Ok, I think I'm starting to understand my TuneBot Studio

PorkPieGuy said:
Even though I've been playing drums over 30 years now, I'm always learning what I can about tuning drums because there's still a lot of it that I find pretty mysterious and nonsensical. I had a little bit of time this past weekend to mess with my TuneBot. I bought it a few years ago, tried it a couple of times, and I put it away.

I decided to give it another shot, starting with my snare drums. My snares sound good, but I knew they could sound better. I kept reading all over the place to tune the bottom head to 400, and I watched a couple of short videos on how to use it.

I checked the bottom head on my snare, and it (and all of the others) were around the 250 range. I cranked them all to 400, and it immediately made an incredible difference. I then tuned the top heads using the TuneBot (they were all different due to different heads and depths), and they all sound so much better! Next, I want to try it with my toms, but I ran out of time.

I think I'm starting to see what all the fuss is about.
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I made my cheapo drums sound like a top of the line DW kit I got to play once but I used a Drum Dial, default (suggested) tension. It didn't take too long either.
The only thing that I found bothersome is that you already said it made a good difference but now you are chasing "better" I would avoid that by starting with what do you want to achieve? is it a particular sound that you like (maybe from a recording?) if that is the case, then you must try to replicate what was used on that recording as close as you possibly can. If it is not then you have lots more room to experiment and find YOUR sound which I think is better anyway.
The one thing to keep in mind is that your drums will sound significantly different in your rehearsal room vs a venue even when using the same mics and same PA. so I guess you went into that rabbit hole, I hope you find your sound.
 
lefty2 said:
Timely post. I've been wondering about a Tunebot and was searching threads on here last night. I've been play over 50 years and I can make my drums sound great but I'm intrigued by the statements made about the Tunebot. I hate to spend $100 and find it’s something that I wouldn't use. I read on this forum about octaves and F#, A etc. but have no clue as to what that means to my ears. I think the Tunebot might help me understand what that means.
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I believe the Tune Bot can help you tune to a note as the Drum Dial cannot (you probably are tuning to a note but it wont tell you which, it will just show you tension). IMO there is not really a need to tune to a specific note unless you are Terry Bozio or for some reason need to have a drum play that specific note.
 
Yet another alternative to the Tunebot is Drumtune Pro (https://exaltd.com/drumtune-pro-1). Looks like they have an iOS version now, which they didn't for a long time. Works like the Tunebot, no need for another gizmo, and it costs $8.
I've been using it for years and it is awesome...check it out.
 
My only point with regards to tuning references when asked is this... World class instrumentalists are taught to tune from their first lesson yet still use pitch references/tuners. I would propose that we as drummers, who typically have not been taught how to tune since our first lesson the way students on other instruments are, should consider the possibility that our ears are really not so refined that we are beyond the the need of such things
 
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doggyd69b said:
I believe the Tune Bot can help you tune to a note as the Drum Dial cannot (you probably are tuning to a note but it wont tell you which, it will just show you tension). IMO there is not really a need to tune to a specific note unless you are Terry Bozio or for some reason need to have a drum play that specific note.
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As the kit gets bigger, tuning to notes helps minimize sympathetic ringing/buzzing and makes the ringing that does happen sound good by being pleasant harmonies
 
AudioWonderland said:
My only point with regards to tuning references when asked is this... World class instrumentalists are taught to tune from their first lesson yet still use pitch references/tuners. I would propose that we as drummers, who typically have not been taught how to tune since our first lesson the way students on other instruments are, should consider the possibility that our ears are really not so refined that we are beyond the the need of such things
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It’s a fairly legit statement, except the main reason we use tuners is that tuning by ear is annoying to crowds and hard for us to hear unplugged electric instruments, not that we can’t hear pitches. Well some can’t, but even with tuners, those types struggle with tuning.

Not that I’m against using tuners on drums, mind you. I like a head to be in tune with itself as much as the next guy.
 
Yep...as mentioned by someone else above, I tune my 3u/2d kit to perfect 4ths...the DrumeTune Pro / Tunebot tools make that a snap...particularly during head changes. I can get pretty close by ear, but those tools dial the tone because you can 'clear the heads'.
 
JimmyM said:
It’s a fairly legit statement, except the main reason we use tuners is that tuning by ear is annoying to crowds and hard for us to hear unplugged electric instruments, not that we can’t hear pitches. Well some can’t, but even with tuners, those types struggle with tuning.

