The 12 Best Electronic Drum Pads (2024) – A Drummer’s Guide

Electronic Drum Pads are extremely versatile electronic instruments that can add a new level of sound to your set. These pads can be used to extend your current setup or they can act as standalone instruments.

There are 3 types of electronic drum pads: sample pads (where you can load your own sounds), percussion pads (only internal sounds), or all-in-one electronic drum pads, which are more casual options that are meant to be used as a compact e-drum set.

You can connect sample pads directly to an amplifier or PA system because all sounds are generated internally. Alternatively, you can connect headphones to them.

My top pick is the Roland SPD-SX Pro. It’s the long-awaited follow-up to Roland’s previous industry-standard sample pad. I consider it the best despite stiff competition from Alesis with their Strike Multipad.

The best affordable electronic drum pad is the Alesis SamplePad Pro, but it does have a few quirks, so make sure to keep reading to see if it’s for you!

I have personally used many different electronic drum pads extensively. Although high-end drum pads can carry a large price tag, they tend to be significantly superior to entry-level pads.

However, more competitive options are becoming available and I have included the best affordable pads that are currently available.

If you are looking for drum pads for beat-making, then check out our alternative article on MIDI drum pads.

The Best Electronic Drum Pads (2024) – At a Glance

I am going to tell you the strengths, weaknesses, and purposes of each. I will also do my best to compare important features across models.

Do percussion pads look cool live? Yes! Especially if you are a DJ or producer, some spectators can get a little bored if you’re standing behind a laptop or standard sampler. Using electronic pads with drumsticks on stage can really spice things up and add a whole new dynamic of sounds to your performances.

Most percussion pads can also communicate via MIDI to other digital instruments or DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) such as Ableton Live. This opens up a world of possibilities!

1. Roland SPD-SX Pro

Top Pick - The long-awaited upgrade to the industry-standard SPD-SX
This pad adds some fantastic features while still retaining what made the SPD-SX great.
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The long-awaited Roland SPD-SX Pro sampling pad is finally out. This greatly builds upon the previous industry standard SPD-SX.

The SPD-SX has increased inputs for pads and triggers and finally includes the ability to add a hi-hat or expression pad, so you can easily turn this into a mini electronic drum set.

This is a far more modern piece of kit that’s really easy to use while also having a ton of features for you to explore when you want to.

The stock kits also sound really great on this, so this pad is immediately usable even if you don’t want to load custom samples.

It’s very easily usable in the dark due to the backlit features and lighting around the pads, which you can customize.

Pros

  • Outstanding build quality
  • 1550+ in-built samples and sounds
  • 9 responsive pads
  • Massive 32 GB internal memory
  • Supports up to eight external individual triggers or pads, and one hi-hat or expression pedal input, and one footswitch input.
  • Improved software for easy editing
  • Advanced crosstalk performance and pad sensitivity

Cons

  • Pricey

You can lock in what sounds you want very quickly using the pad edit knobs, which allows you to quickly change the volume, pitch, transient attack, and transient release of each pad sound without having to delve through the menu. There is also a lot of EQ control while the device also offers a ton of great effects.

The pad also has a Sidechain feature which is really heavily used in electronic music. This could really help get your sound pumping and “gig-ready” without having to run it through a DAW or other external gear.

The 16-step sequencer is a great feature. You can create whatever sequence you want and then assign that to one pad. Then every time you hit the pad it will play the next step in that sequence.

The menu system of this is very nice and it’s very easy to navigate between features.

You can record samples directly into the SPD-SX Pro and chop them within the device or within the app. You can also import them as normal using a USB stick. You can also connect it to the SPD-SX app on your computer.

Overall, this is a fantastic sample pad, and this is certainly my top pick for the best electronic drum pad in the market. It’s not likely to be topped any time soon in my opinion.

2. Alesis SamplePad Pro

Budget Pick
A very affordable model with lots of features, but with a few quirks.
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This product promises so much at a much lower price point, making digital drum pads a lot more accessible to people with a lower budget. It is packed with features, and some drummers like this pad quite a lot (which is why I’ve included it), but it is let down in two main areas: crosstalk issues and switching time between kits.

The SamplePad Pro was the first sample pad I owned. I bought this product for a few reasons. The first was because it allows for lots of extensibility with external pads. Therefore, you can make your own mini electronic drum kit out of it. Secondly, you can load your own custom samples on it. It has some really desirable features that you would want from more expensive models. Lastly, the price point. This model is considerably more affordable than many other options.

Pros

  • Lots of extensibility for extra pads and pedal
  • Very good features
  • Custom sampling
  • MIDI capability
  • Affordable

Cons

  • Cross-talk issues
  • Some sensitivity issues
  • High switching time between kits (can be impractical on stage)

It can actually be a decent option if you’re using it for basic one-shot sampling. You could load custom samples and have it as a pretty affordable secondary instrument. It has quite a lot of features for a pad in this price range.

I used the SamplePad Pro in live performances, and to be honest, it wasn’t too bad. However, it is let down in two main areas: crosstalk issues and switching time between kits.

This is a very affordable pad, but if you’re looking for a top-end drum sampler, this won’t fit the bill. When compared to the high-end sample pads on this list, the pad sensitivity is not great, switching between kits takes a surprisingly long time, and the cross-talk issues can certainly hinder how you would use this on stage.

Crosstalk Issues

The crosstalk issues mean that if you have the pads set to medium or high sensitivity, then hitting certain pads can trigger other ones. This might be bad for one-shot samples, but it’s far worse if the pad unexpectedly triggers a pad with a long sample or you’re using it as a MIDI trigger for something else.

In my case, the crosstalk issues were limited to 2 or 3 pads. I remember one of the top-corner ones was particularly bad. A firmware update helped this somewhat. However, you may need to lower the sensitivity on some of the pads if you are still having issues.

Therefore, I would have reservations about using this pad with long samples (e.g., bass lines, chord progressions, etc.), as crosstalk could incorrectly start or stop these.

Verdict

This can be an affordable option to get into electronic sample pads if you don’t have enough money to spend on the higher-priced items on this list. If you are picky about the sensitivity of your strokes, this could be an issue.

