How can I tune my kicks & other things in DP??

tdm71 · Post by **tdm71** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 6:47 pm

Hey -

This may seem like an odd request but I have heard more and more about tuning drums to the root of the song. Since I use only samples (not recording any live drums here) I get my sources from all over and I was wondering if there are any plugs or anyway to use a "tuner" to tell what the pitch of my kicks are at? I tried using my ear which is easier to do with the boomy low freq syn type kick but with the ones with more punch it is harder to tell.

Any thoughts? I know there are some free ones out there but the do not work in DP because I don't think Dp supports the Cocoa format??

THANKS

Mr_Clifford · Post by **Mr_Clifford** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 7:24 pm

Most tuners will struggle with the complex harmonics and short transient attack of a kick drum. You might just have to use your ears. If it's really hard to pick the funamental by listening to it then it's likely that it's not going to be much of an issue anyway in terms of tuning.

gregwhartley · Post by **gregwhartley** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 7:46 pm

The new Lamb of God album does this very well. Kicks and snare rings resonate to the root of the key of the song, very clean sounding. I'd recommend listening to it even if it's not your style of music, just to get some ideas.

-Greg

Dwetmaster · Post by **Dwetmaster** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:46 am

You can try with the MW EQ fft function. You 'll see were the peak is. You can also take one the band in the MW EQ and boost it to max with a fairly small Q. Then sweep slowly in the lower range of the spectrum while you kick is playing. You'll hear one freq that will ring more than others as you're sweeping. that frquency is your root note. Then if you really need the note of that frequency you can google for a "frequency vs pitch chart". Here's a few notes to get you started

C1 32.703
C#1 34.648
D1 36.708
D#1 38.891
E1 41.203
F1 43.654
F#1 46.249
G1 48.999
G#1 51.913
A1 55.000
A#1 58.270
B1 61.735
C2 65.406 2
C#2 69.296
D2 73.416
D#2 77.782
E2 82.407
F2 87.307
F#2 92.499
G2 97.999
G#2 103.826
A2 110.000
A#2 116.541
B2 123.471

gregwhartley · Post by **gregwhartley** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 1:13 pm

BigBlueLounge.com actually has a widget that will give you the note's corresponding frequency, along with other useful tools. I think it eats up a good amount of memory though, so it's probably better for preproduction.

-Greg

jarok · Post by **jarok** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 1:27 pm

Hi

This is a free tool for music calculations:

http://www.macmusic.org/software/share. ... n/id/1536/

jarok

newrigel · Post by **newrigel** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 6:35 am

Try to find the kick that falls closest to the key of the song. Record a bass line and then, (I use KONTAKT) load the kick into the keymap and as the bass-line (sequence) loops, (the root pitch of the song) adjust the pitch to be in tune with the basses fundamental frequency. This will give the drone effect where everything is in the same key... Sometimes, I'll even copy a sequences bass line (if it's a driving only bass line) and use it to control my kicks... then minor tweaks to make it sound good.... I LOVE DAWS!