Modern drummers on YouTube and TikTok: kits, cymbals and recording setups

Over the last few years a new kind of drummer has emerged: the **modern drummer who lives on YouTube and TikTok**. It’s not just about chops anymore. These pla...

Over the last few years a new kind of drummer has emerged: the modern drummer who lives on YouTube and TikTok.

It’s not just about chops anymore. These players know how to play, record and present themselves. They shoot playthroughs, covers, 30‑second grooves, POV shots from the snare, split‑screen collabs – and everything revolves around three pillars:

the drum kit (acoustic, hybrid or electronic);
the cymbals (sound, definition, look);
the recording setup (mics, interface, cameras, lights).

The good news? You don’t need a dream studio to start. You need a clear idea of what kind of content you want to make, and a smart way to organise your kit, cymbals and drum recording setup around that.

In this guide we’ll look at:

how modern drummers typically configure their kits for online content;
how to choose cymbals that work well for audio and video;
which drum recording setups are most common (from ultra‑minimal to semi‑pro);
how to adapt all of this to different budgets without falling for pure marketing.

For real‑world reference, you can browse listings on Muviber:

1. Who are the modern drummers on YouTube and TikTok?

When we talk about modern drummers on YouTube and TikTok, we’re not only talking about monsters of technique. We’re talking about players who:

care about the sound of the kit as much as their timing;
treat the kit as a film set as well as a musical instrument;
know that 10 seconds of a great‑sounding groove beat 3 minutes of muddy audio.

Typically they post:

full‑song playthroughs;
covers with drums front and centre;
short clips for TikTok / Reels (a fill, a groove, a transition);
educational content: snare sound, tuning, cymbal choices, etc.

That’s why drum kit, cymbals and recording setup are tightly connected to the type of content you want to create.

2. Drum kits for social content: common configurations

There’s no single right kit, but you’ll see some obvious patterns online.

2.1 Compact but complete acoustic kit

For drummers who can play loud in a rehearsal room or treated space, a classic setup is:

20" or 22" kick;
14" snare (steel, brass or wood, usually quite present in the mix);
2–3 toms (10–12–16 or 12–13–16);
1–2 crashes + ride + hi‑hat.

Key traits:

careful tuning, with snares often on the dry side;
relatively fresh heads;
attention to kit placement in the room (not crammed into a corner).

2.2 Semi‑muted acoustic kit for apartments

More and more modern drummers use:

mesh heads;
low‑volume cymbals;
triggers feeding a module or DAW.

This hybrid approach gives you:

real‑kit look and feel;
controlled acoustic volume;
high‑quality sampled sounds.

2.3 Electronic drum kit dedicated to content

When space is tight and neighbours are close, the electronic drum kit becomes the hero:

quiet pads;
internal sounds ready to go;
direct recording via USB or stereo outs.

On Muviber you’ll often find used electronic drum kits at good prices:

electronic drum kits for home studios

3. Cymbals for YouTube and TikTok: sound, definition and visuals

Cymbals are not just about tone – on camera they’re a huge part of the visual identity.

3.1 Crash and ride choices that translate well on camera

For social content, cymbals that work well tend to be:

not too big (16–18" crashes, 20" ride);
with controlled decay (too much sustain clutters the mix);
with a clear but not ear‑killing ride bell.

Popular flavours:

dark or thin crashes for modern, less aggressive sounds;
dry or medium rides so patterns read clearly in the overheads;
hi‑hats with a precise, clean chick.

3.2 Visuals: logo, finish and consistency

On video people also notice:

the finish (shiny, raw, hammered…);
set consistency (too many brands can look visually messy);
how visible logos are – many drummers use this as a design element.

If you want a visually coherent rig, you can start with:

complete cymbal sets

4. Drum recording setups: from one mic to semi‑pro

Your drum recording setup is what turns your groove into something people want to keep listening to.

4.1 Level 1 – Minimal: one mic, that’s it

To get started you can use:

a single condenser mic above the kit (mono overhead);
a 2 in / 2 out audio interface;
a lightweight DAW and basic compression/EQ.

Pros:

very affordable entry point;
perfect for TikTok, where many users listen on phones.

Cons:

limited control over kick and snare balance;
harder to handle extreme genres.

4.2 Level 2 – Serious home studio (4–8 mics)

This is the most common solution for YouTube drum recording setups:

kick (1–2 mics);
snare top (and sometimes bottom);
1–2 overheads;
sometimes individual tom mics.

With 4–8 inputs you can:

balance kick and snare more precisely;
shape overheads and room tone;
get much closer to “pro” drum mix territory.

4.3 Level 3 – Acoustic / electronic hybrid

More and more drummers:

mic kick, snare and overheads;
add triggers to kick/snare;
blend acoustic sound with samples.

Result:

real‑kit feel;
consistent sound across different sessions;
a modern, “already mixed” drum tone.

5. Video, lights and framing: the underrated half

A killer groove with great audio but bad video loses half its impact.

Simple things that change everything:

one fixed camera on a tripod in a good position (slightly high and off‑centre often works great);
a decent key light (softbox, ring light, LED panel);
a tidy background: no random clutter, cables or chaos.

Many modern drummers use a combination of:

one main camera + a second angle on the snare or pedals;
a few vertical shots created from the start for TikTok/Shorts.

6. Three realistic setups for different budgets

6.1 Entry‑level budget

used acoustic kit in decent condition;
basic cymbal set (hi‑hat + crash + ride);
one condenser mic + 2×2 interface;
one entry‑level camera + simple light.

Perfect for:

starting to post content consistently;
figuring out what you really need before spending more.

6.2 Mid‑range budget

well‑sorted acoustic kit or mid‑range electronic kit;
full cymbal set with different crash sizes;
4–6 mics (kick, snare, overheads, maybe toms);
audio interface with 4–8 inputs;
two cameras + decent lighting.

Here you can start playing with:

more refined mixes;
multiple camera angles;
both short‑form and long‑form content.

6.3 Advanced budget

top‑tier acoustic or hybrid kit;
carefully selected cymbals for your genre;
8+ good mics;
some outboard (preamps, compressors);
proper lighting setup + 2–3 cameras.

At this point the bottleneck is no longer your gear but your creativity, groove and consistency.

FAQ – Modern drummers, kits and setups

Do I really need an acoustic kit to make serious drum content?

No. Plenty of modern drummers work with electronic kits or hybrid setups, especially in apartments. What matters is the sound that ends up in the video and in your audience’s headphones.

What is a good budget drum recording setup for YouTube and TikTok?

A great drum recording starter kit is:

a well‑tuned kit (even an inexpensive one, if cared for);
4 mics (kick, snare, 2 overheads);
a 4‑input audio interface;
a DAW with basic compression and EQ.

With this you can get surprisingly close to the drum sound you hear in many YouTube videos.

Are low‑volume cymbals good for content?

They’re great for controlling volume but they don’t sound exactly like regular cymbals. For social content they can work very well, especially if you reinforce the sound with samples, but if you want a naturally full cymbal sound they’re still a compromise.

Is an electronic kit or an acoustic kit with triggers better for creators?

A fully electronic kit is easier to set up and keep quiet.
A triggered acoustic kit takes more work but gives you real‑kit feel with sample consistency.

If you’re just starting out, e‑kits are usually more straightforward. If you’re experienced and chasing a modern “studio” sound, hybrids are incredibly powerful.

How important are video and lights compared to sound?

Sound is still king, but dark, shaky or messy video makes people scroll away in a second. A bit of attention to framing and lighting turns your groove into something much more scroll‑stopping.