User Interface Comparison for Virtual Drums

An experimental study comparing different user interfaces for a virtual drum is reported. Virtual here means that the drum is not a physical object. 16 subjects played the drum on five different interfaces and two metronome patterns trying to match their hits to the metronome clicks. Temporal accuracy of the playing was evaluated. The subjects also rated the interfaces subjectively. The results show that hitting the drum alternately from both sides with motion going through the drum plate was less accurate than the traditional one sided hitting. A physical stick was more accurate than a virtual computer graphic stick. Visual feedback of the drum slightly increased accuracy compared to receiving only auditory feedback. Most subjects evaluated the physical stick to offer a better feeling and to be more pleasant than the virtual stick.