3 Great, Low Floor Tom Sounds | Season Six, Episode 49

Drums contain a wide range of sonic characters even within a certain tuning range and without swapping heads. In this episode, we’ll share how we produce three different characters of low tuning out of a floor tom. One is SUPER punchy, the other has a wild, distorted growl, and the last one is more of a resonant, yet naturally controlled tone.
PATREON:
This season is made possible by our Patreon supporters. Join us on Patreon for access to exclusive content such as Cymbal Sounds, our long awaited cymbal series, and MUCH more: sladl.ink/Patreon
PRODUCTION PARTNERS:
GIK Acoustics (sonic treatment): sladl.ink/GIK
AKG Audio (microphones): sladl.ink/AKG
Evans Drumheads: sladl.ink/EvansDrumheads
ProMark Drumsticks: sladl.ink/ProMarkDrumsticks
Signal chain:
Mics - Focusrite Clarett 8Pre USB- Mac Studio w/Pro Tools 2024.3.1
Recorded at 48kHz / 24bit
Microphones: Pair of AKG C314 in Recorderman Configuration sladl.ink/C314Pair
Toms: AKG C518M sladl.ink/C518M
Kick Drum: AKG D12VR sladl.ink/AKGD12VR
Snare: AKG C518M sladl.ink/C518M
Acoustic Treatment:
GIK 242 Acoustic Panels: sladl.ink/GIK242
GIK 4A Alpha Pro Series Diffusor/Absorber: sladl.ink/GIK4aAlphaPro
GIK Evolution PolyFusor Combination Sound Diffuser/Absorber: sladl.ink/GIKEvolutionPolyFusor
GIK Tri-Trap Corner Bass Trap: sladl.ink/GIKTriTrap
Drums:
Pearl Masters Maple Custom Extra
Cymbals:
22” Jesse Simpson clone of old Zildjian A, 15" Zildjian Kerope Hihats
Drumheads:
Snare: Evans G12 Coated / Snare Side 300
Toms: Evans UV2 Coated / G1 Clear
Kick Drum: Evans UV EMAD / EQ3 Coated Reso
Hosted by: Cody Rahn
Production & Consulting: Ben O'Brien Smith @ Cadence Independent Media
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[@dalekay9ine]

I really want to extend my gratitude for this channel. I hope you guys take time to remind yourselves how many drum kits are being played in the studio, in bedrooms and live that are sounding way better than they ever previously did before their owners found this channel!!! Also how much money you've possibly saved folks by showing that tuning, head choice, dampening or lack there of, etc can go way further than spending crazy amounts of money thinking that's the way to get the best sounding drums. Thank you, thank you, thanks you!

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Thank you so much for taking the time to express this. We really appreciate hearing from you and knowing that our efforts are having a positive impact. Cheers! -Ben

[@AJd1996]

3 Sonic Characters: Tails Knuckles Sonic 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Well played 👏

[@demetrymalahoff]

I will never understand why this channel isn't wildly more popular than it is. This is my go to channel for reshaping the way I approach drums.

[@DrummerRIP]

I cannot speak enough as to how awesome this is! Taking a single part of our unique instrument & pushing beyond. TY & top notch! 10 out of 10!

[@kushking420]

It's fun to watch and listen to, but what's more fun is trying all these ideas they come up with on your own drums.

[@drummercarson896]

I like the 3rd floor Tom sound

[@stephentyler4352]

Agreed

[@Tswa73]

Acrylic Drums! Hey guys, maybe like a 3 part series? Bass, Tom, Snare. I recently purchased a new DW Design Series. It’s interesting how the shells react to tension. I’ve found that with acrylic you almost have to loosen and tighten to dial them in. Like the flex is so different than wood or steel, but once they are, Wow! Fantastic sound. Thanks guys. I really dig the vids! Thank you so much (cause I struggle with it at times)

[@kushking420]

I've never owned an acrylic kit, but that would be a fantastic episode idea

[@lance6448]

Floor tom sounded so good in the mix this morning! It hasn’t been sounding right but this video inspired and reminded me of the importance of the reso head. Made a slight adjustment to the reso, loosening each lug less than a quarter turn… I was so pleased with the result! HUGE thanks for the detailed videos!

[@ericperez1510]

I feel like I've gotten the growl sound unintentionally before. Regardless, it's cool to hear!

