Getting “That Kick Sound” Right Out of the Box with the EMAD

Video sponsored by Evans Drumheads
What does this mean? As announced previously, we've added sponsored product feature videos to Season Two. These will be outside of the Tuesday Tutorial series and sponsorship will always be noted. We will never feature a product that we don't believe in personally. In addition, we create 100% of the content and verbiage. None of this will be reading off of cue cards from a company- it's our thoughts, opinions, professional experience, and expertise. Have a question about any of this? Please feel free to comment.
Fat. Punchy. Deep. When it comes to kick drum sounds, these are some of the most desirable descriptors. Instead of filling your drum with bedding from your guest room and dramatically reducing the projection, a premuffled drumhead like the Evans EMAD might be exactly what you’re looking for.
With three different muffling options, you’ve got a variety of easy-to-achieve sounds before you’ve even started experimenting with a drum key.
Muffling Comparison: 3:21
Tuning Comparison: 4:12
Bass Drum: Pearl Masters Custom Extra Maple 22x16”
Batter Head: Evans EMAD Clear tinyurl.com/Ev...
Reso Head: Evans EMAD Reso tinyurl.com/Ev...
Video Sponsor: Evans Drumheads
Hosted by: Ben O’Brien Smith
Production: Ben O'Brien Smith @ Cadence Independent Media
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[@jasonconnolly6085]

Love the EMAD heads. I was one of those people that had trouble with the ring coming out of the tray while I was playing. I haven't had any problems with it whatsoever the last few times I've bought these heads though. Glad to hear they're on top of improving their products!

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Absolutely! The continuous improvement that's in their DNA is a great thing to see in this industry. Cheers! -Ben

[@do8671]

Same here I was experimenting problems with them before, the plastic (foam holder) was detaching from the skin and fall... Glad they improved cause I loved the punchy sound they had... Not has loud as a PS3 but better sound!

[@rockit2728]

i had the cracking on the ring just picked up a new and improved model

[@rockit2728]

i liked his sound without any ring in, might try it

[@alfaman4113]

My neighbor thought I had sub woofers in my garage, when I hit my bass drum. The emad 2 with the small damping ring on.

[@Lifelover00123]

Great Video pre usual. A few comments from someone not only working in a local drum shop for 14 years, but being the person that builds, tunes, and fixes anything and everything drums. This drum head is fan-tastic. At our drum shop we offer to put heads on for no extra charge at the time of purchase. This means that I get to hear customers responses to the heads immediately. Its invaluable to me personally because not only does let me try different head combinations on any kit you can think of but it has given me a much better understanding of how certain heads react with certain shells and when someone asks for a suggestion head wise and they tell me the kit they have, I am 100% confident in what it sounds like. Anyway, The EMAD and the EMAD 2 (2 ply) are our best selling bass drum heads in the shop and well worth the money spent. The amount of positive feedback is well over 95%. I know this is a sponsored video but everything they are saying is spot on. It is a drum sound that you can feel in your chest and pairs perfectly with an EQ3 Resonant head. The most popular foam insert guys generally gravitate to is the thicker one - it is slightly less overtone and a lower fundamental note. The single pedal performance and sound from this drum head is second to none. If feels great as a drummer. I like a bit of sponginess but I don't like the feeling of my beater sinking or sticking into the head when tuning lower. This head doesn't do that at all. Small, super baby con is that the double pedal articulation does get a bit muddy when trying to playing faster. One warning that should be stated, although they fixed the tray cracking from a vibration issue, it does still rarely become brittle and tear if you live in a very brutal weather environment such where I am from, Texas. It is completely unrelated to the issue that they fixed a while ago. With that said, It doesn't deter me from playing this head at all. I digress... TLDR : Great drum head, would recommend as someone who plays and changes heads multiple times on a daily basis. Keep up the good work guys, its always a joy watching our little known secrets from the drum tech world get out to drummers! Cheers!

[@griffmurph7067]

Great info here. Whats the name of your shop? And do you have a website or web store? Thanks!

[@ssonicdeafmonkey]

I'm glad to hear that they fixed those two issues because I always liked the sound I got with the EMAD. I'm going to give them one more try.

[@littlephoenix1115]

The Gmad is possibly one of my favourite heads ever, so so much tuning versatility in the 12mil single ply it’s ridiculous. It’s good up in the bop/ indie tunings with just a folded square of toilet paper in the tray like the tea towel trick from your previous vid all the way down to almost wrinkly with the fat ring in a medium rock setting. I’ve never really needed anything besides my 14x20 for ~85% of my gigs using the Gmad.