Cross-talk can also be an issue, but you can decrease this a lot if you lower the sensitivity on one or two problematic pads. However, it never fully solved the problem for me.

Check out my more detailed review of the Alesis SamplePad Pro.

Note: Alesis also has a smaller version of this, known as the SamplePad 4.

3. Roland SPD-SX

Reliable, Top Choice
The industry-standard sample pad. Its reliability and performance certainly make it worthy of the price tag.
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The Roland SPD-SX has been an incredibly popular sample pad since its release. It is an ultra-reliable sample pad that is great to play, easy to use, and has plenty of storage capacity.

Pros

  • Ultra-reliable, great build quality
  • 3 options to load custom samples
  • Plenty of storage space
  • Easy-to-access effects
  • Very good pad performance

Cons

  • A bit expensive
  • Not as many features as the SPD-SX Pro or the Alesis Strike Multipad
  • Doesn’t include rich phrase looping like the Roland Octapad

The SPD-SX pad has been on the market for over 12 years and it has certainly stood the test of time, which is a good reason why this is still the go-to pad for countless pros around the world. The SPD-SX was a follow-up to their hugely popular SPD sample pad.

Roland has also brought out the SPD-SX SE. The SE stands for “special edition”, and it has 4 times the amount of internal memory. All other features are the same.

You could definitely make the argument that the newer Alesis Strike Multipad (not to be confused with the budget Samplepad Pro model) is superior to the Roland SPD-SX solely based on its better features and interface. That said, I still opt for the SPD-SX solely because it’s an incredibly reliable, functional, and easy-to-use sample pad.

3 Ways To Load Custom Samples

The SPX-SX is great for drummers who want to play custom samples and expand their own set-up, as well as for DJs and producers looking to add more triggered sounds into their performances.

There are 3 options to add custom samples to the Roland SPD SX. You can use a USB stick with sample files and load them on. You can also drag and drop samples directly via your computer using their Wave Manager software when you connect to it via a USB lead. 

Another great feature is that you can also sample sounds directly onto the SPD-SX via its audio input. Therefore, you could very quickly capture sounds from a microphone, phone, or other instruments without any setup on your computer.

The SPD-SX allows you to load samples as one-shots or you can loop them.

Build Quality

The main reason I choose the SPD-SX over cheaper options is its build quality and pad-triggering technology.

With cheaper alternative products, you can get crazy cross-talk between pads. An example of this is hitting one pad, and another one triggers. This can be a problem for drum sounds, but it is much worse if a wrong sample is triggered in the middle of a performance. If you are serious about incorporating a sample pad into your setup, then this is a great option.

Effects

This pad also has some really nice effects built in. It does not have a massive amount of options here, but what’s available is very nicely put together. There are two control knobs and four different effects: filter, delay, s-load, and FX. 

These really allow you to tweak and modify samples on the fly. Its simplicity allows you to quickly and easily keep track of what’s going on without overcomplicating things too much. 

Features

The Roland SPD-SX supports up to 4 external pads (either 2 dual-zone pads or 4 single-zone pads). You need to get a splitter if you intend to use more than 2 external inputs.

This device has 4GB of internal memory, allowing for 720 minutes of samples. (The SE edition includes 16GB of internal memory). You can also expand the memory using USB storage.

Therefore, the total storage here should definitely be sufficient for your needs. Limited storage can be a problem with some samplers. I ran into this with the Korg Electribe sampler, which has a surprisingly limited amount of custom sample storage.

The SPD-SX also works very nicely as a MIDI controller to send trigger samples and MIDI messages to DAWs such as Ableton Live, Logic, etc.

Disadvantages

Roland instruments are generally not cheap, and this also holds true for the SPD-SX! Unfortunately, the price of their sample pads may be outside your budget. That said, you get what you pay for, and they are very well-known for their exceptional hardware and build quality, so their equipment tends to last a very long time. Roland instruments also tend to have very good resale value, as it’s a very well-respected brand.

Another disadvantage is that you cannot create phrase loops on the fly with the SPD-SX like you can with the Roland Octapad.

So, should you buy the SPD-SX or the SPD-30 Octapad? It depends on your needs. They are both built for different purposes and perform beautifully. As a drummer, I prefer the Octapad solely based on its live performance options. If you need custom sampling or use it as more of a secondary instrument, then the SPD-SX is a no-brainer.

Additionally, the SPD-SX looks a little bit dated in comparison to the SPD-SX Pro and the Alesis Strike Multipad. However, the SPD-SX is still a great pad and it’s still great fun to play.

4. Alesis Strike Multipad

An Impressive and Feature-Rich Electronic Drum Pad
This is a great high-end sample pad with a lot of features.
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The Strike MultiPad represented a big move into the high-end sample pad market for Alesis. It’s very impressive and it’s the most feature-rich sample pad currently available.

This pad is quite a step up from their SamplePad Pro, but it’s quite a bit more expensive. The pad includes better playing velocity-sensitive surfaces, much better sampling features, looping, and a lot of different effects. It has a lot of memory and contains very cool LED lights.

Pros

  • Most feature-rich pad available
  • Large 32GB internal storage
  • Very nice interface
  • Well built

Cons

  • A bit pricey

It has the richest screen interface of any electronic drum pad on the market. There’s a lot to navigate through, but you can certainly get the hang of it once you give it a bit of time.

The Strike MultiPad can be used for on-the-fly changes to effects and sampling. It comes with a lot of built-in samples, as well as having the easy option to import your own.

You can also record audio directly into this sampler, which can be adjusted on-screen using knobs to control where to start and stop the loop.

It even has a performance looping function, which is quite nice, but it certainly doesn’t match Roland Octapad’s phrase looping (likely because it would overcomplicate the interface on the Strike Multipad far too much to do so).

It’s quite exciting to get this amount of features on a standalone unit without having to connect to a laptop.

