Me too! I put 5 balls in a floor tom that had a bit of unwanted overtones, mellowed it right out. Don’t forget - you gotta pull and stretch your balls!
This technique really helped out my 1920s nickel over brass Ludwig Pioneer. The wires had an insane honk that wouldn't go away no matter what I tried, it was outta control! this really helped to tame & focus the drum.
In the same realm, I picked up a similar hack from tuning high tension marching snares with mylar snare side heads by putting an e-ring inside the drum. Started doing this to all my snares to focus the articulation and dry up some of the overly long/sympathetic buzz. It's consistent all around the head, as opposed to the cotton balls naturally bunching in the center
10 cotton balls are great for fast paced snare work. Also I believe you can push the cotton through the snare hole with the head of a carpentry nail and not have to remove the snare head.
All the used drumsets I get have tape on the heads and pillows and blankets in the kick, i take everything off and keep the old crappy heads on tune them, and it sounds 10x better every time.
I got 10 cotton balls in my snare I really like it ~ feels better for rim shots and cross sticks clicks and I think it pairs good w/ fusion trap jazz or like neo soul type stuff. Definitely less echoes and not too rock friendly, but fun for more experimental stuff. Sounds better in smaller rooms too I think
Besides cotton balls , I tried the 2x2 cotton facial wipes. Roll them up and push through air hole and after a little they open up flat. Also for for 30 yrs I’d use felt. You can buy felt sheets in different colors at craft stores and cut to size. Honestly wish drum companies would go back to putting adjustable mufflers back on every drum! Just an up dated system not the old type
Would you guys ever consider also doing production and mixing side? I really love the videos that you talk about altering the sound acousticly, but working in a DAW with drums could be extremely helpful as well
Haven't tried cotton balls before, but toilet paper in a rudimental bass drum works wonders! I also used to use a foam ring on the inside of the snare shell on my Rogers Super Ten, it's a great way to control the cannon sound without losing th responsiveness of anything touching the heads!
just wnating to let you know that I have tried the tape around the underside of the snare head trick you checked out a few episodes ago and that I absolutly loved it. keep up the good work fellas
I've played acros and own a supra. Never heard or tried the cotton ball technique. 4 ball was cool but also liked the 10 cotton balls. I have some lower end snares that can be irritating, definitely will consider this method...
A "gate " effect on bottom can be also the "coin" trick ( for height) but it can be what you want, as experiment here I use 2 euros ( i m french ) , so I roll the coin in a short piece of towel then a tape to attach inside the shell ( on strainer or throw off side ) When you hit the drum, the coin bouncing and gate just a little sustain . It help a lot for certains "buzzy " snare , especially on the tail end . That gate suppress that part , but keep first transient tone intact . Use ofen For a more dramatic effect.: cut an old bottom head at center ( like a ring muffle ) , and attach inside the drum over the bottom head with 4 tape to secure the film when move snare etc ....( tape on the shell , no need big tape ) it create a really fat short crack Cotton ball is really cool , but if you use an angle snare position , all the coton will go in one direction & can't work good in my opinion for parallele snare snare position , yes I wait a part dedicaced to reggae now, you will project it in futur ? ...i send 2 mails but never get a respons ...too busy ? Sound of Carlton barett ( The Wailers ) , Style scott member of Roots radics ( my favored ) , Sly Dunbar ( album "Aux Armes etc / Serge Gainsbourg ) for exemple Thanks for reading Seb
I love your videos. It would be awesome if you could make a video about tuning for a sound that is as warm and mellow as possible. I often find snare drums too loud, abrasive and harsh. If not a video, do you have any tips/references to achieve such sound? Thanks!
do u consider doin a 5mil resohead tunin range experiment and sound characteristics - theres literally no video on de internet . i may get1 for a Starclassic Tama Stainless Steel 14" x 6.5" in hoap of reducn excessive brightness and control wild overtones and wondern how it affects tone warmth thnks !
Have you done a video on electrical tape over the snares? It's a common practice among drum corps using marching heads to achieve a drier sound out of the drum, and I've often used it on higher tuned drums to the same result. A little goes a long way!
I would imagine electrical tape would work the same as any other tape, except that it is very sticky, and the rubber-like material might absorb vibration better. The main advantage is that it's thinner, and easier to fine tune by adding small pieces.
@@jackmills5071 Electrical tape is used mostly because every marching drummer already has some around. Any tape will work. Just please no duct tape, the glue residue can be a nuisance.
My hack is that I use the little air pillows that come in boxes of items delivered from companies like Amazon in my bass drum. I might try that in my floor tom also... snare? Maybe.. Thanks.