[@adamwasthefirstman]

They're always my standard. You can always go sans rings for the old school open sound. They're just a way better and more flexible option than putting a bunch of muffling in a kick.

[@FishingforFisher]

I've been enjoying my Calftone EMAD. Evans were the first heads I ever bought and am always glad to use their products

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Very nice! Which muffling option do you prefer (no ring / thin ring / wide ring)?

[@FishingforFisher]

@@SoundsLikeADrum I've been using the wide one, with a felt strip on the reso, with no additional muffling

[@mountainhobbit1971]

LOVE LOVE LOVE my EMAD white, coated bass drum batter head with the wide foam ring...

[@garyfaul8754]

EMAD Bass Drum heads are worth every penny. The EMAD is easy to tune and makes my bass drum sound like a cannon.

[@nathanblackman1063]

Or you could just buy a 2 step and a 2jz with a turbo :) jk lol

[@codykerns3774]

My first experience with the EMAD came when I was playing and drum teching at a church. It was an EMAD 2 clear on a Yamaha 22” tour custom maple. I always tuned it just above a wrinkle (this was during the Evans transition to Level 360). I’ve used the EMAD system ever since, never looked back. Main difference now is I use a 20” kick (Ludwig Classic Maple) and my most recent head replacement I used a coated EMAD with the AF fiber patch on the inside. I line the AF fiber patch up where I place my beater for more rebound off of the head and durability. My upcoming head change is gonna be the UV EMAD with the AF patch.

[@gillesrichard2228]

I just put an EMAD2 on my PDP bass drum. I had weird sounds coming from the bass drum before but now it"s just a beautiful deep sound. I"m very impressed.

[@user-wr6vq8ec9v]

same here

[@bobdadruma]

I'm an Evans EQ Pillow fan myself. My bass drums are 14" deep and the EQ Pillow contacts both heads for the perfect amount of muffling. I sometimes use Remo Powerstroke 3 heads for a bit more dampening.

[@Eurodrummer666]

I use the EMAD heavy weight with no foam ring, with its matching reso head and just a tiny pillow which came with my pdp cm7 kit. I love the sound!

[@kevinsloan5570]

Been using the Emad bass head when they first came out . Had trouble with the foam falling out which led me to not using the foam at all . I LUV it , its all I use now , sounds great on my Rogers 22 , 24 and 26 .

[@cj_m2477]

Great video. I never understood what these were about. I thought they were just like the PS3. Interesting and might be good on my 26. Thanks for this enlightening tutorial. Much appreciated!

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Thanks so much! We've got a video that specifically covers tuning with the EMAD here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6iQmYqarJaEqtE Cheers! -Ben

[@BlastBe4st]

I'm loving the heck out of my EMAD Heavyweight since years now and that thing just lasts.. still sounds fantastic after years of hard and fast hitting^^ (with a thick protection patch at the center that is)

[@TrannyFluids]

How do you tune your reso head?

[@BlastBe4st]

@@TrannyFluids loooose😎

[@cmswrD]

EMAD heads are great! I've owned both the EMAD2 as well as the EMAD and they have worked really well for me especially in live situations

[@jeremyschneider9531]

Another EMAD fan here. WAY back when I was new to drumming and I had an opportunity to play on other drum kits, I sat at one and was blown away by the kick. What kind of kick was that? Turns out it was not the drum so much as the EMAD head. Superkick are similar, but I like the adjustability of the EMAD and I've never heard a kick sound bad with one! I've put EMADs on two of my drums, plus an EMAD2 on a 22" for one church kit, and a GMAD on a 20" on another church kit. My big Mapex Birch kit has a 22x18 kick with and EMAD, wide ring. Tuned pretty low, but not super low. Probably about like your med-low tuning. Reso just slightly higher in pitch, a half step or so, works best for me (on all the kicks). Sounds great. Then I got my Gretcsh Renown 57 Bop kit, 18x14 kick, but I don't play bop on it so I tune it low too. Again, not on the edge of flappy, I like a little tone in the kick so probably med-low on that too. Narrow ring was better on that small head. Makes that little kick punch like crazy! I think I liked your med-low tuning the best, probably with the narrow ring, the way I heard it.

