Senstroke Virtual Drum Kit – Apparata
You don’t just put a drum set in your backpack. Yet no band is complete without a drummer. Fortunately, there is now a solution for drummers in tight quarters: the Senstroke virtual drum kit.
Four sensors, with drumsticks
The Senstroke (€260 for the most extensive Ultimate Box edition) from the French Redison is as minimalist as possible. That is, there are four sensors, one built into the drumstick in your left hand, one for your right hand, and one for your left foot, and one for your right foot. Each Bluetooth sensor is adapted to this: the stick sensors fit well over standard 7A drumsticks, and the sensors for the feet can be attached over your shoes using elastic straps.
Senstroke: drumming through an app
The sensors are extremely compact, about the size of a thumb. So you could, so to speak, take them with you in your backpack. Although of course you still have to bring the drum sticks. The entire virtual drum kit works via your smartphone.
You install the special Senstroke app, which is suitable for both iPhone and Android devices. This connects to the sensors via Bluetooth. You can set which sensor is linked to which foot and which active areas there are. And unlike a real drum kit, you can set the sound effects precisely, plus adapt them to your composition.
Sensstroke can be linked to a music program
Users report that the best experiences with the Senstroke sensors are achieved when you land the drumsticks on a hard surface. That in itself is logical, because that way you get the strongest signal. A very interesting feature is that you can link the sensors to programs such as Reaper or Cubase via the well-known MIDI interface. This way you can write a composition, at least the drum part, while you are playing the drums. Your rhythm is immediately saved as music data.
Although nothing beats a real drum kit for the real drum enthusiast, in practice this is only possible for the lucky ones who have a soundproof cellar, music studio or rehearsal room. Fortunately, there is now also a great alternative in the form of the Senstroke. Those who still want to practice their drumming practice at home, without a Mahabharata, the Mother of all Battles or the Battle of Stalingrad breaking out with all the neighbors, will probably be very happy with this smart and quite affordable gadget.