Not that I’m against using tuners on drums, mind you. I like a head to be in tune with itself as much as the next guy.
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There are scant few that can discern that they are tuned precisely to A440 without a tuner or other reference. That is exactly why tuners are used. It has nothing to do with noise or volume. Everyone needs to be tuned to the same reference
 
AudioWonderland said:
As the kit gets bigger, tuning to notes helps minimize sympathetic ringing/buzzing and makes the ringing that does happen sound good by being pleasant harmonies
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As previously stated you can accomplish the same with the drum dial but you won't necessarily know the specific notes but I have tuned a 7 piece kit (the one in my picture) and I have no ringing from tom to tom so for me it works well.
 
AudioWonderland said:
My only point with regards to tuning references when asked is this... World class instrumentalists are taught to tune from their first lesson yet still use pitch references/tuners. I would propose that we as drummers, who typically have not been taught how to tune since our first lesson the way students on other instruments are, should consider the possibility that our ears are really not so refined that we are beyond the the need of such things
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I tuned my guitar with 2 different tuners (they both agreed with what the tuned strings were supposed to be). A few minutes later a friend of mine came and started messing with the guitar and told me it was slightly out of tune. I explained to him that I have checked the tunning with two tuners and according to both the guitar was in fact tuned correctly, he proceeded to tune it according to what he was used to by ear, and I could hear how much better it sounded, so there is something to be said about relying on gadgets.. I have also had friends tune their drums by ear and have them sound fantastic, they even shunned the drum dial (which I swear by) because they stated that they could get their drums to sound the way they wanted them... and... they could.
 
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AudioWonderland said:
There are scant few that can discern that they are tuned precisely to A440 without a tuner or other reference. That is exactly why tuners are used. It has nothing to do with noise or volume. Everyone needs to be tuned to the same reference
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You’ve never heard of a tuning fork? Or a keyboard? What do you think people did before tuners? Hell, I can get a reference from the radio. But what I can’t do is hear an electric guitar that’s turned off or tune using ears and a reference pitch without being annoying to the crowd.
 
JimmyM said:
You’ve never heard of a tuning fork? Or a keyboard? What do you think people did before tuners? Hell, I can get a reference from the radio. But what I can’t do is hear an electric guitar that’s turned off or tune using ears and a reference pitch without being annoying to the crowd.
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We used the old phones to tune our guitars...
 
JimmyM said:
You’ve never heard of a tuning fork? Or a keyboard? What do you think people did before tuners? Hell, I can get a reference from the radio. But what I can’t do is hear an electric guitar that’s turned off or tune using ears and a reference pitch without being annoying to the crowd.
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The point is that a large number drummers think they can tune using no reference at all and they are typically by far the least ear trained instrumentalist on the stand.
 
I have some pretty good ears, having tuned guitars and basses for decades before starting with drums. I hear when my stringed instruments are off by minute amounts. And I can tune them by ear without reference (I just sing a song in my head and tune to that) and will be within about a quarter tone of true pitch.

Drums are VERY different beasts altogether. There are so many sounds coming out all at once that when I first started tuning, I didn't even know wich one to focus on. Each time I struck near one lug, I'd hear like 5 notes!!!

AND each lug you turn affects all the others. Particularly the one just across, but to a lesser extent, every othoer one too. If that wasn't enough, the opposing head also directly influences the pitch and tone of the one you just thought you had in a good spot.

It really took me way longer than I thought at first to get comfortable doing it and to get consistent results.

The tune bot helped me get to a decent place faster and with more confidence and repeatability. But after fiddling with it for a few months, I just set it aside.

What really helped me step up my tuning game was:

Understanding that as a rule of thumb, each drum is unique and will react to different rooms and/or different spots in a room.

Understanding that if drums are gonna get mic'd, the mics are gonna hear very differently from 2-3 inches above the edge of the heads (or inside the BD) as opposed to nhow you hear from your throne.

The importance of centerin/seating the head properly and setting a good initial starting point. I.E. all lugs equally fingertight. And then raising tension by VERY SMALL increments (1/8 turns or so) .

Before proceeding this way I always had to fight some major pitch differentials from lug to lug as I went on. Now each one stays much closer as tension increases.

Nowadays, when tuning at soundcheck I just ask whoever is holding a stringex instrument to give me a G, I tune my rack tom to thtat, and then set the floor to a C.

In the end, whatever helps you get to the result you want is alright, drum dial, tunebot, just ears, what matters is that your drums sound good to you, your bandmates, the audience, the producer...
 
DamnSingerAlsoDrums said:
I have some pretty good ears, having tuned guitars and basses for decades before starting with drums. I hear when my stringed instruments are off by minute amounts. And I can tune them by ear without reference (I just sing a song in my head and tune to that) and will be within about a quarter tone of true pitch.
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A quarter tone out is still out and that is the point.. References are necessary
 
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