down-tuning a snare question

[jlstudio1]

This is a SD, and real drum question.

I’m trying to get a super-fat snare sound and am currently getting close using the black Wahan snare from the RoH marble room by tuning it down to -:05 and then using the “processed” sound.

I’m not sure what that measurement is, but is that a down-tuning that could actually occur in the real world on that snare, or the gold Big Chief? It’s right on the line of being close to what i’m looking for, but potentially sounding unreal.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.3.6
Operating system: macOS Monterey (12)

Topic

[patrick maguire]

the numbers in the slider represent octaves /semi-tones/microtones.

hold down shift to make finer, more accurate adjustments. this ay help you get what you want.

It’s simply slowing down or speeding up the sample, its not trying to mimic  a real tuning adjustment that simulates loosening the drum head. It gets pretty close to what I’ve needed it to do.

Mac Studio

• This post was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by patrick maguire.

[jlstudio1]

I believe the “processed” button is an algorithm that is trying to emulate a tuned snare, unlike the unprocessed, which is just slowing down the sample.

[Bear-Faced Cow]

Yes, the “processed“ algorithms will bring you closer to a tuned instrument to a point. However, there are a couple of characteristics that you would probably want to add in for a little more realism. Characteristics, such as the change in resonant properties, and the pitch of the initial transient should be considered when using the tuning function in SD3. Fortunately, there are a few ways you can do this within SD3, such as stacking or the use of the pitch envelope.

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

[jlstudio1]

I appreciate these responses, however the main question remains – could the black Wuhan snare (in real life) ever be tuned down to -:05 (i’m guessing that’s semitones?)

[Mark King]

Well it has tuning lugs so why not. Same as any drum you can tune up or down. Who knows if tuning down by that amount would make the lugs loose. A mute question really.

SD3 with older sdx,s plus Rooms of Hansa and Death & Darkness. Cubase and wavelab current versions. Roland TD50x using all trigger inputs for triggering SD3 only. Windows 11 computer. Various keyboards and outboard gear as well as VST instruments. Acoustic drums: Yamaha 9000 natural wood and Pearl masters. Various snare drums. RME BabyFace Pro FS and Adam A7X monitors

[Bear-Faced Cow]

Having just tried it, and compared to other down tuned snares in SD3, I don’t see why not. Consider that it is only 1/20 of an octave, so it isn’t really a lot. And as Mark stated, it’s moot since we create our own reality in SD3.

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

[jlstudio1]

Not a mute question. It’s an actual, real world question.

1] Is 0:05 five semi tones?

2] Can the Black Wuhan snare ( in real life) be tuned down tuned down that much and still sound good? IE not have the head flap and the lugs rattle?

just saw that you tried it virtually. I’m curious about the real world though.

• This post was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by jlstudio1.

[Bear-Faced Cow]

0.05 in SD3 is 1/20 of an octave. It’s not measured in semitones, but percentage in relation to the octave. Comparing the before and after through a tuner, it was the equivalent of tuning down a fourth.

Perhaps, you should find your answer to your other question on a forum with actual drums or Google search it. That is where it is a real world question. It has no real value in a drum design software where everything is as real or surreal as you make it.

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

[jlstudio1]

I discovered the other forums, like the Pub, after I had already posted here. You are correct, that it would have been the better place, but I needed to get the technical info here first to inform the snare question.

I would say it has value though, and will inform my decisions. Thanks for the info.

[Mark King]

I don’t see how you could ever get an answer. You don’t know what the tension of the heads are on the samples. You would have to find someone who has sd3 and the actual snare with the same heads top and bottom. Then ask them to tune it to sound exactly like the sd3 one and then tune down to match your setting to see if it is possible. I know I couldn’t be bothered doing that and actually see no point in it. Does it sound ok tuned down? If yes then what’s the point?

SD3 with older sdx,s plus Rooms of Hansa and Death & Darkness. Cubase and wavelab current versions. Roland TD50x using all trigger inputs for triggering SD3 only. Windows 11 computer. Various keyboards and outboard gear as well as VST instruments. Acoustic drums: Yamaha 9000 natural wood and Pearl masters. Various snare drums. RME BabyFace Pro FS and Adam A7X monitors

[jlstudio1]

It seems like a basic question to me, which in essence is, is it possible to tune an actual snare, like the Wuhan (or in general), down down a forth and have it still sound good? I had hoped many drummers would know.

Just tryna learn.

[Bear-Faced Cow]

Like I stated earlier, I compared the processed Wuhan against some SDX libraries with actual low tuned snares and it stands up.

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

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Thanked by: jlstudio1

[jlstudio1]

I knew I liked the vibe but but didn’t know if I was in fantasy land.

Which other low tuned snares did you find? I’ve been looking around for some. I have the core of course, decades, hansa, and am looking at D and D.

[Bear-Faced Cow]

They are in older, but still nice, libraries. I found them in both the NY2 Allaire and Custom & Vintage. I believe one was a Ludwig Black Beauty and another was a Supraphonic.

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

• This post was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by Bear-Faced Cow.

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Thanked by: jlstudio1

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