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Snare Control: Cotton Ball Hack | Season Two, Episode 49

We all know that snare drums can be a bit unruly at times. Wild wires, screaming shells, and snare side heads that our simply out of control. After quite a few inquiries, we decided to employ a method that we featured in Ep. 6 of Season Two involving internal muffling with cotton balls.
Cotton Balls in Floor Tom: • Control Your Floor Tom...
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Пікірлер: 70

  • @matthewpaluch777
    @matthewpaluch7774 жыл бұрын

    I always like the shredded newspaper in the bass drums. It's an old, tested and true hack.

  • @51bigdumbmoose

    @51bigdumbmoose

    4 жыл бұрын

    My dad used wads of newspaper to muffle his.

  • @jordansanders8491
    @jordansanders84914 жыл бұрын

    I've still got the cotton balls in my floor tom. I love the sound! Maybe it's time to open up the snare.

  • @DZNTZ

    @DZNTZ

    4 жыл бұрын

    Me too! I put 5 balls in a floor tom that had a bit of unwanted overtones, mellowed it right out. Don’t forget - you gotta pull and stretch your balls!

  • @ChannelTheHistory

    @ChannelTheHistory

    4 жыл бұрын

    Me three! Late sixties Ludwig 16. Works great.

  • @shotgundrums

    @shotgundrums

    4 жыл бұрын

    Poke them through the vent hole. Remove them with a large curled over paper clip

  • @BeesWaxMinder

    @BeesWaxMinder

    Жыл бұрын

    @@shotgundrums👍

  • @loumonte658
    @loumonte6584 жыл бұрын

    10 cotton balls are great for fast paced snare work. Also I believe you can push the cotton through the snare hole with the head of a carpentry nail and not have to remove the snare head.

  • @BeesWaxMinder
    @BeesWaxMinder Жыл бұрын

    On many old snare drums, the internal muffler is such that you can turn it round, as it were, 180°, and instead of being a rather useless muffler/mute for the top skin, it’s much much much more effective for the bottom skin IMO -Try It!

  • @gretschludwigdrummer209
    @gretschludwigdrummer2094 жыл бұрын

    Always look forward to your posts !

  • @thomashiberg3098
    @thomashiberg30984 жыл бұрын

    just wnating to let you know that I have tried the tape around the underside of the snare head trick you checked out a few episodes ago and that I absolutly loved it. keep up the good work fellas

  • @alanduncan1980
    @alanduncan19804 жыл бұрын

    Sweet Acrolte! Those are great!

  • @jpizzleforizzle
    @jpizzleforizzle4 жыл бұрын

    Yes! I requested this a bit ago! Thank you!

  • @SoundsLikeADrum

    @SoundsLikeADrum

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thank YOU!

  • @betulaobscura
    @betulaobscura4 жыл бұрын

    Muffling drums is forbidden! I am going to call the police! haha

  • @jangobango2847

    @jangobango2847

    4 жыл бұрын

    All the used drumsets I get have tape on the heads and pillows and blankets in the kick, i take everything off and keep the old crappy heads on tune them, and it sounds 10x better every time.

  • @LaterHolmes
    @LaterHolmes Жыл бұрын

    This technique really helped out my 1920s nickel over brass Ludwig Pioneer. The wires had an insane honk that wouldn't go away no matter what I tried, it was outta control! this really helped to tame & focus the drum.

  • @musikman43204
    @musikman432044 жыл бұрын

    I love the snare sound @ the beginning... let 'er ring! 💯

  • @SoundsLikeADrum

    @SoundsLikeADrum

    4 жыл бұрын

    Yep! But if that's not the right fit for the track, this could be a relatively easy adjustment to make.

  • @andyxprophet
    @andyxprophet4 жыл бұрын

    This is super interesting!

  • @nsudrumshard
    @nsudrumshard4 жыл бұрын

    In the same realm, I picked up a similar hack from tuning high tension marching snares with mylar snare side heads by putting an e-ring inside the drum. Started doing this to all my snares to focus the articulation and dry up some of the overly long/sympathetic buzz. It's consistent all around the head, as opposed to the cotton balls naturally bunching in the center

  • @dtsdigitalden5023
    @dtsdigitalden50234 жыл бұрын

    10 cotton balls sounds a bit Steve Gadd like. Very interesting experiments sir, very enjoyable videos.

  • @StarrbrightTV
    @StarrbrightTV3 жыл бұрын

    Besides cotton balls , I tried the 2x2 cotton facial wipes. Roll them up and push through air hole and after a little they open up flat. Also for for 30 yrs I’d use felt. You can buy felt sheets in different colors at craft stores and cut to size. Honestly wish drum companies would go back to putting adjustable mufflers back on every drum! Just an up dated system not the old type

  • @marty9464
    @marty94644 жыл бұрын

    Haven't tried cotton balls before, but toilet paper in a rudimental bass drum works wonders! I also used to use a foam ring on the inside of the snare shell on my Rogers Super Ten, it's a great way to control the cannon sound without losing th responsiveness of anything touching the heads!