[@creekcritter2112]

I've been using a clear EMAD for a while now with the narrow ring and my bass drum absolutely thumps. The past couple of weeks though (with inspiration from this channel), I've been experimenting without any foam ring, no internal muffling and various tensions, and holy cow, it's so boomy especially at low tuning. Lol I love it though.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Way cool! Glad to hear that you've found some options that work for you and we're honored to have played a small role in it. Cheers! -Ben

[@octaviohenrique.n]

nice episode! those are my heads, on a 22' cheap bass drum. Cool to learn more of them. I usually record it with a Shure SM57 or AKG D112 inside the reso hole, pointing to the beater, and a subkick. Awesome heads

[@veganpunxforlife]

I love the EMAD Heavyweight! It's been my go-to for years now.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Way cool! What's your preferred muffling option with the Heavyweight?

[@veganpunxforlife]

@@SoundsLikeADrum The big one! with nothing inside my kick. And I switch between a normal ported reso head and an Evans mesh reso head.

[@tylerarnfinson5774]

I love my EMAD 2 on my Batter Side and my REMAD Head on the Resonate Side. I play a DW Design Series Acrylic Kit and my 22" Kick with these Heads on sounds amazing and PUNCHES you in the GUT! Love that Punchiness I get from it. Thanks for the Video!

[@funkdrummer]

One could also cut the foam in half or thirds and only use that portion in the tray. Even more options! DIY Tip: if you can't/don't want to pay for this EMAD system, go to your local hardware store and buy window weather stripping. It's a permanent option, but muuuuch cheaper.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Have you had success with cutting the foam into segments? My concern would be that it's more apt to come out. Love the DIY stuff though! As far as a cheaper option, the standard 22" EMAD clear is only $9 more than a 22" G1 clear. After the trip to the hardware store, the cost of the weather stripping, and the time spent DIY, it starts to even out. Still, this is the same kind of stuff I used to do all the time when prototyping ideas for new drumheads. It's a blast to come up with this stuff. Cheers! -Ben

[@anthonyoconnell2838]

Or try Remo muffle rings. They do the same thing but last a whole lot longer thean a head and are independent from the head so when you swap your head you don't have to buy one with muffling attached.

[@Mrcastleskeep]

I've been using nothing but the EMAD bass drum heads for many years. Recently changed to the Onyx and immediately loved it. Tuned pretty low but just high enough to get good rebound (as tight as I can with fingers and pushing down on the rim plus 1/4 turn with a key). Use the small ring but I have an 18" foam square pushed to the bottom that touches both heads. Great sound great feel.

[@linebum2112]

GMAD's are also great heads. I have one on my 22x20 along with an Evans EQ pad... Nothing else in the drum. Aquarian Regulator on the front. I've gone unmiced with that combo, and have received some good feedback. Many ways to try different things.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

The GMAD is really a hidden gem. The thicker single-ply makes for an even deeper sonic option while retaining the wide tuning range. If the softer dynamic range isn't required, this is a great way to go. -Ben

[@miniatureface]

Emads are cool, and the option to change the amount of muffling is certainly convenient. That being said, I have preferred Aquarian’s super kick and super kick ii heads in the past for that kind of sound. Then again, I’ve recently tried a regular double ply clear head with one internal pillow for muffling and got a great sound.

[@blammonthedrums8071]

I've experienced both issues with a 22" & 24" kick. Literally stopped using them. Good to hear the issues have been addressed. I'll give em another try

[@mitchellbenham]

i bought the EMAD because i thought it was good that i can add or remove the foam pads to get the right sound as needed. As it turns out, i only every use the thick ring, and never touch it otherwise. Evans, please do an IMAD thats inside and not adjustable.

[@mrtc29]

I love my Emad 2 kick head, but I just find I can’t hear it when I’m not on ears, or in a pub type setting, just gets lost in the mix for some reason? 😐 Switched to eq4 now for that reason. That head cuts through everything (for my ears anyways..)

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

The EQ4 is a great head too! The EMAD2 is going to provide a bit more attack and less tone, which may make it a bit more difficult to hear. The EQ4 is a single-ply head so it's going to be a bit more lively + has a wider frequency response due to the lesser amount of muffling from the built-in overtone control ring. I'd almost always recommend the EQ4 over an EMAD-type head in a scenario where the drum isn't mic'd up/set for reliable monitoring. Cheers! -Ben

[@guiltyspark343able]

I honestly prefer the sound and look of an EQ3, I mean EMAD are great option, but to me that i love to see the grain wood inside the bass drum and that clear head let me do....so, don't blame on me.

