Too Much Bass Drum Muffling? | Season Three, Episode 51

[@Elboy522]

This is the video that every drummer who has a superkick II with a blanket crammed into their bass drum needs to see

[@Glurbschnurb]

Had the whole day to myself reorganizing my drum space, tinkering and welcoming two new splashes and can now top it off with a new episode! Sometimes life is good :)

[@robinjohnson6301]

This might be the greatest thumbnail I've ever seen on a drumming video 😂

[@Andrew3154]

Aquarian Super Kick II, and nothing else. Great demo. Thank you!!!!

[@MartinBellamyMBDrums]

Has to be my favorite mythbusting style drum channel 🤘 such quality! So thank you for this deep dive!! Now I gotta try some of these!

[@solitudeparade]

Oh my god the thumbnail! Just started the video but automatic like just for that

[@davidsuprenant893]

I use a DW pillow,just the right amount of dappening,p3 0n batter with factory front head 6 small holes about the size of a nickel.works great for me.Gives me all the low end and punch I could possibly ask for.

[@david_brnckr7219]

Sooo... what does the light bulb in the Kick do to the sound?

[@ZeBubba]

I've got one large towel folded on the bottom barely touching both heads. Seems to work alright, but I haven't done too much experimenting - thanks for the reminder!

[@isihernandez9752]

For me, it's Remo PS3 clear with Falam Slam + PS3 Ebony with offset 5" hole on the reso side + Evans EQpad touching slightly the batter side (not the reso) on a 22"x18" maple bass drum, with the reso side tuned slightly lower than the batter. It sounds good from both, the drummer's and the audience's places, and a few meters away you can still feel it in your guts.

[@fredlittle8127]

My approach is basically minimal muffling. I'm using heads with a 3ml inlay ring. No port in reso and moleskin as beater patch. I'm using the Weckl muffle which covers a bit more surface than the EQ Pad. With that I'm able to get a nice low open but controlled tone. Also, I use an old felt beater which I have shaved flat on one side, giving good punch but less attack.

[@johnrobinson8323]

I've come full circle. I used to play with no reso head and two towels for muffling and sometimes a big pillow. Now I have both heads on with EMAD on batter and Pearl reso head with no hole. This is my acoustic set up. When micing is required I change the reso to an Evans with a precut hole and a pillow that touches only the reso head. The EMAD seems to muffle the batter head enough. But thanks to you guys l have bass tone again. Ahhhhhh! 🥁❤

[@jameskirkbydrums]

this is why i have a my superkick 1/2/3/10 (head dependent on what i'm doing) and my regulator resonant head, both are pre-muffled and *FOR ME PERSONALLY* it feels great, sounds fantastic and mics up brilliantly! :)

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

I find even with a super kick and regulator, it still helps to have a pillow in there, even if it isn’t actually touching the heads at all, it stops the standing waves in the shell making that “basketball sound”. It’s it really something you’d notice until it’s miced up through a pa though, and a lot of sound guys will just roll their eyes and gate it out, which could lead to your quieter bass drum hits not coming through the PA.

[@jameskirkbydrums]

@@Jonathan_Doe_ true, a pillow does help with the basketball sound for most drums, but with the way i tune my kicks, plus them heads, i dont get any basketball-type sounds at all, just a full punchy bass drum tone :)

[@addisoncarpenter5675]

20 by 14 is the best bass size in my opinion I like at 1:38 shenanigans

[@johnreardon4944]

Oh, snap! It was interesting to hear you say to take out the foam rings. I did that for a few years. I stopped using it a full years ago to experiment with new sounds. The main reason I used foam was because I didn't know, at that time, how to manipulate sounds in any coherent manner. I think it was also for two other main reasons. One. I didn't like boomy bass drums. And two. When I played a bass drum in DCI, we used the surround foam for articulation. Of course, we played super fast and with wrist power. I marched with a 24 inch bass drum. So that sound because my personality which I lived and breathed. Thanks to your videos, I found that I like felt strips and a small pillow touching both heads. 24x14. Sound hole. It's a 1978 Pearl so I went old school, but applied SLAD techniques to maximize my sound. The low end is there. The punch. The shell resonance. And the tone. In the end, I think it is best to ditch the surround foam. Especially if one is using their own kit at various venues. We, as drummers, have to make our bass drums sound good, but it has to be maximized in a way that makes the sound tech happy. The less a sound tech has to do, the easier it is for him to integrate our original sound. That my experience.

[@carlupthegrove262]

One of my favorite things to use are the little air-pillows that come in shipments from companies like Amazon... you can use a little or a lot...

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Have yet to try that one but we've got plenty of them here...

[@adrianlyord5300]

Interesting.... Definitely might try it and see how that would sound like!