  • @davidbonar5190
    @davidbonar51904 жыл бұрын

    came here for snore tone control... not disappointed! :)

  • @vistalite-ph4zw
    @vistalite-ph4zw4 жыл бұрын

    I've played acros and own a supra. Never heard or tried the cotton ball technique. 4 ball was cool but also liked the 10 cotton balls. I have some lower end snares that can be irritating, definitely will consider this method...

  • @chris_d_r_u_m_s
    @chris_d_r_u_m_s4 жыл бұрын

    Would you guys ever consider also doing production and mixing side? I really love the videos that you talk about altering the sound acousticly, but working in a DAW with drums could be extremely helpful as well

  • @nellyg149
    @nellyg149 Жыл бұрын

    I got 10 cotton balls in my snare I really like it ~ feels better for rim shots and cross sticks clicks and I think it pairs good w/ fusion trap jazz or like neo soul type stuff. Definitely less echoes and not too rock friendly, but fun for more experimental stuff. Sounds better in smaller rooms too I think

  • @that-avr-drummer
    @that-avr-drummer4 жыл бұрын

    Definitely takes the "body" away....I'll stick with nothing in it. Great vid as usual guys!

  • @WestFinga
    @WestFinga4 жыл бұрын

    A "gate " effect on bottom can be also the "coin" trick ( for height) but it can be what you want, as experiment here I use 2 euros ( i m french ) , so I roll the coin in a short piece of towel then a tape to attach inside the shell ( on strainer or throw off side ) When you hit the drum, the coin bouncing and gate just a little sustain . It help a lot for certains "buzzy " snare , especially on the tail end . That gate suppress that part , but keep first transient tone intact . Use ofen For a more dramatic effect.: cut an old bottom head at center ( like a ring muffle ) , and attach inside the drum over the bottom head with 4 tape to secure the film when move snare etc ....( tape on the shell , no need big tape ) it create a really fat short crack Cotton ball is really cool , but if you use an angle snare position , all the coton will go in one direction & can't work good in my opinion for parallele snare snare position , yes I wait a part dedicaced to reggae now, you will project it in futur ? ...i send 2 mails but never get a respons ...too busy ? Sound of Carlton barett ( The Wailers ) , Style scott member of Roots radics ( my favored ) , Sly Dunbar ( album "Aux Armes etc / Serge Gainsbourg ) for exemple Thanks for reading Seb

  • @gosgood1973
    @gosgood19734 жыл бұрын

    I love my acrolite.

  • @carlupthegrove262
    @carlupthegrove2624 жыл бұрын

    My hack is that I use the little air pillows that come in boxes of items delivered from companies like Amazon in my bass drum. I might try that in my floor tom also... snare? Maybe.. Thanks.

  • @RickK1988
    @RickK19884 жыл бұрын

    I've never tried this. I do use pieces/very small amounts of cheesecloth in my toms to kill overtones from the resonant head. Basically like a pillow for a bass drum.

  • @Noah81ish
    @Noah81ish4 жыл бұрын

    nice lick at 6:18

  • @guymarzello8818
    @guymarzello88184 жыл бұрын

    Like the Zildjian Prototype hats.

  • @SoundsLikeADrum

    @SoundsLikeADrum

    4 жыл бұрын

    We do too!

  • @ockidocki
    @ockidocki4 жыл бұрын

    I love your videos. It would be awesome if you could make a video about tuning for a sound that is as warm and mellow as possible. I often find snare drums too loud, abrasive and harsh. If not a video, do you have any tips/references to achieve such sound? Thanks!

  • @gosgood1973

    @gosgood1973

    4 жыл бұрын

    Mahogany shells. Super warm.

  • @yup466
    @yup466 Жыл бұрын

    Nice..

  • @davidtavaresrosa6326
    @davidtavaresrosa63264 жыл бұрын

    do u consider doin a 5mil resohead tunin range experiment and sound characteristics - theres literally no video on de internet . i may get1 for a Starclassic Tama Stainless Steel 14" x 6.5" in hoap of reducn excessive brightness and control wild overtones and wondern how it affects tone warmth thnks !

  • @catfishmudflap
    @catfishmudflap4 жыл бұрын

    Did you use Ludwig cotton balls? :-)

  • @echosierra1790
    @echosierra17904 жыл бұрын

    Have you done a video on electrical tape over the snares? It's a common practice among drum corps using marching heads to achieve a drier sound out of the drum, and I've often used it on higher tuned drums to the same result. A little goes a long way!

  • @jackmills5071

    @jackmills5071

    4 жыл бұрын

    I would imagine electrical tape would work the same as any other tape, except that it is very sticky, and the rubber-like material might absorb vibration better. The main advantage is that it's thinner, and easier to fine tune by adding small pieces.