[@blakedmc1989HD]

i love Emads just because i'm sick and tired of puttin a pillow in my bass drum! great work here

[@rockdrummer80]

I have an emad single ply coated with the narrow ring, and eq3 Reso, with a cut out 6 in port hole on my 14x26 precision drum company kick. No pillow inside. I cut out a port just because there was too much sustain in the kick. the port did the job.

[@duncanbarker1885]

I actually used some 7mm EVA foam to make some different shaped muffles the one I use the most is crescent shaped and sounds a bit like Simon Phillips towel muffling

[@sidmarks265]

Very informative video. Crispy playing. Will try these. I've bits of foam from an old muffling system duck taped to my kick. Not very sophisticated but punches you in the guts. Love it!

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@colomboy86]

LOVE the EMADs! Didn't know, from what I saw in this video, that there's an EMAD reso as well. Will have to look into that when it comes time to change out my reso.

[@adamalexanderray]

I use EMAD 2 or EMAD Heavyweight heads, both with the thickest dampening. Makes any kick drum sound amazing. The best head(s) out there (in my opinion).

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Both of those offer some serious BOOOM! Glad you're enjoying them. -Ben

[@michaelinglis8516]

I use evans genera clear for resos and g2 coated for batters on my toms and genera real on the snare and HD Dry on the batter. But for my bass drum I just can't see myself using anything other than an Aquarian super kick 2. It has just the right amount of muffleing so I just put it on and tube it up. No having to add or take away muffling. And if I need more or less sustain I can get that from tuning higher or lower and loosening or tightening a lug here or there. I'd love to use all evans head cause they really are great but I love my Aquarian super kick 2, if it ain't broke... Maybe I'll put a 22 inch evans black reso (no dry holes or port) on my bass drum then everything will appear to be matching lol.

[@benjifigueroa9737]

I personally prefer the Remo PowerSonic 3 as it has little muffling stuck to it and you can just keep adding if you want. I really dislike the pvc on Evans being so fragile. Even a misplaced kick pedal could damage the whole head, which actually, happened to my friend at a venue. That's why I got away from emads as soon as I could. Also, there's not a huge difference in the overall 'boom' or 'ring' since the pvc is heavy enough to do most of the overtone cancelling. With PowerSonic 3 I do notice a big difference in all three offered settings. That's probably why Evans offers so many different head options with the same emad concept applied to them. However, I enjoyed the video. Thanks for the info and please, keep it comming. Cheers from Puerto Rico!

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment. Cheers! -Ben

[@LextechLighting]

Emad2 & eq3 resonant perfect setup. Love mine.

[@drummerschultz3212]

I used to use the smaller ring but now I play without the rings.

[@coconut6431]

Evan's EMADs are pretty cool, But I personally prefer the Aquarian Super Kicks. I think they are a bit more punchy with more attack. Nontheless these are still some pretty awesome heads.

[@paulblaize8649]

Awesome head. I was having trouble with the feel of my 24 inch kick so a guy at my local shop told me to loosen the batter. Now it feels great and not bouncy. Sounds wet and I have the control now that I had on my 22 inch kick. Hope that helps someone with a big kick.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Glad to hear it! We've also got a video dedicated specifically to tuning larger bass drums and we happen to be using a 24" GMS here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6iQmYqarJaEqtE

[@ReverbandRhythm]

Anyone have experience getting the muffling foam OFF of the Reso head?

[@drummerschultz3212]

Ive always loved the emad. I started off with the regular emad, an emad 2, recorded an album with it, and emad heavyweight, then I tried switching it up and went with the eq3, and I was like, "Nope!" And i just had to switch back to the emad. Right now im recording an album with the e2 and thats my favorite of them and will have the emad 2 in my kick for the rest of my life.

[@kushking420]

My Remo powersonic is my go to bass drum head, no pillows or anything

[@aaronfisher504]

I’m curious about the relationship of the ratio of muffling material to the surface area of the drum head. Does Evans adjust this to the diameter of the head, or does it remain the same? I’m speaking of the width of the material, not the diameter. I have a 20” inch kick and I often feel like any pre-muffling kills more sustain than I would like. Thanks for any input and this is by far the most helpful KZbin channel about drums on the planet!!!

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

As I recall, the width of the foam muffling rings doesn’t scale with the size of the head. If you’re not getting the sound you prefer with a setup, definitely don’t feel married to it; make tweaks, adjust tuning, try alternative heads, etc. the EQ4 is another great head with an overtone control ring rather than the external foam muffling ring. This will allow the head to resonate a bit more. Cheers! -Ben

[@pan60]

just ripped the try off a 18" because it sounded like paper tearing when in use? the felt strip does a better job in my humble view.

