Audio Gadgets: Awowo LDP-110 Electronic Drum Set Plus MP3

Sometimes I just want to hit something – usually right after someone complains when I’m clicking my fingers or tapping the desk to some rhythm inside my head. Awowo have a gadget that might help.

The Awowo LPD-110 is either a very big MP3 player, or a really small drum kit. At around USD$150 or so, it’s pretty cheap, and a great size to keep in the car for those not so rare moments when I need something to hit.

It looks like a great little kit for fiddling on, but I’d think twice about recording with it. It may not be bad for sequencing, though, given it has MIDI in and out, and the pads have 128 levels of dynamics. It  has eight touch-sensitive drum pads, two pedals, 11 preset drum kits, MIDI I/O, built-in click, reverb, 1/4″ stereo out, head phone, and aux-in. The pedals don’t look bad, and it has a cymbal choking feature, which sets it apart from some of the toys out there. It also has a built-in 5W amp and two 8cm speakers, so it’s all you need to have a lunchtime jam with yourself.

Some of the advertisers recommend it for gigging, but I think you’d have to be fairly desperate. I think it’s the sort of device that would be good for beginner drummers to learn some basic patterns on before investing in a real drum kit.

The built-in MP3 player is handy – much more fun to play along with than a metronome click. It also has an integrated sequencer and MP3 recording, which should be great for listening to your practice session, as well as capturing rhythmic ideas while you’re out and about.

My seven month old baby loves hitting things in time with the music. It might make a great first birthday present!