  • @ItsABOUTflamTIME

    @ItsABOUTflamTIME

    Жыл бұрын

    ​@@jackmills5071 Electrical tape is used mostly because every marching drummer already has some around. Any tape will work. Just please no duct tape, the glue residue can be a nuisance.

  • @MASS_Studios
    @MASS_Studios4 жыл бұрын

    Dude, you tuned this Acro so good this time that I listened back and forth this video vs Craviotto one and Acro sounds awesome and better for my taste. I have Acro from 78th and just can't tune it like you did. Any help, advice?

  • @SoundsLikeADrum

    @SoundsLikeADrum

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thanks! They’re pretty magic drums, no doubt. The big pitfall is over tightening the snareside head. Gotta let it breathe :) we have a few past videos that detail the method we use including video #1! -Cody

  • @MASS_Studios

    @MASS_Studios

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@SoundsLikeADrum Do you remember maybe did snare side was in higher pitch than batter side?

  • @PaulDes
    @PaulDes4 жыл бұрын

    I used to put crumpled newspaper in my bass drum (seventies) is this done yet ??

  • @51bigdumbmoose

    @51bigdumbmoose

    4 жыл бұрын

    My dad did the same.

  • @The_Other_Ghost
    @The_Other_Ghost4 жыл бұрын

    Anyone else remember that moon Gel made ones for reso heads?

  • @bucknasty5374
    @bucknasty53744 жыл бұрын

    I always wanted to hear how a snare would sound with a calftone e mad head on it.

  • @SoundsLikeADrum

    @SoundsLikeADrum

    4 жыл бұрын

    Are you thinking more of a deep sound? Generally, that's a lot more mass than is necessary, which would mean you'd need to hit harder (which also changes the tone as you may have seen in our recent episode relating volume/velocity and tone). An E-ring does an excellent job of attenuating some of the overtones and, since the EMAD isn't available (and probably won't ever be) in 14" size, this is a super practical method. You can always layer a few if you want to. Cheers!

  • @section8usmc53
    @section8usmc534 жыл бұрын

    I'm curious if this would help with sympathy buzz. 🤔

  • @spencerj
    @spencerj4 жыл бұрын

    Are you concerned about the cotton balls decreasing the humidity in the shell if they pull the moisture out? Is that a thing?

  • @SoundsLikeADrum

    @SoundsLikeADrum

    4 жыл бұрын

    Can't say that would be much of a concern with an aluminum shell like this Acrolite but even with a wooden shell I wouldn't give it any worry as there are enough other factors involved and the biggest concern with such things is more about dramatic changes over a short period of time. Cheers! -Ben

  • @allancueto22
    @allancueto223 жыл бұрын

    I have a problem...i don't like the sound of the snare itself with the cotton balls but then in context with a groove it's like. .well i guess it's not that bad! Haha

  • @doclogic
    @doclogic4 жыл бұрын

    Did it take away any volume? Sounds like a high pass filter effect, just wondering about projection?

  • @SoundsLikeADrum

    @SoundsLikeADrum

    4 жыл бұрын

    It didn’t take a ton away but some of the high-end projection was reduced a bit 👍🏻 -Cody

  • @TwoandaHater
    @TwoandaHater4 жыл бұрын

    Maybe it is me- it looks like Cody has lost some weight (good for you man) since early in the channel.

  • @tmaddrummer
    @tmaddrummer4 жыл бұрын

    Poor Rabbits....

  • @MrRCOTE
    @MrRCOTE3 жыл бұрын

    Next time you try that, rotate the port up to 12 O'clock....then you could fill that shell.

  • @billyvalentine4365
    @billyvalentine4365 Жыл бұрын

    All I hear is "pong, pong, pong, pong."

  • @doknox
    @doknox4 жыл бұрын

    Just get some e-rings and moon gel to dampen your kit. Cost like 25 bucks altogether and bass drum pillow is like 20 bucks. Not that much at all.

  • @SoundsLikeADrum

    @SoundsLikeADrum

    4 жыл бұрын

    Different effect then what is demonstrated here though.

  • @Slipstream0001
    @Slipstream00014 жыл бұрын

    All sounded bad to me but it got worse with more cotton. I will never understand the hype around Acrolite’s.

  • @SoundsLikeADrum

    @SoundsLikeADrum

    4 жыл бұрын

    Sounds like maybe it's worth (if you want to appreciate these things) giving a more in depth listen and hearing them in the context of some music. Aluminum shells are so warm and punchy- unlike any other type of metal drum.

  • @gosgood1973

    @gosgood1973

    4 жыл бұрын

    It's the aluminum. Kinda dry, also a relatively cheap drum.

  • @byrondickens

    @byrondickens

    2 жыл бұрын

    BLASPHEMER! Burn the heretic!

  • @offbeat2964
    @offbeat29644 жыл бұрын

    Pls, make more shorter videos

  • @SoundsLikeADrum

    @SoundsLikeADrum

    4 жыл бұрын

    We’re all set, thanks.