5. Roland OCTAPAD SPD-30

The Best Percussion Pad Available
A pad made for drummers and percussionists and built like a tank. Its fantastic phrase looping feature, extensibility options, and MIDI connectivity make this a very strong option, despite the pad not supporting custom sampling!
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The Roland Octapad SPD-30 is one of my most loved electronic instruments. It has lots of great internal sounds and its ‘phrase loop’ feature has the best live sequencing features of any electronic drum pad, making this great for live performances. Its extensibility options allow you to easily add pads and pedals and turn this into a mini drum kit. It’s also one of the most reliable pieces of music gear I’ve ever owned. 

If you’re looking for great sounds right out of the box that are easy to arrange into your own kits then this is the option for you.

I’ve dropped this instrument and it’s even been rained on multiple times! The build quality of this device was definitely strong enough to take it. It’s never crashed in 5 years of me playing it, and I’ve never experienced any type of cross-talk issues.

Keep in mind that it doesn’t support custom sampling. You cannot load your own samples on this device. However, you can use it as a MIDI controller, and even if not doing so, there is a variety of sounds and effects that you might be able to do without custom sampling. There are a lot of built-in sounds and you can rearrange them to create your own kits, but the styles of them can vary quite significantly.

Pros

  • Exceptional phrase looping feature
  • Extensibility
  • Very sensitive pads
  • Very high build quality
  • Easy to use
  • Good effects
  • MIDI-over-USB or via MIDI 5-Pin

Cons

  • No custom sampling
  • The screen and menu system are now a little dated
  • Effects cannot be tweaked on the fly like on the SPD-SX (apart from some basic controls in phrase looping mode)
  • The number of effects that can be applied to the current kit at one time is very limited.
  • The internal sounds are quite varied and made for vastly different styles of music

Extensibility

The Octapad has much better extensibility options compared to the SPD-SX. You can connect up to 5 external sources (including a hi-hat controller).

I regularly make a mini-electronic kit out of this with a kick pedal, hi-hat pedal, and snare mesh head. A ride or crash cymbal pad would also be a great option.

Phrase Looping

The next main selling point of the Octapad is its ‘phrase loop’ sequencing, which is an amazing live performance tool. You can loop 3 separate instruments (kits, synth sounds, percussion instruments, etc.) with options to delete, mute, pause, etc.

Although you are limited to 3 instruments, you can swap them out on the fly. I started using it a surprising amount of times in my shows!

Like many electronic instruments, the starting and stopping of these phrase loops can be MIDI-triggered. Therefore you can use it in conjunction with other samplers and devices.

If you want to trigger your own custom samples with the Roland Octapad, you’ll need to use it as a MIDI controller and trigger samples externally (such as using a DAW on your laptop). I often use this as a MIDI controller to trigger Ableton Drum Racks, but I know that’s not an ideal option for everyone!

Check out the video below to see Craig Blundell demonstrate the Roland Octapad SPD-30 in action:

The Octapad SPD-30 is a percussion pad. It is built for drummers and percussionists who want to go digital or add electronic sounds to their acoustic set-ups. It is an investment and costs much more than entry-level models. However, the Octapad is leagues ahead of these cheaper options, in my opinion.

In addition to playing my hybrid kit for bigger shows, the Octapad has been a great option for me to play in small venues with very little hassle.

The Octapad SPD-30 is far superior to the previous Octapad model that was produced in the late 1990s (the Octapad SPD-20). Check out my in-depth review of the Roland Octapad SPD-30 for more information on this.

As of 2024, the Octapad is getting a little dated in terms of its interface, but there is still no other electronic drum pad that offers phrase looping/sequencing with the level of control that this offers.

6. Yamaha DTX Multi Pad

Touch-Sensitive Sample Pad
This is a rugged, well-built sample pad from Yamaha that has very nicely sensitive pads.
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The Yamaha DTX-Multi 12 is a sampling pad that can most closely be compared to the Roland SPD-SX. It has 3 extra pads than the SPD-SX and a huge inventory of sounds to choose from. This model has the potential to replace your drum kit and allows you to load custom samples—something well worth considering.

Pros

  • Touch-sensitive pads (great for playing hand drum samples)
  • Good extensibility
  • Good build quality

Cons

  • Very limited internal space
  • The interface is a bit dated

I think the biggest advantage of the DTX-Multi 12 is the ultra-sensitive pads. If you are into hand drums like djembes or congas, this is pretty much the only option among the percussion pads I am presenting to you. The pad surface can seem a little soft when playing with sticks. This is totally a matter of preference, though.

You can also add up to 5 pads externally. There are 3 inputs, but 2 of them are dual inputs, where you can input dual-zone pads or split them out into two separate single-zone pads, each through the use of a splitter.

This can make for a compact electronic drum set. Make sure to do your research when choosing external pads. Kick pads and drum pads are pretty universal, but this is not always the case for hi-hat controllers.

The DTX-Multi has only 64MB of internal memory for loading custom samples. I see this as the biggest weakness as it is quite limiting. Compare this to the 4GBs of internal memory that you get in the Roland SPD-SX. The user interface for this model can also take a lot of getting used to. The menu system is a little clunky and difficult to use. There are a lot of features, but it seems to come at the price of usability.

This is a solid contender as both a sample pad and percussion pad. I prefer the feel and features of the Roland Octapad SPD-30 for my own use or the Roland SPD-SX for onboard sampling. However, this can serve as a great alternative.

7. PylePro Tabletop Drum Pads

All-in-one option with foot pedals.
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These PylePro drum pads offer something quite different from the ones previously mentioned.

This is a lower-priced option designed for drum practice and casual use. It has plenty of sounds and includes foot pedals and built-in speakers, so you are ready to jam out of the box.

Pros

  • Built-in speakers
  • Affordable
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Only good for casual use
  • The sound quality is not great
  • Pedals are very basic

These can serve as great gifts to beginner drummers and those who don’t have dedicated drum sets to practice on. They’re also a lot of fun to play.

The pedals are not great, but they work well for basic playing.

It also has MIDI connectivity, which enables you to connect it to audio software to play. It also has audio outputs that allow you to connect to headphones or external speakers.