[@gustavovilela6035]

I use tha felt strip tip on my 14" kick's reso head for months now. Been thinking on replace it to get more "body" and resonance/sustain. Great tip.

[@jkf9167]

I play drums as a hobby but gig on guitar and bass. The drummer in my band hasn't been muffling her kick sound at all. Since we're playing punk rock in small clubs, we often don't have a ton of control over our stage sound. She's quit muffling her kick altogether. I can hear the kick so much better. It doesn't necessarily sound how you'd want a kick to sound, but a lot of modern kick drums have a now you hear it, now you don't quality in mixes, and that ring and uncontrolled boom makes for a more audible sound in a mix. A lot of the sounds I don't like when I'm playing drums like ringy snares, pingy cymbals, wide-open kick drums, are things I really like when I'm trying to lock in with a drummer onstage.

[@DeluxeTriple]

good point.

[@trafalgerdavis7839]

I am going through this with my old Pearl Export bass drum and new Pearl Eliminator Redline double pedals. (getting new Tama kit soon, so will go through this again). I am having trouble balancing a boomy sound which I like with the articulation, and 'flappiness' of the bass head when playing double bass on it. I tightened the head up a bit to get it a bit more stiff so the doubles don't flap, and added progressive dampening in the bass drums - towels, pillow, etc. If I add too much dampening in the bass drums with a pillow, the bass just sounds dead but the double bass playing is much better because it is not flappy. I've seen drummers like Gavin Harrsion mention that that he heavily muffles his bass and relies on EQ's to get the sound he wants. But then you have this video that can show you how to get some resonance and actual bass sounds too. It is all just so befuddling.... but you produce great vids. Thanks.

[@seanbaker6192]

Have u guys even done a video on evans 500 snare reso tunning..ive only stuck to 3m 300 snare reso..how should i tune a 5mil...to get good sound..thanks 👍✋✔

[@TsunamiBeefPies]

I use that Evans EQ Pad which I've backed off slightly from my 22" EMAD batter in my '73 Ludwig kick. It's a gorgeous, versatile sound, that I feel no compulsion to mess with. Bury the beater, and I get lots of impact, with the THUMP! of a more muffled head. Let the beater release, and there's just enough ring to make me smile.

[@tillsommerdrums]

I use an EMAD2 with the small dampening ring on the batter side and the EMAD resonant head as well. In the bass drum there are two Evans EQ Pads. One is touching the batter head, the other is touching the reso head. They are not squashed against the heads, just touching them so the effect is not too drastic. That sound has worked very well for me so far, either live or while recording. With a hard beater it gets very metal sounding and that is what I play 90% of the time. Sounds really good. With a felt beater you get nice, full "all-around-usable" sounds that work in anything that is a little bit less aggressive music. I am always afraid to dampen the bass drum (all drums actually) too much because I don't want to loose the good parts of the sound and I don't want to make the engineers job harder that it needs to be so I am always a bit careful about the amount of dampening.

[@kronk358]

As a long time drummer and very experienced live sound engineer, I find that through a sound system, the sound that works best is usually much more muffled and slappy sounding than what you would usually like in the studio or just in a room with the drums. The way speakers are designed, they add resonance to low frequencies. The room can do the same even more. And the transient is lost in loud settings where you are far from the speakers. Add those to the fat that your kick is competing with the bass (which has the same problems) and you can easily get to a place where the more staccato the better. Almost every kick drum Ive ever mic'd needs more muffling to work in the room with the other instruments. Also, I find that bigger reso holes in the center of the drum tend to sound better through the PA.

[@Jumpinzackflash0398]

I really like using one pillow most of the time. I know a lot of people get snooty about not having anything in their drum but i can’t stand the “pinginess” of an empty bass drum for my playing.

[@zacflynn375]

Yo what up name twin!! Haha!

[@Jumpinzackflash0398]

@@zacflynn375 “this internet ain’t big enough for the two of us”

[@Chiroman527]

Try an Aquarian Superkick II batter head and an Aquarian ported Reso head w/o muffling. That SEEMS to play the best on my pdp Concept Maple 22 X18 Bass drum.

[@Jumpinzackflash0398]

@@Chiroman527 I’ll have to try that combo next time i need new heads. I’ve got a 22x18 kick as well, but it’s just a cheap kit with basswood shells, 8 lugs, and slightly out of round hoops lol. Maybe this will tame the beast haha

[@HidefVince]

You mean to tell me my pillow,click patch, aluminum foil,sand bag,reso heads off approach to bass drum is overkill???

