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Sharmaji wrote:as a drummer, i think tuning your drums to the key of the song is the ultimate in tilting at windmills. there are times when things are blatantly clashing, in which case you do something about it, but otherwise-- no.

if, however, your tune's based around something like a huge 808 kick sample with a ton of tone, then of course-- get that in key. but snares? no thanks.

+1

Live drummers and percussionists have been playing for years without needing to tune their instruments. Just because it's possible now doesn't mean you should.

MARCHMELLOW wrote:There are exact frequency tuning charts available online... this will tell you what frequencies to boost in each key for things like snares, hats etc...

But i'm with the majority here, do it as and when you need... tuning your drums is another form of frequency EQing really, which your gonna do anyways in the production process.

i'm sure if it was a deadly vital process, there'd be a ton of packs of tuned drum samples for sale already right?

link?

spectrum analyzers are really good for tuning drums (especially layering)

You can see the peak of each snare hit, and if you pitch them so that they peak in the same frequencies, they're in the same key!

Lethargik wrote:spectrum analyzers are really good for tuning drums (especially layering)

You can see the peak of each snare hit, and if you pitch them so that they peak in the same frequencies, they're in the same key!

But i they are hitting in the same frequecie, doesnt that mean clashing? Or am i wrong

dav.id wrote:

Lethargik wrote:spectrum analyzers are really good for tuning drums (especially layering)

You can see the peak of each snare hit, and if you pitch them so that they peak in the same frequencies, they're in the same key!

But i they are hitting in the same frequecie, doesnt that mean clashing? Or am i wrong

yeah but then you eq out the clashing frequncies afterwards

Tuning drums - I've never heard such madness, the only drum that should be tunes is a long 808 kick, possibly tune some toms. But drummers have drummed in songs for tiiimmmeee without it being tuned up. And anyway, dubstep is all about dissonance.

Sharmaji wrote:as a drummer, i think tuning your drums to the key of the song is the ultimate in tilting at windmills. there are times when things are blatantly clashing, in which case you do something about it, but otherwise-- no.

if, however, your tune's based around something like a huge 808 kick sample with a ton of tone, then of course-- get that in key. but snares? no thanks.

Also being a drummer - +1

I'm genuinely surprised that you drummers in this thread don't tune your drums. Your kits must sound like ass. When you replace heads you usually have to tune them to get them to sound right for example. That's what drum keys are for. Almost every drummer that was ever worth a shit that I've ever met tuned their drums on a regular basis... especially before recording. The only exception I can even think of were studio drummers who were good enough to have a drum tech do it for them.

You don't HAVE to tune your drums but it definitely helps to get them to sit in the mix better if they don't sound right when you drop them in.

blaqcix wrote:I'm genuinely surprised that you drummers in this thread don't tune your drums. Your kits must sound like ass. When you replace heads you usually have to tune them to get them to sound right for example. That's what drum keys are for. Almost every drummer that was ever worth a shit that I've ever met tuned their drums on a regular basis... especially before recording. The only exception I can even think of were studio drummers who were good enough to have a drum tech do it for them.

You don't HAVE to tune your drums but it definitely helps to get them to sit in the mix better if they don't sound right when you drop them in.

Surely that's for getting the kit to sound like it fits together though. You don't for instance tune a drum kit to A# because that's the key your bandmates are playing in, then get up between each song and tune the kit to the upcoming key instead...

blaqcix wrote:I'm genuinely surprised that you drummers in this thread don't tune your drums. Your kits must sound like ass. When you replace heads you usually have to tune them to get them to sound right for example. That's what drum keys are for. Almost every drummer that was ever worth a shit that I've ever met tuned their drums on a regular basis... especially before recording. The only exception I can even think of were studio drummers who were good enough to have a drum tech do it for them.

You don't HAVE to tune your drums but it definitely helps to get them to sit in the mix better if they don't sound right when you drop them in.

<Whizzzz!> "The hell was that? Sounded like something just flew over my head... "

Hahah they're not talking about that kind of tuning, they mean stretching samples.

i used to try to get things in tune too often, but percussion can usually get away with having tones that are off from the rest of the tune, and it sounds better like that usually. sometimes it doesn't, then ill tune it.

Use your ears and find samples that fit. If you need a tweak a kit then do it.

Get on and write beats, thats what we're here for ??