8. Nord Drum 3P

The Best Synth-Based Electronic Drum Pad
The Nord Drum 3P is a drum synth rather than a sampler. It has some of the best sound design capabilities of any drum pad.
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The Nord Drum 3P uses a completely different approach to how it creates sounds. This is a drum synthesizer, meaning that all of the drum sounds are created through synthesis instead of samples. This means that you can get a whole layer deeper in terms of sound modeling and sound design.

Pros

  • Great sound design options
  • High-quality effects
  • Uses analog-modeled synthesis
  • MIDI capability
  • Kick pad input

Cons

  • Doesn’t support samples
  • Limited input outputs for external pads
  • Would not work in as many genres as sample-based pads

This is particularly useful for those who want some electronic drum tracks and sounds with great depth. If you’ve used any synth-based drum machines before, then you will have an idea of the level of effects and sound shaping that will be possible.

Just check out this video below which really shows how amazing you can get the Nord Drum 3P to sound.

It includes many of the sound design parameters you would expect from a synthesizer, such as noise and tone-shaping, mix, and effects.

You can assign these on a pad-by-pad basis and copy settings between pads. Because it uses synthesis, it has extremely low latency. If you want to go in-depth into your sound design then the Nord Drum 3P is one of the best options out there.

The sound sculpting capabilities of this drum synth could really help improve your creative workflow, as everything can be done directly on the device, without having to edit sounds on your DAW and importing samples.

It has standard audio and headphone outputs, MIDI in and out, and one external kick input. It doesn’t have a hi-hat input or the capability to add other external pads.

Of course, this pad won’t be for everyone; its lack of sampling makes this a little bit more niche in comparison to the Roland SPD-SX or the Strike Multipad. However, it’s certainly worth considering for those who want a playable drum synth with great sound sculpting.

9. Roland SPD::One

The Best Compact Electronic Drum Pad
Each SPD::One pad performs a basic, individual function (kick, percussion, electro, or WAV), but it does so very well in an easy-to-use, minimalist fashion.
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Roland’s range of SPD::One pads was created for those who only need a small number of functions and one playable pad surface. If you feel like an entire MultiPad would overcomplicate your setup too much, then this might be worth considering.

Pros

  • Very easy to use
  • Minimalist and compact
  • Light
  • Very good build quality

Cons

  • Very limited features
  • Only one pad
  • Quite pricey
  • Only the WAV version supports custom sampling

Differences Between SPD::One Versions

The SPD::One comes in four different types Electro, Percussion, Kick, and WAV pad. The first 3 have a small number of internal sounds to choose from, and the WAV pad allows you to load your own custom samples.

  • SPD::ONE Electro is for drum sounds
  • SPD::ONE Kick is great for use as a stomp box (playing with your foot)
  • SPD::ONE Percussion is for percussion-focused sounds (no surprise there!)
  • SPD::ONE WAV is for loading your own samples.

The version that you should go for very much depends on your needs.

If you want to get the one that offers the most flexibility, then the SPD::One WAV is the best option, but you do need to do a bit of work in order to import the sounds with the correct file naming.

If you want easy-to-access internal sounds of the device, then the Electro, Kick, and Percussion versions are all very worth considering.

Features

The Kick, Electro, and Percussion versions all have the same 4 types of knobs.

  • Instruction selection
  • Tuning
  • FX (choose between reverb and delay mix)
  • Volume

The SPD::One WAV is quite different. The first knob also allows you to change sample sound, but the other knobs are for phone level, mix (between click and master), and master balance.

You also cannot change the actual type of way the sample is played on the pad directly, you need to alternate and change the file name. For example, if you want to load a sample as a one-shot, then you need to add “_m” to the end of the file name before loading. So it takes a little bit of work to make sure you get this right before you import the samples onto the SPD::One, but once you get this all up and running, then it’s very easy to use, and a very minimalist option.

I think that the SPD::One has a very good selling point. Lots of musicians do not want to overcomplicate their setups too much, and many already have effects pedals and lots of other pieces of gear working at once. They may want to simplify things a little bit to make sure that things will work properly on stage and that they get no surprises. The SPD::One is a reliable, minimalist pad that works nicely for basic needs.

10. Alesis SamplePad 4

A compact and affordable sample pad
Lots of features for its price, but it has some of the same quirks as the SamplePad Pro.
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The Alesis SamplePad 4 is a scaled-down and more affordable version of the Sample Pad Pro. This is another pad that offers a whole lot of promise, but it also has very similar pros and cons to the Alesis SamplePad Pro.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Decent amount of storage space and sounds for its price.
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Some crosstalk issues
  • Pad responsiveness is not amazing
  • Only includes four pads

Differences Between the Alesis SamplePad Pro and SamplePad 4

The SamplePad4 has a lower number of pads, lower internal sounds, and lower storage capacity. You load custom samples in the same way, and many of the other settings are quite similar to the SamplePad Pro.

If you’re going for something quite compact and minimalist, then this might not be much of a problem for you.

Crosstalk Issues.

There have also been other crosstalk issues reported with the Alesis SamplePad 4, similar to the SamplePad Pro. However, it is very playable on the basis that you decrease your sensitivity to the lowest level.

This means that you can certainly trigger samples quite reliably from this device, but you will definitely not be able to play with the same level of finesse you would get from a more responsive pad.

If you want a pad for basic function, and if you want something that has more features than the Roland SPD::One, then the Alesis SamplePad 4 is certainly one to consider.

11. KAT Percussion KTMP1 Multipad

Affordable, Simple
Budget-friendly, compact percussion pad with pedal inputs for hi-hat and kick pedal.
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The KAT Percussion KTMP1 is an affordable percussion pad for beginners or advanced players who need a practice tool.

This pad is very simple and practical, with a compact design that you can take anywhere. It has built-in sounds, pedal inputs, USB and MIDI output, and is easily mountable in any space.

Pros

  • Practical percussion pad/practice tool with a compact design
  • 50 built-in sounds like snares, cymbals, bongos, congas, and more
  • Velocity-sensitive pads
  • Easy to mount, travel-friendly option

Cons

  • You can’t load your own samples
  • Not the best sound when compared to other pads on this list
  • Limited play zones

The KTMP1 features velocity-sensitive pads that can be played with sticks or mallets, or even your hands if you’re planning on busting out the bongo/conga sounds. In addition, it’s easily mountable to snare drum stands if you’re planning on embellishing your performances.

