The Mysterious Drum Hole - Sonic Test | Season Six, Episode 50

[@Pumpkinhead9092]

I always thought it was only there for preventing air pressure changes when the climate changes.

[@contramachina354]

Wow! I think this is it!

[@thomasdrumwinkler]

@@contramachina354 A friend of mine has one of those strange Peavey sets without air vents. He went from the mountain to the valley and had to remove the batter side heads, because the heads were bowing out.

[@WSS_the_OG]

I never knew what they were for, but always assumed the same. For barometric pressure changes, or in particular, when traveling in something like an airplane, so you don't blow out the heads for take off and landing.

[@BokorugroRR]

I thought the same, as well as preventing mold and bacteria buildup in a closed environment

[@silvermineband2719]

I can’t believe anyone, especially SLAD, would think these have anything to do with sound. Seems like a reach for a faux controversy. I only watched a few minutes so maybe they figured it out. But this one doesn’t seem worth the time to watch.

[@michaelverhey2781]

From what I understand they were originally there for use with animal hide heads and the fluctuation in humidity to keep the drum in shape. Also I have a 70’s Fibes fiberglass kit that has NO vent holes in all drums except the snare - sounds fantastic!

[@symmetricalDrummingAustralia]

Barometric pressure changes...external to drum...from one moment to next...equalisation via vent allows drum tuning to remain consistent (independent of barometric pressure). High pressure inside drum (compared to external pressure...on a hot dry day) will cause heads to bulge outwards ...low pressure (storm coming over)...heads will dip inwards...snare wires rattle more).

[@symmetricalDrummingAustralia]

900 millibars = storm 1000 normal day 1100 dry. A range of 3 PSI! Pump your drum up to 3 PSI ...note the changes! Imported drums tuned on a stormy day...and played on a dry day will be a a different pitch and response due to relative vaccum inside drum.

[@symmetricalDrummingAustralia]

Un-Ported (above)...

[@dalekay9ine]

I've said it before and I'll say it again- this Chanel is a true gem!!! Thanks to everyone over there that's works to continually put out this awesome content!

[@eugeivashchenko758]

I'm glad you guys did this video! I know there's a world of difference between concert toms and reg toms, and there's a video where the drum builder from Bang Drums did kept on adding OCDP-style vent holes until the whole snare looked like swiss cheese. It was interesting to hear the gradual changes. So it's really cool to see where the line of audible vs non-audible changes is!

[@jpizzleforizzle]

In the late 90s (high school) I took private lessons from Anthony Falconer, now at University of Nebraska Lincoln. He had a Grover snare that could be adjusted from fully closed to having the shell basically in half about an inch or so apart. At full separation it was SUPER dry, articulate, and took away most of the drums resonance. Pretty cool to mess around with.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Way cool!

[@aluminati9918]

One of your best vids so far! I’m a guitarist, non-drummer following drum YT of general interest. I find guitarists cling to so many undocumented beliefs, but drummers are not far behind 😂. Thanks for educating us.

[@johndiraimo1444]

As you know, Ronn Dunnett of Dunnett drums produces snare drums with adjustable air vents. It's called the hyper-vent. This feature allows you to open up the vent fully or to close it entirely.... plus everything in between. Does that translate into a completely different sound of the snare? Perhaps. I believe so. However for me, even more importantly is how the snare feels under the hands when playing it. I'm not speaking about playing back beats at fortissimo (although it sings anyway) but rather the articulation of buzz rolls and the buttery feel of clean doubles at soft to medium dynamics. I know that for me having the luxury of turning the hyper-vent off is a bonus. I can feel and hear the articulation and expressiveness at lower volumes while finessing the notes.

[@richardpowellTV]

I agree with some of the comments. Equalising of atmospheric pressure being the most logical to me. The point about letting the drums breathe to help prevent condensation may be relevant if moving your kit from a cool area to a warmer place? For me, I didn't notice any obvious difference in sound. Anyway, I'll just let the drum manufacturers decide if holes are necessary or not, in theory, they should know.

[@DidYouReadEULA]

Very minute difference to my ears, if any, on some of the examples. Thank you for the education and physics lesson too, I love to learn!! 🙂

[@kensamek6049]

I bought a used custom acrylic drum kit and there are no vent holes in any of the drums. I live in North Dakota and have had the drums in and out of my trailer, In all seasons. No issues whatsoever! Just an FYI.

[@mdrumt]

Does it allow the drum to breathe for things like temperature changes or moisture build up?

[@geoffcowan2384]

I couldn’t hear much difference in any of the examples, however I think you pretty much nailed the “Don’t Bring Me Down” snare sound with that 8” drum. :)

[@jeremyschneider9531]

I've always heard it is just a vent for atmospheric changes and to prevent condensation, this rings true to me. In your most excellent test, the only one I could MAYBE hear at all, possibly, was the first drum, the 14 with medium tuning. It seemed possibly just a tad drier with the vent open, similar to what a vented head might do. But I was stretching to hear it, and on the other 2 drums? Nah, fugitaboutit. I did recently see a fella post with two Acrolites, one intact, and another he had modified as a kid by drilling several huge holes in the shell. Maybe (6) 2" holes? He A-B'd at same tunings. You could hear that difference... But really, not nearly so dramatic as you might think! You guys have demonstrated this recently... All these design details just don't make that much difference compared to heads, tuning, and how you play it!

