Utilizing External Dampening [Part 17 of 31]

Muffling the kick drum is one of the more common techniques to take. Not only does it add warmth and attack, kick drum muffling can provide better feel. Sometimes external dampening systems on your toms and snare is also necessary. First and foremost, you want to ensure that you’ve tuned your toms and snare to the drum itself. To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of “muffling” the drums. My favorite drum sound is one that resonates naturally with a full sustain. However, when recording and mic’ing live, light dampening (not muffling, there’s a difference) can help rid some of the overtones and trouble areas.

Use Your Ears

With anything recording related, there isn’t a right or wrong answer. When in doubt, use your ears. If you’ve completed all of the necessary steps in dialing in your toms, what do they sound like to you? Are they sounding great in the room but not as great when they’re under the microphones? If you’re getting a lot of extra “booing” that isn’t pleasing to the mix, external muffling can be your best friend. Before pulling your hair out trying to EQ the heck out of the drum tracks, consider external dampening. It may just be the answer. Here’s what I recommend:

Toms

• Evans E-Ring: The E-ring is an easy-to-use external overtone control ring which “floats” on the surface of a drumhead. It rounds out and flattens the drumhead’s sound and allows for easier tuning.

• Min-EMAD Dampeners: The Min-EMAD (Externally Mounted Adjustable Damping) suppresses unwanted overtones, but retains the desired attack, tone, and feel. By linking the vibrating head with the counterhoop, the Min-EMAD removes frequencies by resisting the motion of the head.

Snare

• Remo Snare Drum Dampening System: Developed in conjunction with Dave Weckl the Active Snare Dampening System is a free floating adjustable dampening system that allows you to easily control the sustain time on your snare drum.

Bass Drum

• Evans External Muffling: Evans makes a few batter side heads that employs an externally mounted adjustable damping system with two interchangeable damping rings that allow the player to adjust attack and focus.

Dampen, Don’t Muffle

The great thing about these products is that they all are interchangeable and can be moved around easily. One of my biggest pet peeves is seeing drummers adding duct tape, cotton, tissue, etc on the drum head. (The above picture is an example of what NOT to do) This is not only defeating the purpose of the sound of the drums, this is just a messy and lazy form of muffling. Drums aren’t designed to be muffled. Use something that is designed to bring the best out of the drums, not the other way around.

What about you? Do you utilize external dampening techniques?

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Tagged as: 31 Days to Better Sounding Drums