The two pedal inputs support a kick drum trigger and hi-hat controller if you’re using it as a standalone device to get a more realistic drum feel. For outputs, it has a USB and MIDI output for virtual instruments and synths.

Overall, for the given price, this percussion pad has serious value, despite its slightly updated quality and sound capabilities. You get velocity-sensitive pads, 50 built-in drum sounds, and two pedal inputs, all in a compact design.

12. Yamaha DD-75 Portable Digital Drums

A Good-Quality Tabletop Electronic Drum Pad
An all-in-one pad good for casual playing. It includes foot pedals, it’s also compatible with better hi-hat and kick pedals (requires an upgrade).
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The Yamaha DD75 is a good quality, all-in-one tabletop model.

This is quite similar to the Pylepro Tabletop drums we listed previously. It’s mainly designed for casual practice and playing, though it could also certainly be used as a decent MIDI controller for proper recordings.

It’s a nicely compact electronic drum pad with headphones and auxiliary input jacks.

Pros

  • Built-in speakers
  • Includes foot pedals
  • Good build quality
  • Nice internal sounds
  • Supports battery power and AC power
  • Headphone and aux-in jacks

Cons

  • The pedals are not great
  • Not a great long-term option for practicing drums

It also has battery operation which is very handy, and you can take this on the move without the need for AC power. However, battery mode requires 6 type C batteries, which are not particularly cheap. So if you wanted to play on battery power a lot, it would probably be worth looking into getting rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones.

It has a nice and wide array of kits and genres, which are included in the internal sounds.

Similar to the Pylepro Tabletop drums, this also includes built-in speakers, so you don’t necessarily need to use headphones or a separate set of speakers. However, don’t expect top audio quality from the built-in speakers!

The pedals that come with this are not particularly good, they are more like pretty clunky footswitches, but they are usable for basic use and you can upgrade to a better kick tower and hi-hat pedal if you want (Yamaha pedals would be your best bet, particularly for the hi-hat pedal).

If you want to get a good quality tabletop electronic drum pad from a great brand, then this is certainly a good option to go for.

Although for more professional or stage use, it certainly does not compare to the Yamaha DTX-Multi 12.

Other notable mentions

Although they did not make the final cut for this article, there are some other decent options for electronic drum pads.

  1. The Roland Handsonic is a great high-end hand percussion pad that contains internal sounds for many different styles of music. I did not include it in this article as the device is suited to a smaller number of musicians.
  2. The Alesis CompactKit 7 is a portable tabletop drum set that is very similar to the PylePro and Yamaha DD75 kits/pads. It’s packed with 265 electronic and acoustic drum sounds, 45 preset drum kits, and 5 user drum kits. To top it off, it even has a USB-MIDI output for DAWs and comes with drumsticks.
  3. The HXW PD705 is a 9-Trigger Multipad with dual-zone, velocity-sensitive pads for triggering hi-hat, snare, tom, cymbal, and other sounds. This pad features almost 600 built-in sounds, 30 preset kits, and 20 user kits with a storage memory of 512MB. With USB & MIDI connections available, you can connect to your DAW of choice.
  4. The NUX DP-2000 is a percussion pad with 8 velocity-sensitive pads, 20 presets, 6 onboard effects, and more. With Bluetooth connectivity, and external interfaces for kick, hi-hat, and other triggers, this percussion pad makes for an excellent option with a mid-range price.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do I need an amplifier?

It depends on how you plan to use your electronic drum pads. You can connect the audio outputs to an amplifier or PA system via instrument cables. Most drum pads also include a headphone input.

How do I load my own samples?

If your drum pad has the capability of loading custom samples, this is generally done via a USB drive or SD card.

Check the specifications of your device before loading samples. Some require specific formats and bitrates (e.g., 16-bit WAV files).

What’s the difference between high-end and low-end pads?

The number one difference is build quality. You can see a notable difference in sturdiness and quality in higher-end pads. This can make a big difference when gigging regularly. As mentioned previously, low-quality pads can trigger cross-talk and other unwanted problems.

On-board sounds of higher-end pads are generally of much better quality. Another major difference is both the features and speed of the device, particularly with regard to switching kits while loading external samples.

How do I record my electronic drum pad?

If you want to record your electronic drum pad on your computer, then you will generally need an audio interface. You connect the outputs from your pad to the inputs on the interface via instrument cables. The interface usually connects to your computer via USB.

You can also connect most electronic drum pads to computers and other music gear via MIDI. Therefore you can trigger drum sounds from music production software instead of using the on-board sounds on your drum pad.

Can I connect other e-drum pads to my sample pad?

Check the external inputs of the pad. You may be able to connect other e-drum and cymbal pads, such as rubber or mesh pads directly. Some devices also include a specific input for a hi-hat pedal, which you can use the open/close functionality of the hats.

I usually recommend adding a kickpad if possible.

Verdict

My top pick as the best electronic drum pad is the Roland SPD-SX Pro. It’s the long-awaited follow-up to Roland’s previous industry-standard pad. I consider it the best despite stiff competition from Alesis with their Strike Multipad.

The best affordable electronic drum pad is the Alesis SamplePad Pro, but it does have a few quirks, so make sure to keep those in mind if buying.

As well as this, the Octapad SPD-30, SPD-SX, Alesis Strike Multipad, and Yamaha Multipad are high-end options that are very suitable for touring and performances. The all-in-one options are for more beginner and casual use.

If you have any comments or questions on any of the pads in this article, then please write a comment below. I promise to answer every comment!

Thinking about buying a full Electronic Drum Set?

Electronic drum sets can be a lot more reasonably priced than you might expect. Check out our updated buyer’s guide and reviews for the Best Electronic Drum Sets. They can help replicate the experience of playing an acoustic kit far more than electronic percussion pads.

If you are just starting to learn drums, then I would highly recommend getting one of these. Alternatively, we’ve written an article about the best drum machines, which is also worth checking out.