[@fomosmith]

Love the EMAD. It sounds great on my kit without the foam. Just the plastic tray is enough.

[@camdendebruin6667]

Thank you guys so much! Also does anyone have any suggestions for any Evans bass drum reso heads with a porthole for a 20in kick? My reso broke somehow, so I need a new one.

[@Lifelover00123]

Evans eq3 reso comes in smooth white or black with a 5" port hole cut front. It has a cloth "protection ring" on the inside that is not visible by the croud and helps keep the drum from tearing. It looks sleek and sounds great. I'm not a huge fan of the emad resonant head, eq3 all day everyday when paired with the emad batter. Just my 2 sense.

[@iddrummer9538]

Nice video! I am curious about the tuning of the reso. Was it higher, the same, or lower pitched than the batter? If it was left the same for all tunings, how would you describe it? (JAW, low, medium low? etc) Thank you!

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Thanks! Tuning for the reso was about the same tension as the first tuning (medium low) and was left at the same tension throughout. Raising it along with the batter head would yield a bit more resonance overall. Cheers! -Ben

[@iddrummer9538]

@@SoundsLikeADrum Thanks, Ben!

[@jacobwalker4163]

I think I read where the emad 2 bass frum heads a 2 ply heads consisting of a 10 mil and a 7 mil ply. The ply that the tray and rings are attached to. Is this the 10 mil ply or the 7 mil ply. I know it seems kind of a crazy question but I am asking for a specific reason. Basically I'm not a fan of 2 ply heads. I recently bought a bassdrum . It has new emad2 batter on it. Like I've done with Remo Emperors in the past im going to split the head but im wanting yo keep the 10 mil ply. However, in this particular case if the tray and rings are attached to the 7 mil ply im going to be keeping the 7 mil ply and just put a flame slam patch on it. I do this when I'm low on funds and believe it or not the process is simple and works perfectly.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

The outer ply is actually 6.5mil and not recommended for playing on its own unless you’re playing VERY softly. Otherwise I’d recommend keeping it intact until you can get a new drumhead.

[@jacobwalker4163]

@@SoundsLikeADrum yes that would be thinner than a Remo Diplomat. Certainly risky even with a falam slam patch.

[@charlespagano9812]

Great vid. About to convert a 16 inch floor tom.

[@woodlandacrespoultry598]

What is better 2 bass drums or a double pedal?

[@DrumDevil95]

Impossible to say. It’s all about personal preferences

[@m.vonhollen6673]

With 2 bass drums, the expense increases. A second drum, 2 more heads to buy, another mic and mic preamp, and tuning it and recording it mean more work and complexity. - If you play live, moving it and finding room for it come into play.

[@Unicornmayo4]

Emads and aquarian super kick 1 are my favourite

[@MathewsGuitarWorks]

Would this remove the need to have a pillow inside the drum?

[@nqmt9968]

If U are supported by Evans, could U make any comparisons of their heads? U could compare all types of EMAD heads, make another video about tom heads, another about snare heads... Or make a video about which heads we should choose to make our drums sound in the definite way Regards ;)

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

That's definitely something we hope to do in the future! That said, we're happy to compare products from other brands as well. While Evans supports our Tuesday Tutorial series and sponsors some product features, we're open to other brands for extracurricular videos. Cheers! -Ben

[@nqmt9968]

@@SoundsLikeADrum Thats great, I cant wait to see your another video 😁

[@Dylan99781]

I lucked out and bought this as my first ever bass drum head. On my Poplar Pearl Forum bass drum, it sounds scarily close to the kick on Pearl Jam's Ten album.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Love it! The reliability across just about any drum is definitely a huge benefit. Thanks for watching! -Ben

[@christopherdowns2430]

Emad equals great sound AND feel

[@Trommelfritz]

I´ve Evans Hydraulics (red) as batter heads on EVERY drum on my kit. From "6 on the Octos to "22 on th BD. Even 2 different "14 on my both snares. Sadly there´s no EMAD for those bassdrum heads. Is there any chance Evans will do EMAD also on the Hydraulics?

