to your computer and install its driver software. After the module has been configured, connected, and properly installed, you’ll be able to enable it as a MIDI controller and then start recording electronic drums.  

Electronic drum modules can connect to your DAW or virtual instrument via USB or MIDI. USB is the most common because it will often power the module and carry MIDI messages to and from your computer. That’s handy but does take a USB port, so if you’re running out, you might consider getting a powered USB hub. While passive hubs can work, we’ve had the best luck with powered hubs.

Another way to send MIDI data from your drum module is via MIDI cables. They won’t provide power to the module, but if your interface has MIDI ports, it’s an excellent alternative to using up another USB port. Just connect the MIDI OUT on the module to the MIDI IN on your interface.

How to connect the electronic drum module to your computer

While some drum modules are class-compliant, others require special driver software for it to work correctly. If your electronic drum set came with an installation guide, use that to install the drivers and firmware. Follow these steps to get your module connected to your computer. Once done, you can set it up within your DAW software or standalone virtual instrument. 

MIDI out and USB ports on a module.

Enable the module in your DAW

Once the drivers have been installed, the next step is to update your DAW’s MIDI settings to communicate with your drum module. This means enabling its input and output ports so it can send MIDI data onto a track. Follow these steps to enable the MIDI ports on your drum module.

Drum module not showing up?

If you don’t see your drum module or interface listed as an available MIDI device, confirm that everything is connected correctly, the correct drivers are installed, and if your module has firmware, it’s up to date. If it’s still not being detected, check out our guide on resolving MIDI connections on PC and Mac.

Return to top

Recording electronic drums in a DAW

Once your module is connected and enabled within your DAW, it’s time to start recording your electronic drums. You have a lot of flexibility when recording with an electronic drum module because you can record MIDI, audio, or both simultaneously. No matter which you choose, you first need to create a track(s) and update the DAW’s inputs and outputs so you can record.

Recording electronic drums as a MIDI instrument track

When recording electronic drums as a MIDI track, you can rearrange notes and quantize them, so they match the track’s tempo, among other things. MIDI doesn’t make sound, so you must route it to an instrument track. Follow these steps for routing and recording your electronic drum module to a virtual instrument. 

Not seeing MIDI being recording?

If you dont’t see any response when recording your electronic drums, check that your MIDI input and output are set correctly and that you’ve created the correct type of track.

Enable the module then record on a MIDI instrument track.

Recording electronic drums as an audio track

If you don’t have access to a drum virtual instrument, recording your module’s sounds to an audio track is a great alternative. To record the sounds, though, you’ll need TRS to TRS cables and an audio interface. Follow these steps to record the samples from your module onto an audio track.

Select the audio input then record.

No audio input or output?

If you’re not seeing input or output, make sure your audio interface is set as the primary audio device, that the correct physical input(s) and output(s) are selected. If the issue remains, check out our troubleshooting guides for PC & Mac.

Recording electronic drums as an audio and MIDI track

By recording your module as both an audio and MIDI track, you can keep the MIDI track as a backup if you need to make any edits or if you want to use alternate sound samples at a later point. Follow these steps to record audio and MIDI from a drum module at the same time.

Return to top

Knowledge Base