Pearl Reference: Pitch, Samples, Tuning, Acoustic, Live

[Kneedragger81]

Hi Everybody,

I am looking for a setup/pitches for:

Pearl Reference Redline Acoustic Drums

13x9
16x16
18x16
24x18
14x6.5 snare

Wondering if any engineers/sample users use this kit? If so, what pitches are theses drums tuned to....maybe this kit is used in drum sample programs?

FYI: I am having trouble dialing in the kit with itself. I am particularly having trouble finding my starting point...the 18" floor tom. I want to get 18 at a pitch and then go up in minor 3rds on the toms. I will use an octave on snare or one of the toms. 13@F , 16@B sound great together, but I need to start everything w/ 18 first....and then go up.

Thanks,

Vladimir

p.s. If this kit is used in samplers....if you could please list the pitches each of these drums is at. I want to dial them in to these pitches for my performances. I am looking for Bonham/Stoner/****/resonant sound.

[brandondrury]

Hmmm. Good question.

If any engineers always automatically tune to a specific pitch, I've never heard of it. Drummers tend to mention this concept quite often, but engineers almost never do in my experience. I just twist the lugs until it sounds cool.

Sorry I can't be of any more help.

Brandon

[Kneedragger81]

Hi Brandon!

You are pretty much right. After spending a lot of time tuning/making mistakes, I think I have it boiled down... .. .

Every drum/make/manufacturer makes a drum and it has a certain timbre. This can never be changed. The only thing drummers can do is "shade the tone" with head combinations and tuning...but the underlying timbre/fundamental pitch is there somewhere.

I suppose the "sweet spot" is where the drum just sings and resonates the most. From here, one may tune up or down to pitch, in order to get tonal and tune the drums in intervals.

Bob Gatzen taught me all of this and he is legendary. Strange thing is he says bass drum is irrelevant tuning to pitch. On the other hand...some say they do tune to key of song for recording, but maybe they bs?

[Kneedragger81]

I mean listen to any song on the radio....the kits always sound quite good and in key with the song. i.e. ZZTop, AC/DC...etc, the snare is always central and appropriate.

I have noticed a lot of indie bands screw a lot of recordings up with lack of tuning or drums that just 'don't sound musical'.