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

It’s often one of those things that gets stumbled upon accidentally but it’s great to know how to create such a sound intentionally and with consistency.

[@andreaszircher]

Great! Thanks guys!👌

[@FloydZappalin]

Thanks for all you do!❤❤

[@srajfnly2]

I loved the first and the second sounds

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

What was it about those specifically? What didn’t you like as much about the third sound? (There are no wrong answers here)

[@rzaagman]

Lovin' this! Interesting sounds and how to get there :o !

[@gregwonhoff7161]

Great show, and I thank you so much for sharing the with all of us.❤️🙏❤️🙏❤️

[@dalesanders7571]

2nd tuning - the drum of DOOM 🎉

[@kushking420]

The 2nd one, sounded so much like the way I tune my 16" floor tom. I do it differently, and have done the "tune one lug down" method on toms at times. My drum set has two toms and two floor toms. My 10", 12" toms, and 14" floor tom have pretty much the same tuning (just a tiny bit different on my 14" floor tom) but my 16" is tuned differently and sounded like when you hit the center of the 2nd one. 🥁 Awesome video

[@seangdolan]

Love this. Would be helpful if maybe you could play what the drum sounds like in a room mic. Or possibly even a cell phone. Just so the folks who don’t have great mics (or even mic their toms at all) can hear what the drum ACTUALLY sounds like in addition to how it sounds in a mic.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Thanks! We record everything and maintain raw audio specifically so that it sounds like it does on the room. These demonstrations are representative of how each sounded in person.

[@mileywalker313]

Great material as always!!!! BUT please explain the PATREON option. I have been a PATREON subscriber, but quit just a few days ago because the latest material I was finding there was older(S6E34 like right now!??)and “less” quantity. I am thinking I just didn’t know how to use the program but haven’t been able to find a tutorial to learn. I’ll be happy to resubscribe if you’ll explain how to have up to date and enhanced content. Keep up the great information on KZbin or what ever is best. Thanks, Miley Walker

[@jacknewkirk4450]

This is so good, thanks. I am opening up about the “growl”! How about overall volume out of floor toms? I am having difficulty getting a noticeable increase in volume from my 18”. Is it a head choice or tuning? Thanks for the great content.

[@hunchiepunker]

I keep turning these “tuning lugs” and all I ever get is the eggman.

[@roybeckerman9253]

The best I’ve ever heard, was Gene Krupa’s 18” Slingerland floor tom, with calf skins. 🥁

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

Can you describe what you heard/remember? Are you able to reverse engineer how he had it set up?

[@roybeckerman9253]

@@SoundsLikeADrum It was 1960 on the Ed Sullivan Show on KZbin…..it had a deep thuddy sound. “ Sing Sing Sing..” was the song…

[@afronprime51]

Everything sounds like a drum because you only every hear a drum, your ear drum.

[@SalMichael]

It's a hanging tom, legs make a huge diff.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

While this can certainly affect the tone, there were so many other factors at play. None of the elements of today’s episode are dependent on having a hanging floor tom vs. one with legs.

[@SalMichael]

@@SoundsLikeADrum Yes certain points like head comparison for tone or punch.Legs absolutely play a part in affecting sustain otherwise companies like Pearl wouldn't sell suspension feet.

[@jamesgoetz6100]

Suspended floor toms are rare these days. This video would have been more helpful with a more common FT setup. To get suspended FT behavior, try putting dish sponges under your floor tom feet. The shell resonance will become ridiculous, but it can then make the head muffling/tuning experiments more fun. Might be worth keeping three sponges in your gig bag in case you ever have to gig with your FT on a concrete floor. Especially if unmic'd.

[@SoundsLikeADrum]

@@jamesgoetz6100 Don't let your eyes lead you astray. Each of the sonic characters and the methods described are possible with a floor tom with legs. The sponge or cymbal felt hacks are great but If you want to enhance resonance beyond what your drum is capable of with the current leg setup, we recommend the TnR TrueVibe isolation mounts. They're a must-have for being able to enhance a floor tom with legs as needed.

[@jamesgoetz6100]

That is my point - you can achieve these characteristics with legs, with an extreme form of decoupling - such as sponges under the feet. A 3pack from Walmart is probably like $1.99 or something.