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Please speak softly...the bass drum beater is sleeping 😴 😉

[@djentlover]

Oh, I never realized that the padding removes high frequency reflections. That's why the sound get darker the more stuff is inside. I think the high end attack is important, especially for dense mixes. However, the shortness with the pillow is really desirable in music where kick drums are busy. But in that kind of music triggers are always used. And it's better to keep the low end clear so that the excess low end energy won't mess with the whole frequency response of the room. Especially if it's not a big room.

[@DeluxeTriple]

the ammount of dampening influences the feel and responce of the batter head and rebound of the pedal.

[@ContentsMayDiffer]

I was kind of hoping for super tight Pinstripes, large duvets and a red Danmar beater.

[@ferewtrette]

Well now that I've annoyed my neighbours with the drum riser upstairs.... im gonna blast this out of my soundbar and then use my food processor..... god I'm so great to live next doors to XD

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Please try to keep it down a bit though, the bass drum beater is sleeping... 😴 😉

[@mepkin9449]

Enjoy your videos and educational content. One thing I have noticed is that even though a hole is placed in the bass drum, say at the 4 or 5 O’clock position, never on any websites do I see the Kickport used as a sound enhancer. I know music is subjective and what we drummers hear behind the kit is different from what we hear in the front - unless we have floor or ear monitors - but for me (subjectively) I like the Kickport enhancement. Just my opinion.

[@aaronswearingen3708]

Great video! I personally liked the way the single pillow sounds. Good punch. Currently using an EMAD 2 and a piece of material about 16" by 16" that's kind of like a "chunkier" fleece type lining. Like the inside of a sherpa hoodie. Not sure where it came from or how I got it really, but I have that rolled up into a log shape and resting next to the reso head but taped in place so as to not vibrate away. It works pretty well. A nice balance of tone and punch. Also like to play around with loose batter tunings.

[@Chiroman527]

Has anyone heard of or tried Oiling the interiro or maple drums , any of the drums=. How does that affect the sound? Of course, hard to experiment with that because, obviously , once you apply oil, you Can't remove it!!

[@mikaelsnare]

22x18 drum, Remo Powerstroke 3 batter, Mapex logo head (Evans EQ3, I think), Kickport in the hole, no internal muffling. Abertone Mondo mic just outside the hole. It works for me. I think it's a bit like snare drum ring, if you kill it too much the drum disappears in the mix.

[@guestivity2063]

Yeah I had to convince my mom that there was such a thing as too much muffling because she was trying to get my drums softer.

[@gretschludwigdrummer209]

I play a 70's Ludwig kit with a 24"x14" kick nothing inside the drum just a felt strip on the resonate side it sounds awesome especially if you play off the batter head, just can't understand drummers who put bedding inside the kick ???

[@AlexSlavenDrums]

In fairness, that style can be far too powerful for certain genres of music. A really boomy bass wouldn't work with metal imo, but the thump does, (not that horrible basketball sound though) whilst that big band style you described fits perfectly with rock and...well big band!

[@isihernandez9752]

Because every drummer and style is different. What you do works great for clssic 70's rock (for example), but for death metal.... mmmmm, not a good idea....😂

[@Drumolator]

I like the sound with the EQ pad the best.

[@The_Other_Ghost]

What was the acoustic foam band?

[@governa77]

Great stuff, and I know for the exercise here, you didn't change the other variables, like the mic or compression. That being said, what would you change if you say, went with the EQ Pad only? Compression, Mic Placement, EQ etc. That could be really useful to understand too, as I currently have the EQ Pad but still have that "Basketball" bounce sound happening. Wondering if its my mic placement or other factors that could help get closer to your sample here.

[@xanderwebb7998]

I wish I had a picture of my high schools bass drum before I took the muffling out. It was almost 3/4 of the way full of giant blankets and 2 pillows.

[@jeremyschneider9531]

I've found that I can kill the "basketball ping" with just a small piece of something soft in the drum, like a 4x8x1.5" piece of foam or sheepskin. Much smaller than the EQ pad, and not touching either head! Have you had any luck with that? That's my favorite sound, between your first and second setups. My 22 has an EMAD clear with wide ring, EQ 3 on the front, and just that small sheep skin inside for the ping.

[@contemptcreatorarthurave4042]

What if you were to fill it completely full and mic both sides?

[@pjones8404]

Coated Emperor with a Slug Felt Strip. Has worked for me for nearly five decades. In every possible playing situation. My batter side never changes. The only thing I do do is alter the front head. Full head or ported head...without a strip...with a strip...tuned up...tuned down. That is how I alter the sound otherwise. Again...I always subscribe to the notion that I can make a live drum less ringy...but I can't make a dead drum more lively. Todd Sucherman from Styx...has wide open toms but his kick is packed with muffling. Dead as can be as he wants that instant impact sound. Compare that to Simon Phillips. Just that rolled up hotel towel and a touch of gaffer tape. (with or without the pain can...look it up if you don't know). John Bonham. Carmine Appice, Ian Paice...that is an extremely live sound back in the day. HUGE .. Cozy Powell played 14 x 26 kicks with a white CS head ..a huge center ported resonant head..NO muffling and wood beaters. One of the most powerful and glorious bass drum sounds I have ever heard....BUT it isn't for everyone or for everything. But to me....the best bass drum sounds I heard came from Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson and Joe Morello. Hum....full heads with felt strips....go figure. Great video. As you said..there is no right or wrong...