[@soulintake]

Muffling on a hydro head might just get rid of any tone the drum itself will produce and just give you straight drum head slap at that point. You don't usually see guys putting gels on hydro's for this reason- just not very much attack or shell vibration for tone

[@davidsuprenant893]

Love the emad single ply heads,even on my 18" kick. HEY GUYS,PLEASE TRY AND RAISE YOUR VOLUME. I KNOW YOU SAY TO USE HEADPHONES.YOU NEED TO RAISE YOUR VOLUME PLEASE.!!!

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Hey there! Our volume is set realistically considering the audio samples aren't compressed. Most of us our used to hearing highly compressed audio that creates a much louder perceived volume so we can understand why it would seem as if the drum audio is softer, yet it's actually peaking above -6dB. To help accommodate the dynamic change, we lower the volume of the narrative portion. As a result, you can simply turn your playback volume up. Let us know if you have any questions. -Ben

[@davidsuprenant893]

@@SoundsLikeADrum thanks Ben, I'm using a Samsung tablet and I have the volume as loud as it will go.Time to break out the heavy duty headphones. THANK,YOU love the channel.,!!

[@AdamStachelek]

Are you guys using any kind of riser product to connect the pedal to the kick in this example? It looks like the kick is raised a bit and not only at the front legs. Keep up the great material! Learning a lot from this channel. (also an EMAD 2 and EMAD Reso user!)

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Yep! Had an old Dixson Drum Lift on there to make it quick and easy to reach the bottom tension rods for tuning and get the angle of the drum where I prefer it. Thanks so much for watching! -Ben

[@hackenspp]

I prefer Aquarian Super Kick II, but you can't changed the muffling

[@SeverinoSE]

But how does it sound in a mix? Is it too deadened?

[@BrodySimpsonDrums]

Lighting upgrade! Another great video dudes

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Thanks man! Interestingly enough, same lighting but with a black background. Starting to dig this vibe though...

[@BrodySimpsonDrums]

@@SoundsLikeADrum Right. It has a huge effect on the vibe. I dig it for sure

[@griffmurph7067]

I know this is a sponsored video, but: I would have to say I prefer the Superkick II from Aquarian. I have tried EMAD heads on every bass drum I own and have never found it enjoyable to play. I have used them both live and in the studio, neither of which have resulted in the same control and punch of the SKII. I use it with no muffling and tune the resonant head and batter head sympathetically to try and take advantage of all the energy being produced by the drum. Sometimes a 1 or more blankets or pillows will go in there if I need a little more muffling; I find that is more effective in controlling the bass drums overall tone. In my experience, the EMAD system reduces the amount of low end frequencies that are able to be produced. All the stuff glued and stuck to the head is quite stiff and doesn't allow for the proper excursion to create a low frequency sound wave. The felt strip on the inside of the SKII absorbs less energy in the low end and focused more on upper mid and high frequencies, resulting in less perceived overtones and better low end feel. Of course, foot technique has a HUGE part to play in this matter. A lot of drummers still bury their beaters and are perplexed by their poor bass drum tone. Also beater shape and material is a big factor. Wood, rubber, felt and plastic all have distinct feels and responses and can be varied to get a multitude of different sounds on the same drum. However, my opinion only goes to show how each of us have a different set of ears and a different set of tastes. Can the EMAD work for me? in a pinch, yes. Do I like it? No. You will see plenty of other people in this comment section with complete opposite idea as me. That is why these companies exist. TL;DR: I am rambling about my personal tastes and experiences with bass drum heads when I should be getting sleep...

[@muzomonty6616]

Is it overkill using either if the foam rings and also having a pillow in the drum as well?

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Not if it gets you the sound you’re looking for. -Ben

[@brianfalcone7171]

I can’t hear a difference.... I’m using good head phones . But the kick is mixed so low

[@danieldesanctis4559]

I got one of these today (2021) and the thinner ring still keeps falling out🤷‍♀️ Sounds great tho!!

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Contact Evans/D’Addario. That’s a product spec issue.

[@blakedmc1989DrumsHD]

i've been having a Emad since 2006, never had an issue with a thin ring

[@Quartiano]

Emads are dope

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

We sure think so!

[@thecavedrum]

So what is the difference in terms of sound, between the EMAD 2 vs the EQ3 ?

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

In my opinion, the EMAD 2 has quite a bit more attack/punch. The EQ3 carries more overall tone at a wider frequency response. -Ben

[@thecavedrum]

@@SoundsLikeADrum Thanks so much!

[@cDisturbed.]

Do I need internal muffling too?

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

That depends entirely on your preferred sound.