Mike O'Connor
Mike O'Connor

I've been playing drums for over 18 years. I work as both a session drummer and a drum teacher, and I love to share my knowledge and tips on this site. You can also find me on the Electronic Drum Advisor YouTube channel.

39 Comments
  1. Hi,
    Is the Alesis Sample Pad Pro sufficient for a church choir? Hope there is no unbearable issues.

    • Hi Jaison, it depends on your needs. I think it would do the job nicely for some relatively basic drumming/percussion and playing samples if necessary.

      The Alesis Sample Pad Pro is fine to put through a PA or amplifier for live situations (I’ve played it live myself). This sample pad has a few quirks that you should definitely practice and get to grips with beforehand, but you should be ok once you understand these (For example, it takes a bit longer than you might expect to switch between kits, and once you figure out how to adjust the sensitivity of the pads then that should eliminate the cross talk issues).

      Also, keep in mind that the device is not silent, and hitting the pads with drum sticks can cause some audible tapping sounds in close-up and very quiet musical situations. This may or may not be an issue for you, depending on the size of the room and volume of the choir.

      In my opinion, if you’re planning on doing some intricate drumming with a lot of dynamics then this may not totally suit your needs.

      So it’s not a definitive answer, as I said it depends on your needs. Though the Alesis Sample Pad Pro has a lot of features and it is a decent one to start with either way, because it’s much cheaper and you can invest on more expensive Roland or Yamaha models later on if really necessary.

      Hope that helps, if you have any other questions then please let me know!

      Mike

  2. Mike, thank you for the review. I am relatively new to Edrumming. From the research I’ve done this far, it seems selecting components from different vendors is the key?

    That said, I was considering the MimicPro for sounds, Yamaha gel pads, and Roland cymbals. Can you go in-depth on this thought process? I will ask, in light of this article, can one of these pads be used as the brain for a whole Ekit?

    If answers are too involved for this forum, please email me. I appreciate the input.

    • Hi Ken, selecting components from different vendors can be a great option if you know what you want. Electronic drum components like pads, cymbals etc, tend to be compatible with e-drum brains of other vendors (however you should certainly do some research into the particular components you are getting to be sure of it).

      The pearl mimic is supposed to be fantastic, if you have the budget then it’s well worth considering. Yamaha gel pads are also excellent, and some people prefer them to mesh heads, it’s a matter of preference really. If you’re planning on cherry picking individual components, if you have access to a local drum store then I’d highly recommend trying different ones out, as a lot of it is down to personal preference. What might work for people on message boards might not be the optimum choice for you.

      A negative of using different components is that they would probably come out as more expensive.

      Btw – not every component in e-drums will be totally compatible across the board, this is particularly the case with hi-hat pedals.

      The Roland Octapad (SPD-30) and the Yamaha DTX Multi-12 can be extended to use some other pads and a hi-hat pedal, but you’d only be able to make a mini e-kit out of them. The same goes for the Alesis SamplePad Pro, however, I wouldn’t personally recommend that as your main drum-brain. The new Roland SPD-SX wouldn’t really work as a drum brain.

      Hope this helps!

  3. I have been using an Alesis SamplePad Pro with an added kick pedal and a simple dedicated pad for a snare-like addition. There is a little crosstalk… but for the price, it really takes care of business. I always intended to upgrade after a while. I may be thinking about this differently than many because I’m using the device to control and MPC as it’s sound source. I’m haven’t really been too interested in it’s onboard capabilities. Part of me wants to have a pad with no brains and only assignable pads, but there aren’t any. Then it seems to be coming down to alternate pad options. I had planned on the SPD-S / or now the X – since it’s always just been ‘the best,’ but only 2 inputs makes me sad. I already use 2 – and wanted the headroom for 1-2 more. (gotta have some visible reach so there is something for the crowd to actually connect with visually.) So, in my case… it seems down to the Octopad and the Yamaha and I’m afraid the drummer will not like the Yamaha pads – but then the Octapad wouldn’t be a possibility if I moved away from the MPC connection (for samples) — so really, my only choice is the Yamaha – given my requirements of more than 2 external pads and the ability to use samples. What say you?

    • Hey, I wrote a response on this a while back but it must not have saved! Apologies for that! 🙁

      You might have already made the decision on this, but even so, this might be useful for other readers.

      The Yamaha DTX has 3 actual external pad inputs. 2 of those pad inputs support either a dual zone pad, or two separate pads each. You could expand this to 5 external pads in total if you don’t want dual zone capabilities, but you’d need to buy splitters for the inputs.

      In the same way, the Roland SPD-SX has 2 inputs, but you could input 4 pads into this if you have splitters. Therefore, the SPD-SX could actually suit your needs in this case.

      Thanks!

  4. I know to play drums i wishing to play pads if i buy yamaha dtx can i learn by it or i need to buy any other

    • Hi Sampaul, it’s very easy to get up to speed with any electronic percussion or drum pad (The Yamaha DTX pad included). There are plenty of resources online, but the best thing is to just get your hands on one and start playing around with the different sounds. Also – with the Yamaha option, you can play with either sticks or your hands. Hope that helps!

  5. Hey Mike!

    Thanks so much for this great review! I play a lot of musicals and am required to use many electronics just to cover all of the required instruments.

    My current set up is a MalletKat for all pitched percussion midi’d to an older Yamaha DTX v2 drum module. The Yamaha also then is used for some triggered sounds using the pads from the kit the module came on.

    The only drawback is the lack of ability to trigger samples sounds as sometimes required by musical books (church bell, sound effects, or even burps and farts in the case of “Shrek”. I’ve used an iPad sample player, but the little buttons are a pain – I’d like something to hit with whatever ever stick or mallet I’m using.

    I’ve already got great sounds in the DTX (even though it’s approaching 20 years old!). So it’s looking like the Alesis would be the best choice. What say you?

    • Hey Don – that’s awesome, having the MalletKey in your setup must be great!

      I understand your point about the iPad sample player. I always feel it’s a lot better to have hardware to work with, particularly when you’re in the middle of a performance.

      I think the Alesis would be a suitable for your use, particularly if you’re mainly looking for a lot of one-shot or secondary samples to add to your performance. It’s pretty inexpensive for the features you get.

