If you want to get the best out of your drums, you will need to tune them appropriately. The Drum Dial a drum tuning too, or just a dial indicator on a base.
Tuning your drums is the surest way of getting the sound you need. And this is one of the best devices that have the ability to do a great job for you.
Drum tuners are incredible devices that have been designed to make life drummers much easier. If your drums are not giving you the right sounds, you can use these devices to get there. It does not only enable you to help you tune your dreams with ease, but it also ensures your drums sound amazing.
I have used the Drum Dial several times and found it worth reviewing.
But before that, let us understand a few things about drum problems.
What a Drum Tuner?
As stated above, Drum Dial is a drum tuner, which leaves many of us wondering what that really means.
A drum tuner can be defined as a drummer or studio engineer’s tool when tuning drums. It tells you where the issues are and where you need to focus more energy.
Many drummers don’t use drum tuners because they prefer tuning with their ears. However, this device can be very useful because it gives you a visual representation of each lug’s tension. If you have not trained your ear well, it can help you tune your drums to sound very professional.
Drum tuners are very common in recording studios during sessions.
Some professional engineers say there cannot do anything without them. They will therefore ask the drummer to make use of them more than relying on their ears.
Drum tuners have become very important in the modern era. Drummers always have to get the perfect sound from their drum heads, and this means setting everything up correctly.
The last thing you want is funny hoops and drums that have not professional sound.
Drum Dial
Drum Dial is seen as the best and the oldest drum tuner on the market. Many others do the same job, but very few can compare to the Drum Dial. It comes both in digital and analog versions. I love using the digital version because it makes things so much easier.
But the classic one works better. It is also much stronger, and hence, you can use it for a long time without any need for replacement.
The Drum Dial continues to be one of the most popular tuners the market has to offer. It is the OG tuning product that comes with all the good and functional features.
I got mine when I was still a kid, and it has never disappointed me. For more than ten years, it has been serving me faithfully.
And even though I can tune perfectly with my ear, I still find it a necessity. It just feels good and right when you use it.
In summary, the Drum Dial is a very useful drum tuner that helps drummers measure the tension of their drum heads, helping them tune their acoustic drums with so much ease,
The device is quite precise, and it can show minimal differences in the tension with great accuracy. Your ear may not capture everything, but this device will ensure you don’t miss out on anything when setting up your drums.
Build quality
If you are looking for a complex design in a drum tuner, this one may not be what you are looking for since it is pretty basic. It only features and the necessary parts, yet compact enough to be used without any issues.
A drummer with large hands will find this tuner very interesting. Also, novice drummers will find it very useful.
As stated above, I have used mine for more than ten years, and it never loses its beauty. Many users, like myself, have complimented its overall simplistic impression.
It is well made, and you can count on a reliable and sturdy device that will go a long way in helping you achieve maximum functionality from your drums.
Think of it as a reverse scale used in measuring pressure from the bottom of the device. This feature makes it different from regular ones that scale from the top.
You have to place it at the top of the drumhead for it to work. And it has to be approximately one or two inches from the lug.
One thing you appreciate about this tuner is its straightforward appearance. Even though digital versions have the latest features and are easier to read, you will still love the analog ones. It is also more convenient in terms of usage, which is more than what I can say about other similar products.
In the package, they have included a hard black case. Since you will be traveling a lot with the device, this case is a very useful addition. It keeps the gadget intact along the way, and so that you can use it for a longer period of time.
The company is so confident about their product that they have added a warranty deal. Along with is, you will find the user manual within the package. This ensures that you get comprehensive instructions on how to use it, together with tuning recommendations from experts who have used it.
Functionality
Tuning drums can be a very tiring experience. There is no drummer who will say they love doing this. And it all because of the stress and energy that goes into identifying issues and trying to fix them,
But then, you don’t have to suffer any more if you have the Drum Dial. You can fix an entire drum set within a short period and then have some spare time to practice before a gig.
The idea here is that you can tune the bass drum, the rack toms, the snare, and the timpani without even playing on the drumhead. If you were to use your ear, it means you must keep hitting the drum head to identify issues as you move along.
But this gadget provides a revolutionary way of doing this. There is not better of saving on time.
The basic principle here is that it makes use of Tympanic Pressure, which tensions the same with other types of drums. In the end, you get a chance to appreciate the ability to measure changes and accurately tune every single drum in your setup even when you are working in loud environments.
Suppose features a locking bezel comprising of movable locators. This will help you mark your tuning range. This is basically how it works, and you should check the user manual to ensure you are getting everything right.
You will also find a lug back, which you can use to improve your handling. Place it near the drum to measure the tympanic pressure, and everything becomes much easier.
The tuner also features a simple read gauge and a practice mechanism, with which you get to enjoy and accurate and fast tuning wherever you are and whenever you need it.
Anyone can use the device, from the student to teachers, to professionals, and to studio musicians. As long as you desire to improve your convenience of tuning, this gadget has got you covered.
And the best part is on the price tag. This is one of the most affordable drum tuners that let you feel like you made the right investment.
The digital version
Many of us, especially drummers, love vintage things, which is why the Drum Dial is very popular. However, the world is changing rapidly due to technological advancement, and we cannot ignore that.