[@athloen64]

Did you ever try to cut holes in the reso head of toms and mic it like a kick? This would maybe be interesting

[@carlupthegrove262]

Slingerland didn't put vent holes in toms until some time in the 60s. I have an 8x12 tom with no vent hole or badge... I believe it's from the 1950s

[@SamP-3D]

Under heavy temperature changes, internal pressure can change due to air compression/dilatation. The hole is to avoid concave or convex surface tension on the heads. This also ensure the humidity levels are the same inside and outside the shells, avoiding shell warpage. Living in north America where we get drastic seasons changes, I realy appreciate those holes 😅.

[@MichaelBuchzik]

I think the venting hole is for tuning stability on atmospheric pressure changes.

[@elliotthughes2382]

I think there is a very slight sound change. The drums seem slightly dryer without the plugs. It's so small though, that especially when you are playing in a song it will make no difference. However, I thought holes in in drums were for 2 reasons: 1) to save the drum from damage due to air pressure changes when traveling and 2) to save damage from heavy hitting as the air pressure has nowhere to go (which would explain the slight increase in resonance in your tests)... And I wrote this comment while still listening to this video and head you talk about blowing the snare side head blowing out 😂

[@norbertrenner9364]

On some of my Snare Drums i removed the lugs and converted them to single tension drums,with one,or better 8 or 10 srew fom top to buttom,so there are 16 or 20 holes each about 6-7 mm in diameter as an extra ventholes,but i never had the feeling,that they sounded very different,even the sensitivity of the snare response seem to be similar to how it was with the lugs and the holes closed.

[@famitory]

it's for taping a tube to and risking a lung rupture to pitch bend your floor tom like benny greb in 2013

[@bugless78]

He got the idea from Stanton Moore as far as i know. I saw him do it with Galactic as far back as 1999.

[@desperanto.]

Glenn kotche has also been doing it over the last 2-3 decades

[@vipermad358]

@@bugless78I saw a random drummer in UK do that in the 80s. Probably dates back to the first air hole. Everybody thinks something is "new" the first time he or she sees it.

[@michaelgallegos8811]

Interesting video thanks 🎵🥁🎶

[@ChristopherRoss.]

First blind test pause: I'm detecting a subtle difference. A bit of a bump in the lows, like 200hz, for A. Some more clarity, like a bit of a high shelf boost for B. If I had to guess, B is ported. However, the effect is very subtle, and I doubt I would have noticed without listening critically. In a mix, I fell like the difference is completely lost.

[@fiskfisk33]

I thought it was there to keep the inside of the drum the same pressure as the outside. It would be horrible to try to tune it just to then realize it is slowly changeing pressure, probably throwing the tune out quite a bit.

[@roybeckerman9253]

Any chance of a Rogers Dynasonic segment. They can be a little tricky to tune..

[@willmcbride4435]

Interesting. Yeah I couldn’t hear the difference. As a musician, you rightly stopped with the (lack of) audible difference. Myth Busters might have plugged the hole and hit the drum with larger and larger machinery until the snare head blew up. I suspect it would take more than your standard drummer arm to do so.

[@TREYMcLAMB]

Ludwig built me a kit in early 2000's (14/16/24) and the 14" is the only drum with TWO vent holes. I never got a straight answer from them, nor in any forums as to why that is.

[@J0hn029]

Guru drum had no vent hole. Incredible tone but too much sustain and not much attack. I was recording all sorts at the time and the unvented one took more time to return to rest. It's shown when you really lay into a drum. Not lite taps, give it some stick and unvented drums lose focus. Basically they're still ringing if the air has nowhere to go

[@allanmalloy8266]

It blows me away how much air comes out from that vent. Pun intended. If those vent holes help reduce stress on my snare side head as a heavy hitter, I am curious if adding more vent holes can improve the life span of the snare side head. Sucks I don't have the means yo test this.

[@johncollins5552]

Just buy a drill bit for wood, theyre affordable if you have a wood snare or a metal drill bit if you have a metal snare drum.

[@dalesanders7571]

In all the time I've had my Pearl free floating snare, I just realised they don't have vent holes!

[@SebCo77]

They do, in the aluminum base, hidden under the strainer(or was it the butt end?)

[@gamesmcphilson6712]

does this test even count if your not using a late 90's OCDP Snare?

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

This one gets it. 👏

[@austinalexandre716]

i use it to stick my nose into it and smell the inside of my drum. used to do it as a kid i love the smell of wood

[@jeremy20100712]

Heard a subtle difference with 1 and 3, but for the first drum I guessed the open and plugged sound in reverse!

[@joelfortin6634]

If i remember correctly gretsch round badge drums dont have holes in them

[@CymbalVault]

Plenty of round badge toms without vents.