[@blakedmc1989DrumsHD]

u don't need internal muffling with a Emad at all but i can't fault everybody's taste

[@inkeye1]

I have an Emad 2 on my 22 with an EQ4 Calftone on the reso side, no port. I tuned up my kick by using the TuneBot settings that Kick It Like Bonham posted on one of his KZbin videos. It was tight and boomy which is what I wanted. But I have to say after having to adjust my kick while reworking my setup, the tuning doesn't hold up after releasing all that tension. But, man, the tone I was getting when I first tuned it to those settings was sweet. kzbin.info/www/bejne/naWqkql_nph_nKc

[@migueldiaz3183]

What is the equivalent compared to Remo?

[@BenOBrienSmith]

The new Sub Muff'l accessory released at NAMM would be the closest option in terms of an external muffling system with different options, though it's based on how many arcs of foam are in use vs. the width of a full ring.

[@migueldiaz3183]

Ben O'Brien Smith Thank you very much for your reply. Really helpful information on this channel! ✌🏽

[@brianchisnell1548]

They make good frisbees

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Most drumheads do! It's part of the prototype testing process 😉

[@jamesstammers]

Does Evans have a new logo?

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Yes- they've gone with a logo stylized like the UV1 logo.

[@pawelmorrison]

Did you guys paint the walls btw?

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

One of the "secrets" of our setup- that's a paper backdrop behind us, so we can choose the color based on what we have available. We've been enjoying black for these product features, though I'm also digging the high contrast in general. Might have to find a darker shade of grey for our tutorials... -Ben

[@pawelmorrison]

@@SoundsLikeADrum oh cool. I love the aestetics you keep

[@ElijahCuddlefish]

I love the work you guys do, but I am a bit bummed at how Evans is the only drum heads that are covered. I understand the relationship you have with the company, but as a Remo guy I'm often left feeling at odds with videos like this.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

We’ve addressed this before- some of this has to do with the fact that I used to work for Evans and developed a handful of products for them so I know them like the back of my hand. We want this to be about expertise and experience. That said, I spoke with all of the major drumhead companies at NAMM and Evans was onboard immediately with getting behind Season Two. Still, Remo and Aquarian are more than welcome to sponsor a video (as this is a sponsored video) and/or provide heads for some videos outside of our tutorial series. Sorry to hear that you feel at odds with this video- have you tried the EMAD series? Out of curiosity, why are you a “Remo guy”? -Ben

[@willymccabe6602]

I'm in the minority here, but I don't care for the EMAD at all. It attenuates too much of the higher frequencies and robs the drum of the definition and attack a bass drum head needs to produce a well rounded sound. I'm not saying it needs to be a Lars Ulrich "One" dead splat sound, but to me the EMAD head sounds just as lifeless. A lot of muddy mids and not a lot of tone OR attack. I'd put a regular old clear G2 and use a small towel before I'll use and EMAD again.

[@Medievalfan94]

Okay, nice video, and I know, you wrote it in the video describtion, but: Could you please say it for the next time, if you are sponsored? There is nothing bad about being sponsored. IF you make it clear. Especially with your opening in the other videos (Cadence *INDEPENDENT* Media Production) you should say, when you have recieved sponsoring...

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Hey there! Thanks for watching. In addition to the mention in the description, there's a pop-up that shows up on screen with the video to declare that it's sponsored. Hopefully that should help to make it clear. We stand by everything included in all of the videos on our channel, sponsored or not. We will not feature products that we don't believe in. All of these videos are productions of Cadence Independent Media- that's my marketing firm. The "Independent" doesn't have anything to do with whether or not something is sponsored. It relates to us operating like an autonomous agency for hire. Thanks again for watching and for providing your feedback. -Ben

[@ianmuessig]

Any advice on porting an eq4 calftone? If you don't reinforce both sides of the port it will delaminate in hours of play yet I tried a bass drum O's ring and that was absolutely impossible to 'lock' together on the calftone head resulting in both the head and ring being unusable.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

That's a tricky one! I have a ported prototype but it was done with the same die cutting system used on the other ported reso heads. If you're going to DIY, reinforcement is super important. We'll likely exploring porting solutions and placement options in the future, though that's not something I've done by hand before. -Ben

[@ianmuessig]

@@SoundsLikeADrum Thank you for your response! I've done it for years and let me tell you, the hole cutter tool is worth the $10 by far and should last for year's of use. My local independent drum shop owner says he's been installing the bass drum O's for years and is going to do it for me when the replacements come in. I'm not fixated on that brand, it's just the only option for a lightweight reinforcement ring that actually secures to both sides.

