Ok, so I got easy drummer 2, and I'm looking at midi controllers. Should I get one, do you use one, and what is it you use?
I prefer pads over a midi keyboard for drums, but if you aren't used to either of them then you'll be fine either way. Akai style pads can be good to perform on:
And they make a small pad/ key combo that will be good if you are unsure:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MPKmini2 (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MPKmini2)
I personally would stay away from "mini keys" which are a lot smaller than regular piano keys and are harder to play at least for my fat fingers.
I never personally liked using any of the pads I've tried cause they're too small and you have to hit them to hard or too soft depending on the sensitivity setting, You also have to set them up to play the notes that correspond to the drum you want them to play....The drums are already set up on the keyboard so that it makes sense when you play them.
I picked up a Nektar controller because they are cheap and have transport controls for DAW software.
I got the 88 key version because I play keys but if you're only going to play drums you can get away with a small one.
This one has full sized keys:
The keyboard on mine feels good and it was easy to set up the other controls to work on my software.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ImpactLX25 (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ImpactLX25)
Here is a little AKAI that looks interesting:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LPK25 (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LPK25)
Novation had the best "feeling" keyboard. Not too spongy or so light that your fingers slip around...
This one has a bunch of stuff you may or may not use:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LaunchK2-25 (http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LaunchK2-25)
M-audio felt really spongy and cheap as most of the other cheaper controllers do.
If you want to go Pads here is the latest AKAI
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MPD218
Disclaimer:
Being a keyboard player I am biased toward full sized keys. If you haven't played keys you might be fine using pads and mini keys. The Akai looks really good for that and they have been making pad based devices forever.
Akai MPK mini has a bit of everything: pads, two octave keyboard, arpeggiator, and eight rotary controls you can assign to do different things (at least very easily within Ableton Live).
For live or recording purposes?
You can hook up an electronic drum kit via midi to EZ drummer, you just don't have much control of the MIDI routing unless your drum kit allows you to change the trigger send.
If you are just looking to spice up the "loops" they provide you can add hits realtime by clicking your mouse on the drum. It can change up the generic grooves or make your own.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX5zcXXhY1w
Josh
I too am a pads guy over keys for drums. I have had many of them over the years and as of right now I am using a old Akai MPC 2000XL and Native Instruments Maschine. But, I would not recommend either for just drum programming, since I use them for all kinds of other stuff also. I think they are a bit over kill for what you need. I do have a Akai MPK Mini that I use with my Mac Book when I travel and want to make music on the go and it works great. I use Addictive Drums and Logic Pro X native drums with it all the time. The pads are pretty responsive and the keys are small, but usable. I also have had a M-audio Axiom 25 that I liked but it was a little to big for travel so I gave it to my father. He uses it all the time for drums and keys.
Cody
I picked up a cheap (ish) Roland electronic kit in Craigslist. For me it works way better than either a keyboard or pads, with way less editing time required to make it sound great.