[@drummersk5318]

I thought they were there so you can smell the good glue, especially from vintage drums (without taking the heads off). 😀

[@sammcdouall4849]

Great video Ben & Cody. I can hear a big difference in the plugged and open snare hits. The transit attack note is the same note but the plugged hits have a note with a downward bend in the overtones with less sustain with wires slightly duller. The open hits have a upwards tone in the overtones with full sustain and brighter wires. Thanks for a doing this test I will use this stick a cork in it hack for a quick change in the studio when tracking ballads, country or bluesy tracks.

[@percussionboy4357]

Now this is the information humanity has been waiting for… thank you for your brave explorations …..

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

🫡

[@jonathanreddish8590]

so many hole jokes come to mind.....

[@flanger001]

Color me surprised; I thought A was going to be the uncorked one.

[@liamdempsey7072]

Sounds like a whistleblower

[@jerrygamez5723]

Can’t hear a difference. Love the video. Thanks

[@Snowden74]

A drummer that hits harder will notice more difference. Toms can get a basketball sounding effect with nowhere for the air to escape.

[@Hootcifer]

It's the fuel intake.

[@ghiblinerd6196]

None of the drums I build have any vent holes.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

What made you decide not to include them?

[@ghiblinerd6196]

@@SoundsLikeADrum I remember feeling like ocdp snares sounded like poop to me and I figured the opposite extreme was never to include them at all. Never had any problems with snare side head failure personally. Do the snares mitigate downward force of the head? Was I just very lucky? I have no idea.

[@erikhamann]

No vents isn't very smart. Want condensation when it's colder?

[@AdamTurnerDrums]

Definitely a marginally drier tone with the vent open.

[@rix29]

Gretsch only have them on their snare drums as a place to put the complimentary drum key 😙

[@Mieczu_DRUMS]

Some gretch drums have an extra hole for the drum key but modern gretsch drums do have hole vent in their badge on the shell.. Even Renown series which dont have a hole in their badge, still have vent hole. Im assuming you're talking about Gretsch round badge drums from 50s/60s?

[@goodtimejohnny8972]

It's there for head life. Think of a plastic bag. Put air in it and hit one side and what happens? Blows out. Now drum heads are definitely more durable than a thin plastic bag but the same principle. Also without a way to breathe the vibration of the drumheads would be more controlled.

[@thepluggy1]

Rob Dunnett always claimed the hole does not need to be there. But he put ones in, but with a plug in some of his snares.

[@TheRoomboom]

your "analysis" is limited to a single type of vent - and your approach lacks fluid/structure coupling in particular for snare : the good test to do is to check how much of the fundamental is removed when snares are engaged (check timpani acoustics & Thomas Rossing books). I do patented Bessel vented sound tailored drums and the first parameter is the vent.

[@timm1139]

Cody has uncorked another mystery! Well done. (I had to say it)

[@DidYouReadEULA]

I would love to see someone else do it too, but no alternative facts please!

[@vipermad358]

Ok. What's an "alternative fact"? Sounds trumpy.

[@Dragndroprecords]

Cody you don't hit hard enough! For me, I hit so hard, the vent hole prevents the drum from exploding the heads from the pressure. 😅

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Cody hits plenty hard when the context calls for it and also utilizes technique to gain volume in a way that doesn’t choke the drums. -Ben

[@alancarver2511]

@Dragndroprecords Exactly. I'm a hard player and there is a good draft coming out of the hole(s). It's important for the feel of the drum. The definition of playing hard is different from one another but Cody is definitely not a hard player. This has nothing to do with being a good or bad drummer though.

[@williamfotiou7577]

Yes. Cody is a mature, grown man. He is a professional drummer. there is no need to punish the drum.

[@dmitriydevyatykh7246]

no difference at all

[@gmiller598]

Simple answer. It moves air. Marching drums do not carry volume outdoors from a distance without appropriate air vents. The same would apply but on a lesser scale to drum kits because they are usually miced for volume. Sound won't move without air being moved.

[@bugless78]

The "air" you are referring to is a pressure wave, and it's generated by the motion of the heads. Far more air is moved from the heads than what comes out of a tiny hole. Drums with no vents can be just as loud as drums with vents. I make drums with and without vents and they are equally loud.

[@gmiller598]

@@bugless78 Call it what you want but I've had real world experience with volume of a large bass drum with only 1 vent not projecting in a large marching band. We drilled additional air vents in the shell and the drum projected and blended much better. This is probably less of an issue as I stated on drum set because they rely more on mics and amplification when they need to be louder. IN an outdoor marching band setting air vents absolutely do matter for projection.

[@pestilencekills]

I'd be interested to hear (though it's a pain to test) the difference more extreme venting makes - for instance, the snare used for Deftone's White Pony has a bunch of 3-inch holes all around the shell (kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6LLc5isjLiYr7sfeature=shared&t=166), and that thing has lots of ring, but a really dry 'crack'. I think there's a Matt Halpern signature too that has a bunch of normal-sized vents all around the shell.