      Keep in mind, there are a few quirks to get used to. You particularly don’t want to make sure not to accidentally trigger those Shrek sounds at the wrong time 🙂 I think you can get used to these after playing around with the pad for a while though.

      If you haven’t already, check out my more detailed review of the Alesis pad here, as I talk through its pros and cons: https://www.electronicdrumadvisor.com/alesis-samplepad-pro-review/

      If you’re going to use the sample pad very heavily then it might be worth investing a bit more in something like the SPD-SX straight away, but it seems that you’re looking for a cheaper option.

      It can take a little bit of time to switch between kits on the SamplePad Pro (depending on how big the samples are). That’s something to keep in mind if you have a lot of samples to switch between during your performances. However, that shouldn’t be a problem to work around.

      Hope this helps!
      Mike

  6. Hi Mike,
    New to the idea of electronic drumming and trying to figure out what would be best for me & our band sound. I currently play (and drag to gigs) a set of congas and bongos. After 10 years of lots of gigs my hands are starting to give out a bit and I think I need to make the switch. We play a lot of reggae and soft pop. I also use hand percussion – shakers, guiro, etc — and a foot tambourine, depending on the song. I experimented a few weeks ago with a Yamaha DD-9 (I know, it’s really old 🙂 and that was fun.
    Can you offer any advice as to which direction I should head to make the switch?
    Thanks!!

    • Hi Dawn, I think sample pads are a great option for percussion type sounds. E.g. the Octapad comes with a lot of very decent percussion and world music samples and kits.

      How it can replace your current set-up is really a matter of preference, so I can’t say for sure.

      There will definitely be differences in feeling and dynamic of the acoustic vs electronic, and there are pros and cons to both. Going the electronic route can offer you so many different options, but if you play primarily on your set of congas for example then you may be able to get more expression on your acoustic set.

      It’s really up to you to experiment. One option could be to use a hybrid type set-up, i.e. keep some acoustic instruments and then have a sample pad. E.g. if you kept your acoustic bongos, then you could still use the yamaha multi-pads with your hands, as they are responsive enough for this.

      Alternatively, going completely electronic can be very liberating and can really help you focus on building out more sounds! In fact, it could really work with the styles of music you’re playing.

      Good luck!

  7. Thanks for a superb extremely helpful article Mike!

  8. Hi there! Thank you for taking the time to review so many options. I am looking for a live only option. In particular, something to load my own samples in to. My question is, is there a particular one that you would recommend, loading speed-wise? When you’re in a live setting, time is of the essence, and nobody wants to wait on the percussion guy to load up his samples. 😉

    Thank you!

    • Hi Tommy, glad you found the article useful! The best pads that have very fast switching speed and also allow custom sampling are the Roland SPD-SX and the Yamaha Multipad. I’d personally pick the SPD-SX unless you’re looking for pads that you can play with your hands also. The octapad doesn’t have custom samples, and the Alesis Samplepad Pro is too slow IMO if you’re looking for fast speed switching live.

  9. Hi Mike,

    I have never played drums nor I have any drumming experience. I want to learn how to play octapad. What would you recommend for me ? I wish to play using sticks . Once I learn, I plan to play the same in my company’s annual day. I just want a basic octapad which can fit my need.

    • Hi Piyush, I recently wrote an article about some of the best online drum lesson resources (both free and paid), so that could be a good place to start! The foundations of drumming, i.e. drum beats, timing, rudiments, stick technique, etc, can all be practiced on an Octapad the same way as you would play a drum set, therefore any of those lessons would be applicable for you. The Octapad also has a wide variety of percussion sounds, so you could also try out some different beats and phrase looping around that. If you’re really interested in getting into learning drums with the Octapad, then I would highly recommend that you also get an electronic kick pedal and a hi-hat pedal in order to extend the Octapad into a mini electronic drum kit. This would give you a lot more freedom to play interesting beats. Hope this helps! Mike

      • Thanks for the quick response. I appreciate it. Now that I have the resources to learn. I want to buy an octapad. I read your article “The Best Electronic Drum Pads 2018 – A Drummer’s Guide” and watched every single video linked to that article but could not decide . Which one would you recommend for me ? I am looking to buy one during this thanks giving sale hoping for a good deal.

        • Hi Piyush, the Roland Octapad SPD 30 is my first choice in this article, so I would recommend that unless you really need to load your own custom samples. There are already a lot of great on-board samples and options to process the sounds. Apologies for the delay in responding!

  10. Hi Mike, thanks for such a great informational article. Your thoughts are really helpful as I’m looking into a kit.
    I’ve only played acustic drums and percussion, so I’m still trying to figure these kits out. Do these pads need certain firmware or software to use them? Do they run through a computer or tablet?
    Thanks for the input; I’m pretty excited to get into this side of drumming.

    • Hi Riley, I’m glad you found the article useful! All of these pads are standalone electronic instruments with on-board sounds so you just simply hook them up to an amplifier, PA, or headphones to hear them via standard instrument cables (1/4 inch cables).

      The necessary internal software is already included on them, in certain cases there are optional firmware updates which you can install through a USB connection but if you’re buying a new model it will likely contain the most up-to-date firmware.

      All of these drum/sample pads contain MIDI connectivity so you can connect them to a computer and trigger external sounds such as a drum rack on music production software for example. However, in order to run or record the actual audio output (on-board sounds) of your drum pad through your computer you would need an audio interface (e.g. focusrite).

      I hope that answers your questions, enjoy using whatever drum pads you get.

      Mike

  11. Hi Mike, I’m currently studying music and I want to start using sample pads. I’m fresh to learning about them so I’m starting from scratch. I’m wondering, to use a sample pad do you need an amp and/or a PA system to use one or does it just depend? Currently I don’t have any equipment at all and would love an explanation of all equipment I would need and where to go from there. I’m quite unsure of it all and nervous and would love a boost to just get started and not just buy equipment without knowing what I actually need. ☺️
    Thanking you,
    Kate.

  12. Mike
    I am looking for a high-end square electronic pad that I have seen being used as a full drum kit. Unable to remember the name of it but I thought the cost was above 1500.
    Any ideas?

