A Mobile Drum, also called a portable drum or table drum, is actually an electronic drum set in miniature form. This can be very useful for musicians who want to play drums, but do not have room for a full (electronic) drum set.
But what exactly are mobile drum kits, and why should you as a drummer purchase one? In this blog we will explore that. We will also highlight the pros and cons and you will find a top 3 of the best mobile drum kits.
What are Mobile Drum Kits?
Mobile drum kits, also known as table drums, are compact electronic drum kits that can be easily placed on a table or other surface. They consist of a number of pads that produce the same sounds as most electronic drum kits.
Many of these kits come with built-in speakers, headphone jacks, and even MIDI connectivity, giving them almost all the features of a regular electronic drum kit.
Many mobile drum kits even have two foot pedals (kick and hihat), similar to a regular drum kit.
The video below gives you an example of how mobile drums work.
The Benefits of Mobile Drum Kits
Mobile drum kits have a number of advantages:
Compact and Portable
One of the biggest advantages of mobile drum kits is their compactness. They take up very little space, making them ideal for drummers who live in apartments or have limited practice space.
The kits are also lightweight (around 4kg), making them easy to take with you.
💡 Tip: Mobile drum kits can not only be placed on a table or other flat surface, you can often also mount the newer models on a snare stand.
Easy to Use
Mobile drum kits are easy to set up and use. Almost all models are plug-and-play, meaning you can just plug them in and start playing.
A big advantage is that most mobile drum kits can be used on batteries or with a regular power bank. Super handy when there is no power outlet nearby!
Many Sounds
Most mobile drum kits are small in size, but still offer many sounds and effects. For example, the Yamaha DD-75 over 570 different sounds and the Millennium MD-100 over 665.
The sounds are the same quality as most electronic drum kits for beginners. Of course, the sounds are better when using headphones.
Perfect for your exercise routine
The built-in headphone jack allows drummers to practice in silence without disturbing other people.
A mobile drum kit is also suitable to use as a warm up for a rehearsal or performance. Perhaps even better than a standard practice path, because with a mobile drum kit you experience much more the feeling of a real drum kit.
The Disadvantages of Mobile Drum Kits
Of course, there are also some disadvantages to mobile drum kits.
The “Real” Feeling May Be Missing
When playing on a mobile drum kit you will find that they are suitable for the basics: practicing grooves, working on your timing, rolls and experimenting with patterns. So you can play really well learn to play drums with a mobile drum kit.
The honest answer is that a mobile drum kit won't feel like a real acoustic drum kit, but for musicians who want to drum but have limited space, it comes closest.
No Moving Cymbals
Also, the cymbals are not as realistic as an electronic drum kit or acoustic drum kit. Because the cymbals are designed as tom pads, they obviously do not move like a real cymbal.
Top 3 Mobile Drum Kits
Now that we know what mobile drum kits are and what their pros and cons are, we'll highlight five electronic drum kits below:
1. Millennium MD-100 Mobile Drum
The Millennium MD-100 Mobile Drum is a compact electronic drum kit and is also the upgrade of the Millenium MD-90. Unique for this mobile drum kit is that it has mesh heads, which is not the case with other models.
Thanks to the mesh heads, the response of the skins is extra realistic and the drum kit is extra quiet. Handy for practicing during the late hours.
2. Yamaha DD-75
The Yamaha DD-75 is a compact (approx. 60 x 40 cm) mobile drum kit with 8 velocity-sensitive pads. With 570 drum kits you have enough possibilities to find your favorite sound. The Yamaha DD-75 can also be mounted on a snare stand.
This kit has rubber pads and is relatively more expensive than other mobile drum kits, but wins in terms of quality.
3. Millennium MD-90 Mobile Drum
The Millennium MD-90 Mobile Drum is the simplified version of the previously mentioned Millenium MD-100. This set is more affordable but does not have mesh heads and has slightly less sounds. Also, the kit cannot be mounted on a snare stand.
This kit is fun to practice with and to give as a gift, but the drummer who wants to progress may quickly get tired of it.
Conclusion
If you want to start drumming but have limited space, a mobile drum kit is a suitable solution to still be able to work on your skills. The kits are affordable, compact, lightweight and offer high quality sounds.
The playing feel comes close to an electronic drum kit, but it will not reach the feeling of a full-fledged acoustic drum kit. However, mobile drums are perfect for practicing or working on your grooves.
The mobile drum with the best price-quality ratio is the Millennium MD-100, followed by the Yamaha DD-75 and the Millennium MD-90.
