We didn't just put this kit through a test bench on its own and running in Pro Tools + Superior Drummer. We'll tell you all about it in detail, and we're also giving the drum kit away to our readers. Subscribe to the newsletter to enter the giveaway: within a few days of this review's publication, we'll announce the winner, chosen from among the subscribers to the ISP Música magazine newsletter.
Introduction
We received a Millenium MPS 850 electronic drum kit, unpacked it with great interest, and set it up in one of the rooms at ISP Música Magazine to test it down to the last detail.
Work in the “home studio” has been growing steadily for some time now, making rehearsal and recording sessions easier. Until not long ago, drummers had it the hardest: practicing or playing at home (or anywhere else that calls for moderate volume, or even none at all) without deafening everyone was more complicated than it was for other instrumentalists.
One of the challenges electronic drums have always faced is the realistic rebound of the sticks on the heads, as well as the action of the pedals: the kick pedal first, which is easier to get right, and the hi-hat second, whose fidelity of action is a tough challenge for this technology.
This set includes a number of components that make playing feel as close as possible to an acoustic kit, while keeping a very competitive price.
Another aspect that defines the quality of an instrument (of any instrument, really) is its ability to deliver plenty of playing nuance so that it doesn't limit the musician's language when performing. Consequently, in order to treat a snare, tom, cymbal, etc. realistically, the MIDI instrument has to be able to trigger different samples depending on which part of the piece we hit: for example, the bell or open area of a cymbal, the rim or the center of the head, and so on.
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By now we all know some incredible drum libraries, with a multitude of different samples for each piece, whether by the exact spot where the strike lands or by the volume at which it's played. After all, it isn't the same sound just louder or softer; they're different sounds, since the real instrument returns different nuances (beyond volume) depending on how hard you hit it. What MIDI calls velocity must be able to trigger different samples across its range to deliver that much-needed realism.
So the challenge for the drum kit, if we play it connected to a good sound library, is to be able to play each of those recorded samples, responding accurately to the volume at which the note is struck and to the exact area where the stick hits the head.
The Millenium MPS-850 stands out as an affordable, capable option, ideal for musicians who want a realistic kit without having to spend a huge budget. In our opinion, it is one of the most competitive options on the market in terms of price versus the quality it offers.
The Kit on the Test Bench
It arrives perfectly packed, with an individual box for each piece inside another box that holds the whole set. Well presented and well organized.
The first step is to assemble the rack that will let us position the cymbals, the overhead toms, and the base, kick, snare, and sound module. It's a functional, lightweight rack that is easy to put together. It has some room for vertical and horizontal adjustment so you can place each piece of the set the way you like. We've heard at times that it doesn't let you set the kit up high enough, but in our opinion it can be configured in a variety of layouts, reaching practically any position.
An interesting point here is that the kit is built very much like, if not identically to, the shapes and hardware of a real acoustic drum set. That means that if at some point we wanted to customize the position even further (raising the snare, the cymbals, and so on), we could buy real straight or boom stands, a snare stand, etc. to fine-tune our preferred setup. Even so, we can configure the kit with enough room for adjustment to play perfectly from minute one.
Pedal Action and Playing Feel
This is definitely a great idea: using acoustic drum hardware. The same hardware you'd use on your acoustic kit. So the action under your feet is more than realistic; it's the real thing.
The kick comes with a two-sided beater: plastic and felt. The manufacturer warns that using the plastic side will make the head last longer. As for the hi-hat, we think it is one of the most delicate pieces on any electronic kit. Triggering the sounds precisely with the cymbals pressed together (closed), half-open, and open, plus the sound of the foot closing the cymbals, all combined with stick hits, is perhaps the most complex part of any drum kit on the market.
Considering the price of this kit and the class it competes in, we have to say the result is more than satisfying. We especially like that the hi-hat is operated with a real pedal and stand. In our opinion, the result exceeds any expectation for the investment involved.
In a highly professional environment we would probably feel a little uncomfortable, or have to adapt slightly to the way this piece works. But that happens with almost any electronic kit on the market, including higher-end ones that obviously require a much bigger budget.
Head Feel. Mesh heads, which have long been used on studio kits such as the Pearl Rhythm Traveler, have been well received thanks to their excellent rebound response. They can be tuned just like an acoustic kit's, adjusting the tension through the hoops. Changing that tension gives you a different rebound feel, letting you practice various techniques and study grip and its effects. It also allows drummers to play their parts without giving up many of the qualities of a real acoustic head.
About the Cymbals. You'll trigger different samples depending on the area you hit (bell, open area). You can also cut off the sound if you grab the cymbal with your hand (“choking” or “mute”), and the hi-hat sounds change depending on whether the pedal is open or closed and whether you hit it with the stick, or whether you press the pedal as if the top hi-hat cymbal were closing against the bottom one.
The Sound Module
The kit comes with a module that is very easy to wire up and connects to the computer via USB (if we want to, since the kit is self-contained when connected to headphones). It offers 30 preset kits, and its sounds will surprise a beginner by a wide margin and leave an intermediate player quite satisfied.
Its connection to the computer is truly easy, plug and play over USB, and the kit is recognized instantly. We can vouch for it: quick and easy. You can then play the instrument with any other sound library that suits your preferences.
On our test bench, after trying the module's standalone sounds, we connected the Millenium to Pro Tools. We created a virtual instrument track and loaded Toontrack's Superior Drummer 3 on it. We were struck that every piece of the kit was recognized immediately without having to configure anything. We only found one tom rim that triggered a crash, which we fixed with a small configuration tweak in the software.
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As you might imagine, the result was very powerful, taking the experience to a genuinely high-performance level of sound. We tried many libraries and pieces with the Millenium, and all of them triggered perfectly. It's worth adding that some sounds (especially hi-hats) worked even better. All in all, we got a truly powerful sound.
Conclusions
In short, the Millenium MPS-850 is an excellent choice for anyone looking for an affordable electronic drum kit without compromising on quality. Its design, aimed at simulating the feel of playing an acoustic kit, along with its compatibility with advanced music software, makes it a valuable tool for both practice and recording.
It's impossible to judge the quality of the instrument without keeping its price in mind. As of this review's publication date, it costs 598 €, VAT included. Compared with the rest of what's on the market, this instrument clearly stands out from its competitors. It may not be the only option to consider, but in this range it is one of the most attractive on the market today.
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Pros
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Cons
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What's in the Box
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Kit Configuration
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Included Hardware
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