  13. i’m looking for a few pads with control head/amp to add to my acoustic kit to use for special effects – gong, tymp, tubular bell, thunder sheet, etc. what are my options?-

  14. Which one of these will be the best as a stand-alone acoustic drum kit replacement? Realistic kits and sensitivity. With out having to use a computer and drum plugins.

    • Hi Michael, The Roland Octapad SPD-30, in my opinion, is the best as a stand-alone kit replacement, and you can hook it straight to a PA or drum monitor. It has good sensitivity (though not as good as mesh or silicone pads on electronic drum sets) and has plenty of options to add extra pads/triggers/pedals (it’s also compatible with installing a hi-hat pedal) on the back of it. There are plenty of built-in kits and sounds (e.g. the ‘Tight Drums’ preset), however, many of which are not actually acoustic drum kit samples (they include world music, effects sounds, synths, etc). If you’re looking for a proper acoustic drum kit replacement, it might be a better bet to buy a good electronic drum set instead, or get a sample pad that can allow for custom sampling (e.g. the Alesis Strike Multipad or the Roland SPD-SX) and put a bit of work into loading really good drum samples based on the style and genre that you’re playing.

      If you’re looking to replace the feel of your drum set, then you’re not really going to get very close if you’re only using the hardware of the electronic drum pad to be honest. However, you could get a separate mesh snare pad and connect it to the octapad for example, if you want to do drum rolls with a bit more sensitivity, etc.

      Hope that helps with your decision!

  15. Im a handpan player and wants to have a mini drum set. Since i dont have space or need it often.
    However, I’m a pro musician and wants it to sound good. Meaning, that not only that the drum samples should be good enough but i want it to behave as realistic aa possible.
    For exampe, multiple strokes on a cymbal should not retrigger the sample but sound as it would, hitting a real cymbal multiple times.
    Too much to ask for?
    What would you recommend for a low and higher budget?

  16. Hi Mike…. can you please suggest me to go for Roland SPD 30 or Handsonic 20…. I am not a good player …but need this for church …I used to play Roland 6 pad …but now need an upgrade…your suggestions highly appreciated..

  17. Hi Mike, thanks for the detailed information, very helpful, I really wanted to buy the Octopad spd30 but I thought I had made my mind up to buy the Yamaha instead because I could not find any resource which confirmed if the phrase loops on the Octopad could be triggered to start and stop by another midi device (Pigtronix Infinity looper). Having read the above you seem to be confirming that it can, have I understood what you said correctly or are you meaning that the loops can be triggered by a connected PC via USB midi (me and computers don’t get on) thanks again, hopefully you can educate me here? Garry Munro

    • Hi Garry, you can start and stop phrase loops on the Octapad SPD-30 using either MIDI 5-pin cables OR via MIDI-via-USB (i.e. once you press play on the master device then the phrase loop starts). I’m 100% sure that it works for both (I’ve done it many times). Btw, I’ve only triggered via MIDI from a computer in both cases (in the case of the 5-pin connections I used a MIDI to USB interface), but I don’t see why it would be any different when using another piece of music gear that can transmit MIDI start/stop commands when using standard 5-pin MIDI connectors.

      Keep in mind that the Octapad lacks custom sampling. For that reason, the Yamaha option still might be a better one for you.

      I’m glad you found the article helpful!

  18. Mike, I have a chance to get about a 4 year old lightly used Alesis Sample Pad Pro for a pretty good cost. Have the software improvements they made been more recently than that?

    Thanks.

    • Hi Ben, you can load the firmware update to any Alesis Samplepad Pro model regardless of when it was released (using a USB stick). If it’s 4 years old, then maybe it already has the firmware updates applied.

      • Thanks Mike. For what I want to do…basic sampling, extra instrument hits, etc. is the SamplePad Pro a good fit? I have had some folks say the crosstalk issue is too much of a hindrance. I don’t plan to exploit it more than just using it for extra pad sounds. Thanks. Always enjoy reading your articles.

        • I have mixed feelings about the Samplepad Pro at this stage (I’m going to update the text in this article soon about that as my writeup on it is a little out of date). I’ve used it for live performances a few times alongside my acoustic kit and it did a basic job, but I really had to lower the sensitivity to reduce crosstalk.

          Tbh, I now wouldn’t trust this sample pad if you’re using it to trigger long samples, because the crosstalk could interupt things (which would not be fun while playing live). However, if you’re looking for very basic one-shot samples (e.g. claps, percussion, snare hits, etc) then it could do the job, but it’s not great.

          On the low-end level, I actually really like the HXW PD705 as an alternative budget pad (it also comes under different names… Gear4Music DD90 and dbDrums nPad) and I would trust using it on stage, but it’s gotten quite a mixed response from people (maybe bad QA or inconsistent production or something, I only received one of them).

  19. Thanks Mike; really appreciate the detailed information. In your opinion, do you think Roland will release an updated Octapad in the foreseeable future. I’ve bought/sold one of these already, but want one again Being that it was released more than 10 years ago, I’m wondering if I should wait for the possibility next generation hardware. Thanks a lot!

    • Hi James, I’m glad you found the post useful! I haven’t heard anything about a newer Octapad model. Roland are way slower at bringing out new pads in comparison to their release cycles for vdrum kits. It’s difficult to know, but you potentially could be waiting a long time before they bring anything new out. It’s been nearly 4 years since they brought out the ‘special edition’ of the SPD-SX, and the only upgrade was more memory and a different color scheme. The Alesis Strike Multipad is certainly adding to the competition, but the current models of the Roland SPD-SX and Octapad are still very popular so they might not be in much of a rush (unfortunately). Also, they might not be in any rush to add custom sampling to any new version of the Octapad as it could eat into demand for the SPD-SX. That’s all just me speculating though!

  20. Thanks Mike; really appreciate the advice. What you describe is what I was hoping to see from Roland; Octapad with custom sampling. I’m building a hybrid kit, but mostly electronic; only acoustic bass drum, snare, and hats, with the acoustic drums triggered from the Octapad.

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