Dude, you tuned this Acro so good this time that I listened back and forth this video vs Craviotto one and Acro sounds awesome and better for my taste. I have Acro from 78th and just can't tune it like you did. Any help, advice?
Thanks! They’re pretty magic drums, no doubt. The big pitfall is over tightening the snareside head. Gotta let it breathe :) we have a few past videos that detail the method we use including video #1! -Cody
I've never tried this. I do use pieces/very small amounts of cheesecloth in my toms to kill overtones from the resonant head. Basically like a pillow for a bass drum.
Can't say that would be much of a concern with an aluminum shell like this Acrolite but even with a wooden shell I wouldn't give it any worry as there are enough other factors involved and the biggest concern with such things is more about dramatic changes over a short period of time. Cheers! -Ben
I have a problem...i don't like the sound of the snare itself with the cotton balls but then in context with a groove it's like. .well i guess it's not that bad! Haha
Sounds like maybe it's worth (if you want to appreciate these things) giving a more in depth listen and hearing them in the context of some music. Aluminum shells are so warm and punchy- unlike any other type of metal drum.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
I always like the shredded newspaper
in the bass drums. It's an old, tested
and true hack.
My dad used wads of newspaper to muffle his.
I've still got the cotton balls in my floor tom. I love the sound! Maybe it's time to open up the snare.
Me too! I put 5 balls in a floor tom that had a bit of unwanted overtones, mellowed it right out. Don’t forget - you gotta pull and stretch your balls!
Me three! Late sixties Ludwig 16. Works great.
Poke them through the vent hole. Remove them with a large curled over paper clip
This technique really helped out my 1920s nickel over brass Ludwig Pioneer. The wires had an insane honk that wouldn't go away no matter what I tried, it was outta control! this really helped to tame & focus the drum.
I love the snare sound @ the beginning... let 'er ring! 💯
Yep! But if that's not the right fit for the track, this could be a relatively easy adjustment to make.
Always look forward to your posts !
Sweet Acrolte! Those are great!
In the same realm, I picked up a similar hack from tuning high tension marching snares with mylar snare side heads by putting an e-ring inside the drum. Started doing this to all my snares to focus the articulation and dry up some of the overly long/sympathetic buzz. It's consistent all around the head, as opposed to the cotton balls naturally bunching in the center
came here for snore tone control... not disappointed! :)
10 cotton balls are great for fast paced snare work. Also I believe you can push the cotton through the snare hole with the head of a carpentry nail and not have to remove the snare head.
Yes! I requested this a bit ago!
Thank you!
Thank YOU!
Muffling drums is forbidden! I am going to call the police! haha
All the used drumsets I get have tape on the heads and pillows and blankets in the kick, i take everything off and keep the old crappy heads on tune them, and it sounds 10x better every time.
I got 10 cotton balls in my snare I really like it ~ feels better for rim shots and cross sticks clicks and I think it pairs good w/ fusion trap jazz or like neo soul type stuff. Definitely less echoes and not too rock friendly, but fun for more experimental stuff. Sounds better in smaller rooms too I think
Besides cotton balls , I tried the 2x2 cotton facial wipes.
Roll them up and push through air hole and after a little they open up flat.
Also for for 30 yrs I’d use felt.
You can buy felt sheets in different colors at craft stores and cut to size.
Honestly wish drum companies would go back to putting adjustable mufflers back on every drum! Just an up dated system not the old type
10 cotton balls sounds a bit Steve Gadd like. Very interesting experiments sir, very enjoyable videos.
This is super interesting!
Would you guys ever consider also doing production and mixing side? I really love the videos that you talk about altering the sound acousticly, but working in a DAW with drums could be extremely helpful as well
Haven't tried cotton balls before, but toilet paper in a rudimental bass drum works wonders! I also used to use a foam ring on the inside of the snare shell on my Rogers Super Ten, it's a great way to control the cannon sound without losing th responsiveness of anything touching the heads!
just wnating to let you know that I have tried the tape around the underside of the snare head trick you checked out a few episodes ago and that I absolutly loved it.
keep up the good work fellas
I've played acros and own a supra. Never heard or tried the cotton ball technique. 4 ball was cool but also liked the 10 cotton balls. I have some lower end snares that can be irritating, definitely will consider this method...