[@lancelefevre351]

Ben... you blink less than any human I know which furthers my belief that you are a drumming machine

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Ha! It's surprising how often this comes up. I think it's just a "being on camera" thing for me. -Ben

[@warrenoids]

Are the boys/gals at Evans going to put that beautiful logo on every drumhead line?

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Mostly ladies, but yes, that sure seems to be the case.

[@warrenoids]

Haha.

[@Pablotercero90]

I thought the Emad was a 2 ply head

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

They actually offer both versions! -Cody

[@Pablotercero90]

@@SoundsLikeADrum oh ok, i ordered a Emad online and in the description it said that it was a 2 ply, which is what I want for durability, last Saturday my old single ply bass drum head broke while I was playing, and I don't want that to happy EVER again haha

[@DrGray_Drummer]

Your old videos were GREAT! Learned a ton. Now you're doing a commercial? I guess you gotta pay the bills, so congrats (I guess)

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Thanks! Hopefully you’ve enjoyed the tutorials we’ve continued to release every Tuesday this season as well. As mentioned previously, we are going to be doing some sponsored videos in addition to the Tuesday Tutorials. This makes it possible for us to continuing producing the series and keep it free for the community. We really appreciate your feedback. Was this video not of value to you?

[@JulianFernandez]

Emad is cool but makes every BD to sound the same, right?

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

I haven't found this to really be the case. I've compared this head on quite a few different bass drums and can achieve all sorts of unique sounds based on the drum. It's more of a myth that this head (or pre-muffled heads in general) somehow rob a drum of its character. -Ben

[@JulianFernandez]

@@SoundsLikeADrum Gotcha. It was my (limited) experience with it. Need to grab one and try it on my BD. Thanks!

[@Oojjffaaa]

give a sound without a microphone

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Tough to capture sound for KZbin without using a microphone…

[@jangobango2847]

Y'all are seriously limiting yourselves with the Evan's only "experimentation" Remo and Aquarian also offer great products that are worth trying. That being said I bought my current kit used with an emad and it sounds pretty good empty with only the ring but if I take the felt out it's a god awful sound. Love both of y'alls videos! Just my 2cents, I would obviously love an Evan's endorsement for discounted heads, but since I don't have that can use whatever brand I please. Zildjian is the goto for most drummers for cymbals, and Remo is the most used for heads I believe.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Thanks for taking the time to comment. I have to respectfully disagree regarding limitation, as both of us have experimented with all sorts of products from different brands for decades and we continue to do so. Personally, I'm a fan of quite a few Evans heads but I still like products from other companies as well. We certainly encourage experimentation across the board, as that's how we've found what works for us personally/professionally, which is completely independent of what other players use. Thanks for watching! -Ben

[@jangobango2847]

@@SoundsLikeADrum couldn't have said it better thanks for considering your viewers points of view!

[@davidanthony9041]

What a bummer. You had such a great "for drummers, by drummers" vibe going, and now it's gone. I actually think this is going to cost you in the long run -- you're missing out on higher value content (a head to head comparison of all the EMAD type units on the market, for example), and giving people reasons to question your impartiality and authenticity as well. Heck, I'm reading these comments wondering how many people work for Evans. (And noting your inability to "like" comments promoting competitor's products. Even if you write the scripts yourselves, I think this still says a lot.) Thank you for all the content you provided to date and good luck monetizing this, I just think you've made a poor choice here.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment- we appreciate the feedback. I want to clear up a couple of misconceptions- we are not an impartial review service and never tried to convey that. Within the tutorial series we use the products we know and like because that's what we're best equipped to cover from an expert perspective. We've also made it clear that these sponsored videos will only be for products that we believe in personally and professionally. However, these videos will not occur in place of our Tuesday Tutorials so nothing has been lost whatsoever. We plan to launch an entire series of comparison videos in the future (of course, this is even more work and we only have so much time and energy) and would love to compare different pre-muffled bass drum heads in a more impartial format. I'm not going to speculate about the source of comments here though what you've implied seems highly unlikely to me, as the team at D'Addario has far better things to do with their time. As it stands, we've worked incredibly hard to keep producing this series with a new video every week (occasionally multiple videos) for 61 weeks and keep the Tuesday Tutorials free for the community. Again, we appreciate your feedback and will take it into account for future sponsored videos. -Ben