Goki wrote:
Should I go with the numbers inside the DrumDial manual?!?
http://www.drumdial.com/drummer.htmWhat do You guys think?!?
Since all my toms are tuned between 70 and 75, those numbers in the guide look a bit high to me. You have Cliff's numbers, I'm assuming, but if you're tuning to different steps you will first need to ascertain what steps you want, and then discover what those numbers are on the Dial. If you haven't found Cliff's tuning for a four tom setup, I'm taking the liberty of posting it here.
cliff wrote:
Below is an excerpt from a post I had put on the Sonormuseum a while back that describes the tuning process I use, and the DD readings that result with my Designers:
“What I can tell you off the top of my head is that I use four toms and they are tuned as follows:
• 16x16 – tuned to C – 70.5 reading top and bottom
• 14x14 – tuned to G – 74 reading top and bottom
• 12x10 – tuned to C – 75 reading top and bottom
• 8x8 – tuned to G – 74 reading top and bottom
Since I am using same batter and reso on both, here is how I approached tuning them.
1. Remove both heads.
2. Install, seat and back off the batter head.
3. Using just the batter head, find the tuning range of the drum, from lowest (first resonates) to highest (begins to choke). Make a note of the range (both pitch and DD readings)
4. Repeat for all toms.
5. Find a logical set of intervals for the drums, preferably within a major scale. I deliberately use only four drums and two pitches, so that relationship of any drum to any other drum is that of a fourth, fifth or octave (the fourth being an inversion of a fifth; e.g. c-g / g-c)
6. Once you have chosen the interval pattern that to use, tune each batter to the targeted pitch; note the DD reading.
7. Install and seat the reso; back off and tune up to same DD reading. The pitch will now be higher than the target pitch you started with!
8. Back off both heads in small but equal increments and tune up until equally tensioned at the target pitch. Use a soft mallet to eliminate the false impression from the ‘attack’, and strike dead center.
What you will end up with is equally and evenly tensioned batter and reso, and all the drums in the interval pattern you have chosen. It will be the most open sound you can get, and there will be no pitch-bending in the resonance.
I prefer just the intervals I mentioned so the virtually every drum combination is a root/fifth, root/fourth (by inversion), or an octave – essentially a chord. This way all combinations work together, and don’t sound ‘thin’ or dissonant.
A lot of ideas here; I hope it is presented logically and makes sense.
There may be minor variations attributable to DD calibration.