Aside from the analog model, therefore, the Drum Dial also comes in a digital version. The analog has a scale to help you determine the pressure and tune your drums. But the digital Drum Dial has advanced looks and better functionality.
It is much easier to read. The device is also equipped with a handy backlight that is very helpful during a gig. You can clearly see what you are working on, even in the dim lights of the stage.
You also get to enjoy incredible tuning performance. It’s not very easy to use the analog version during concerts because of its lousy lights.
The digital Drum Dial features a neon orange backlight, which shines clearly on everything so that you can see clearly. You don’t need to worry about going blind because of the lights. They are designed to ensure maximum safety as you work your magic.
How you use the drum
I love the Drum Dial, which makes me want to keep it for longer because it is easy to use. Begin by detuning all heads and re-tuning them back following slow tension. This will allow you to accurately measure the pressure and discover the perfect balance between tones. As soon as you hit the sweet spot, start using the Drum Dial.
Many drummers use it only in the later tuning process for more accuracy and precision. It is recommended that you begin from the snare and then move around each drum to check their tensions.
Issues with drum head Drum hoops
Drum hoops come in three main types, each having specific attributes that set it apart and affect how the drum head is tensioned.
The first one is flanged hoops. These are usually three, and they present a consistently flexible force to press on the drum head’s hoops.
The second types are wood hoops. This type of hoops offers an uneven flexible force in many cases. There are variations in the grain of the wood, together with flexibility all over the hoop. Because of these variations, you will find a single tension rod offering a force to the larger part of the head, mostly near the hoop’s stiff part. Sometimes, it can only affect a small part of the head, mostly near the hoop’s flexible part. Some wood hoops are quite stiff, while others are not. It all depends on the type of wood used and how it is set.
The third type is called die-cast hoops. These are usually the stiffest hoops, and they present a consistently even force given minimal input from the tension rods. If you want to stretch the entire drum film with only two tension rods, you will need the highest-quality die-cast hoops.
As you can see, there are several differences that make hoops seem different. Some people think these variations do not matter. After all, the Drum Dial’s primary function is to tension the head based on the film’s tension. But this, not the best way to think about them.
Unfortunately, it is just not that simple.
The Drum Dial or any other drum tuner does provide you with an indication of the current tension in your film. But it will not tell you how to fix it.
In other words, the device only collects data, but it will not tell you how to apply the data. And this device will respond to data based on what is influencing the data. In this case, the data is influenced by the drum hoop.
When you tune a single tension rod, you are doing a lot more than increasing tension on one particular point. It all depends on the types of the hoop, which can lead to various results.
In a stiff hoop, the opposing force is placed on the opposing points. Once the tension is placed on a point, the opposite point to it will decrease in tension. There will also be more responsiveness to the tension further.
Another is the flexible hoop. Usually, this type of hoop will have less transfer on the opposing hoop. It happens a lot with wood hoops, as well as several types of low-quality flange, die-cast, stick saver, and many others.
Then there are inconsistent hoops. In this case, some blend of a bow, and possibly an increase or decrease in tension can happen on both sides of the hoops.
Bands
Apart from the hoop issues above, there ‘banding,’ which happens with more flexible hoops and lighter drum heads. These effects are less common. As the hoops grow stiffer, the head grows with it.
When you tension two opposing points, they create a bang effect between these points. Hoop stiffness can lead to combinations of banding.
Spotting
Spotting is another issue that happens with drum head tensioning, and you need to be aware of it. It is a combination of the issues above.
Think about when two points of tension the film of the head that tends to cross each other. In this case, they create tension at the crossing point.
Spotting comes from misreadings from the dial. Well, there are high chances that the dial can give a reading of high tension that has no direct relation to the rod’s input because of the gauge of the head pressing down on a ‘spot.’ In the same way, they can be low tension misreadings, which because the device is set near the edge of a spot.
The drum Dial can help you resolve these issues with ease. In many cases, they are not even bad things. It is only that your drum set needs to be in the perfect position to feed you with the best sounds.
How to Use A Drum Tuner?
A drum tuner is one of the most important accessories every drummer needs to own. They have used for mearing the tension of your drum heads. Using these devices is pretty easy. Besides, many of them come with user manuals that will tell you what to do and how to do it.
In other words, begin by finding a good drummer tuner. The Drum Dial is one of the most popular products and one that will not disappoint. De-tension all your drum heads and start tension again. Check the user manual for the right tension of your drum heads.
Do Drum Tuners Work?
This question is pretty subjective. Some studio producers will not work without a drum tuner. They find it very essential and what they do and will not leave anything to chances.
On the other hand, the best tuner is you. Even when you are using a drum tuner, you will still be forced to back and make the finer adjustments.
Drum tuners do work. They can tell you where the problem is, but they will not show you how to fix it. So, it depends on how well it serves you.
For me, it works pretty well. I don’t have to keep hitting the drums as I test their tension since everything is displayed on the tuner.
Conclusion
Tuning drums is essential and key to getting the perfect sounds. And the Drum Dial is a perfect device for this job. If you don’t want to use a drum tuner, there are a few options for you as well. For instance, a new tuning system called the Welch
Tuning System was introduced to the market recently. This technology uses a system of pulleys to adjust the tension. It is easier and better.
Or you can buy and electronic drum set and forget about tuning altogether.