[@Chiroman527]

Cody was the batter and Reso heads all consistently tuned wit the various muffling techniques.?

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Yes!

[@mikedaknight8854]

Listening to these in my option the best sounding it the one pillow. Still sounds like a bass drum but not too overbearing... Which is good because my own bass brim has 0ne ratty old pillow wrapped in a little blanket with a power stroke batter head. I have however played a kit where the bass drum was full... As in full full. It sounded dead and had to be mic'd on the batter side. I think wthe idea was to sound metal and like a trigger.

[@thefishydrummer]

I like the EQ padmuffling when it comes to sound... but for me unfortunately playing metal with double bass sometimes over 200 bpm a pillow touching both heads is a must to make the hits more hearable

[@famitory]

best way to get that over-muffled sound if you love it is to get something like a traps bassdrum that's only a couple inches long, and then just cut a circle of furniture foam that fully touches both heads

[@The_Other_Ghost]

So I should ad a second bedroom pillow?

[@patdeniston3697]

Always great info One decent size pillow works for me Still wanna do the tinfoil thing

[@anthonydratnal1870]

There's a very delicate balance between muffling the head to lower the fundamental pitch and increase the bass response, and muffling the shell to reduce resonance and decrease the bass response. Interestingly, my shell-less low volume kit (Pearl Compact Traveler) completely upends this relationship as the kick is basically only a head, so more muffling seems to just add bass response. The only trade-off is a reduction in volume, which for my application of cafe-level volumes works perfectly.

[@ralphbenites1819]

I prefer the old school bass drum sound remo smooth 22” with a felt strip on the kicker side and in front a little open tones on my Ludwig down beat my Rogers 380 60’s kit

[@adriannott4596]

I like the bass drum with the 1 pillow inside.

[@ryderjustryder505]

Nice

[@the_Kiwi666]

Since you've teched for Mario Duplantier on the new Gojira album, I would be quite interested in a video on how to get Mario's sound (because it's awesome)

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

We addressed that a bit in this episode: kzbin.info/www/bejne/baGQfpJnrLGjg9k

[@the_Kiwi666]

@@SoundsLikeADrum I know, but I thought more about his snare tone, because I find that really special

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Cody covered a bit more of the general sound for those sessions in a video on our Patreon.

[@remygaron8311]

I wonder how it would sound with wood beater😳😳🇨🇦

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Significantly more attack for sure!

[@alexanderjamieson7971]

I use a thin patio chair cushion. Just enough muffling to get rid of the basketball sound.

[@brucethomson168]

I use no muffling on any of my drums anymore.

[@BubblegumBrown]

Lol you said "if you doo doo foam"

[@spencerj]

Lighting looks notably better in this vid

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Good eye! I've upgraded my lighting kit with a pair of Aputure lights (300d mkII and 120d mkII). Thanks! -Ben

[@tylermoore3834]

Most of the times I see folks completely line a bass drum with foam it's because they are running triggers, zero projection is the goal.

[@MarStacey]

oh, that massive attack beat.... 💦💦💦

[@JerTurowetz]

Moms and dads will get the video Image

[@nathanwalsh3028]

Never understood the pillow in the bass drum thing. Do we put pillows in our snare drum? Do we put pillows in our Toms? No. The bass drum is a drum, it doesn't need a pillow. If you need to muffle it mash the beater into the head.. if you want it to boom let the beater come off the head. As far as muffling I use and Emad2 batter and a power stroke resonant with absolutely nothing inside. Never had a sound man live or studio complain. Good technique goes a long way.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Okay, fair point. Do you put snare wires on your bass drum? Do you use 3mil resonant heads on your toms? Do you play your snare with a pedal? They’re different instruments operating in different ranges of the frequency spectrum playing different roles. The effect of burying the beater on an empty bass drum is quite different from playing a bass drum with some internal muffling. I’m the end, of it gets the sound that meets the needs of the context, that’s what’s key. How you get there is up to you. We’re here to demonstrate approaches, explore methods, and test the extremes from time to time.

[@jaredmcintosh4178]

I use an empty kick with just aluminum foil.

[@Stothrythm]

NO SHENANIGANS!!!!

[@arturosaenz9120]

No s.t