ACD Unlimited Darwin FTW Hoop Clamp - Setup tips

Hey everyone! In this video I want to show you how to get the most out of the hoop clamp on the Darwin FTW pedal!
For more info check out ACD Unlimited’s website here - www.acd-unlimi...
Also check out the ACD Unlimited forum and discussion page here - acd-unlimited....
I proudly endorse -
SONOR Drums
Istanbul Agop Cymbals
REMO Drumheads
ACD Unlimited Pedals
Ahead Spinal Glide Thrones
JH Audio In Ear Monitors
This video is owned by James Chapman and cannot be used without permission

[@julianosterried]

Thank you so much, i struggled a lot with my settings on different floors. It took me a lot of time to find out which physics works at which point in time. You nailed this whole topic in 10 minutes. ACD Pedals are phenomenal, and your videos too, i subscribed 👍

[@James-Chapman-Drums]

Thanks allot!

[@davep3786]

haven't seen you in a while glad your back :)

[@James-Chapman-Drums]

Thanks! I'm hoping to be able to get back to making more videos now

[@Ronnie3384]

great video - thanks, will try on my Darwin :)

[@James-Chapman-Drums]

Thanks!

[@groovedetector]

Hi James, great video, thx! Your Bass Drum is moving/jumping a lot. The connection from Demon Drives or DW 9000s to the hoop, is very good and secure. You can tilt the Bass Drum any angle you want, it stays in place as do the pedals. My Trick Dominators have a weak grip on the hoop too. That lead to a lot of Bass Drum movement and thus, movement on the toms that were mounted on the kick. May not bother other drummers, but i was annoyed :D Velcro did not remedy that!

[@James-Chapman-Drums]

Hey dude! Unfortunately the hoop clamp style on the demon drives and the DW's and other pedals isn't possible on the Darwin pedals due to the sliding position feature. The bass drum here is moving around quite a bit because I'm not on the proper surface but it's just a demonstration that even though I hit hard, the pedals don't move. I know what you mean about the trick one but what I will say is that it's the bass drum spurs' job to stop the bass drum moving, not the pedal. It might be worth having another look at the surface that you're playing on or the way the spurs are setup to stop the bass drum creeping forward and then addressing the pedal separately? I remember my bass drum always used to move around years ago and NOTHING was as annoying! But ultimately it came down to me using a crappy old bit of carpet rather than a drum matt to keep it in place. Have you joined the ACD Forum? It would be cool to talk more and see if we can problem solve/fix this issue for you? Check it out and feel free to make a thread on this dude! - acd-unlimited.xobor.de

[@sachii.k1802]

Glad to see your back 🙂🤙..... Any chance you could do I run down of your current set up?...I bought these pedals last year and they are amazing! Dennis is so awesome!.... I'm a cross between metal/rock and death metal drumming, would you have some tips on how I should set my pedals?... I've seen all your other videos about this, but was wondering if you've got any other ideas or settings that might help??... I've subscribed to your channel btw🤙... Thanks an advance 🤟

[@James-Chapman-Drums]

Hey, thanks! The setup of my pedals is pretty easy. I use the Fatboy strap drive cams, the dynamic beaters with felt lightweight beater surface and no weight on the beater. Regular springs with a medium to light tension. Footboard height at maximum (without changing cam angle) and a 45 degree beater angle. But keep in mind, I change things quite a bit! I will change beater surface CONSTANTLY depending on what I'm recording and generally go for wood over plastic, but I genuinely use all of the surfaces. I also have been using the N+1 beaters quite a bit lately even though I think I prefer the dynamic beaters on a personal level. I will also sometimes go back to the standard cam and if I fancy a change I'll use the direct drives. But I would say this is my "go -to" setup and I only use the others when I feel like trying something else. It's a really versatile, responsive and dynamic setup. Feel free to head over to the new ACD Unlimited forum for more discussion on these pedals! - acd-unlimited.xobor.de

[@sachii.k1802]

@@James-Chapman-Drums Thank you so much for your reply and thoughts!.. Keen to see more videos and we'll definitely check out that forum🤟😎

[@Antonio_de_braga]

This is great explanation !!! Thanks James !

[@MK-ln3xd]

@5:40 *screams in horror* - spike vs drumhead

[@James-Chapman-Drums]

HAHA! that was on a sabian quiet tone practice pad so don't worry, it wasn't a drum!

[@marcin_bruczkowski]

I love my Darwin, but the hoop clamp I don't :) First of all it should have adjustment for various hoops thicknesses. My hoop (Tama Star) with its protector just wouldn't fit even at maximum clamp opening. I had to change the protector to a really thin one (Pear HPP-2), nothing else would fit. Second, it's hard to clamp it really securely and no, I can't use velcro, beacuse I have a thick, long-hair carpet under my kit (for both visual and sound reasons) and no velcro in the world wants to stick to it... And no, I can't extend the spikes, because it's very hard to judge when they already sit firmly in the carpet's base fabric, but not yet penetrate it to scratch the wooden floor of the studio. So unfortunately I do have to rely on the hoop clamp to stabilize my pedal. I had zero such problems with my earlier pedals (Pearl, Mapex, etc.), because their clamp hoops had thick, rubber pads, two-screw adjustment system for clamps of various thickness and a convenient side screw access, allowing easy tightening, even between songs.

[@Aretumis]

I believe of you spoke with Dennis directly about the issue, he would look for a solution. He has in many other occasions

[@marcin_bruczkowski]

@@Aretumis Indeed he has - he advised me to attach the velcros regardless of the rug type and it helped, the pedal doesn't move now. But for the clamp opening being too small for thick clamps (esp. with rubber protectors) there's no solution yet.