A "gate " effect on bottom can be also the "coin" trick ( for height) but it can be what you want, as experiment
here I use 2 euros ( i m french ) , so I roll the coin in a short piece of towel then a tape to attach inside the shell ( on strainer or throw off side ) When you hit the drum, the coin bouncing and gate just a little sustain . It help a lot for certains "buzzy " snare , especially on the tail end . That gate suppress that part , but keep first transient tone intact . Use ofen
For a more dramatic effect.: cut an old bottom head at center ( like a ring muffle ) , and attach inside the drum over the bottom head with 4 tape to secure the film when move snare etc ....( tape on the shell , no need big tape )
it create a really fat short crack
Cotton ball is really cool , but if you use an angle snare position , all the coton will go in one direction & can't work good in my opinion
for parallele snare snare position , yes
I wait a part dedicaced to reggae now, you will project it in futur ? ...i send 2 mails but never get a respons ...too busy ?
Sound of Carlton barett ( The Wailers ) , Style scott member of Roots radics ( my favored ) , Sly Dunbar ( album "Aux Armes etc / Serge Gainsbourg ) for exemple
Thanks for reading
Seb
I love my acrolite.
I love your videos. It would be awesome if you could make a video about tuning for a sound that is as warm and mellow as possible. I often find snare drums too loud, abrasive and harsh. If not a video, do you have any tips/references to achieve such sound? Thanks!
Mahogany shells. Super warm.
Did you use Ludwig cotton balls? :-)
Definitely takes the "body" away....I'll stick with nothing in it. Great vid as usual guys!
nice lick at 6:18
Like the Zildjian Prototype hats.
We do too!
I'm curious if this would help with sympathy buzz. 🤔
do u consider doin a 5mil resohead tunin range experiment and sound characteristics - theres literally no video on de internet . i may get1 for a Starclassic Tama Stainless Steel 14" x 6.5" in hoap of reducn excessive brightness and control wild overtones and wondern how it affects tone warmth thnks !
Have you done a video on electrical tape over the snares? It's a common practice among drum corps using marching heads to achieve a drier sound out of the drum, and I've often used it on higher tuned drums to the same result. A little goes a long way!
I would imagine electrical tape would work the same as any other tape, except that it is very sticky, and the rubber-like material might absorb vibration better. The main advantage is that it's thinner, and easier to fine tune by adding small pieces.
@@jackmills5071 Electrical tape is used mostly because every marching drummer already has some around. Any tape will work. Just please no duct tape, the glue residue can be a nuisance.
I used to put crumpled newspaper in my bass drum (seventies) is this done yet ??
My dad did the same.
My hack is that I use the little air pillows that come in boxes of items delivered from companies like Amazon in my bass drum. I might try that in my floor tom also... snare? Maybe.. Thanks.
Dude, you tuned this Acro so good this time that I listened back and forth this video vs Craviotto one and Acro sounds awesome and better for my taste. I have Acro from 78th and just can't tune it like you did. Any help, advice?
Thanks! They’re pretty magic drums, no doubt. The big pitfall is over tightening the snareside head. Gotta let it breathe :) we have a few past videos that detail the method we use including video #1! -Cody
@@SoundsLikeADrum Do you remember maybe did snare side was in higher pitch than batter side?
Nice..
Did it take away any volume? Sounds like a high pass filter effect, just wondering about projection?
It didn’t take a ton away but some of the high-end projection was reduced a bit 👍🏻 -Cody
I've never tried this. I do use pieces/very small amounts of cheesecloth in my toms to kill overtones from the resonant head. Basically like a pillow for a bass drum.
Are you concerned about the cotton balls decreasing the humidity in the shell if they pull the moisture out? Is that a thing?
Can't say that would be much of a concern with an aluminum shell like this Acrolite but even with a wooden shell I wouldn't give it any worry as there are enough other factors involved and the biggest concern with such things is more about dramatic changes over a short period of time. Cheers! -Ben
Anyone else remember that moon Gel made ones for reso heads?
I have a problem...i don't like the sound of the snare itself with the cotton balls but then in context with a groove it's like. .well i guess it's not that bad! Haha
Next time you try that, rotate the port up to 12 O'clock....then you could fill that shell.
Poor Rabbits....
Just get some e-rings and moon gel to dampen your kit. Cost like 25 bucks altogether and bass drum pillow is like 20 bucks. Not that much at all.
Different effect then what is demonstrated here though.
Maybe it is me- it looks like Cody has lost some weight (good for you man) since early in the channel.
All I hear is "pong, pong, pong, pong."
Pls, make more shorter videos
We’re all set, thanks.
All sounded bad to me but it got worse with more cotton. I will never understand the hype around Acrolite’s.
Sounds like maybe it's worth (if you want to appreciate these things) giving a more in depth listen and hearing them in the context of some music. Aluminum shells are so warm and punchy- unlike any other type of metal drum.
It's the aluminum. Kinda dry, also a relatively cheap drum.
BLASPHEMER! Burn the heretic!