Kick drum exciting toms and snare

[Sjogras]

For a while now my kick has been exciting toms and snare. The snare is not really a problem, it's a minor buzz just like when playing the toms but it's never really audible when playing normally. The toms on the other hand is the problem here, as playing the kick results in a range of frequncies that cut through even when playing loudly to music with headphones.

It occurs very weird to me since the frequencies of kick and toms for instance are no way near each other, and the kick itself is very muffeled with a large pillow in it filling more or less half the drum. The batter is tuned medium high, and the reso ~JAW.

The kit is set up on a thick carpet on wooden floor, and next to the kit is my bed, desk, bookshelf etc so the room isn't boomy at all. The toms are set up on a rack.

So has anyone had this problem, and what did you do to solve it?

Edit: Should be of relevance - the kit is a sonor 3007 with 8", 10", 12", 14", 16" toms and 17.5x22" kick. Evans g1 for resos and g2 for batters on the toms, and remo ps4 for kick batter and the sonor stock head as reso.

[keep it simple]

Originally Posted by Sjogras

frequencies of kick and toms for instance are no way near each other,
.

Actually, you'd be surprised just how close the frequencies are. Sympathetic resonance in a small space is just going to happen. Other than seriously dampening your toms, you won't completely get rid of it, & in my opinion, nor should you try. Embrace the kit sound rather than fighting it.

There are a few things you may wish to consider. By so heavily dampening the bass drum, you're altering the natural volume balance with the toms. This will allow the toms to dominate over the muted bass drum. Either mute it all, or let them all sing. Raising the tuning of your toms will reduce sympathetic resonance too, especially raising the reso to several notches above the batter.

Is it a close mic situation or just acoustic? If you're close mic'ing, you may wish to go the simple overhead route instead. Close mic's suffer from proximity effect, & that places unbalanced emphasis on the lower frequencies. In other words, the close mics will pick up more of the very frequencies you feel are dominating the balance.

[Mad About Drums]

Originally Posted by Sjogras

So has anyone had this problem, and what did you do to solve it?

Many have this "problem", but I agree with Andy (KIS), you shouldn't try to get rid of it, it's a natural part and sound of a drumset configuration, as opposed to individual drum, it's acting/sounding as a one "instrument" with all the shells and cymbals vibrating in harmony with each other, think of it with a similar feel and approach as a piano, it's one instrument that singing together IMO. :)

[Arky]

This phenomenon is also exactly what separates programmed drums from real drums. That's why real drums sound so much fuller and "natural" - because that's the way they sound per se (depending on the room acoustics), with the elements interacting and vibrating/resonating.

Now if you don't like this, you could use noise-gates (either during tracking or later during mixdown). The proximity effect of dynamic mics can also be used as a built-in "EQ" - closer distance = more bass, vs. more distance = no bass enhancement. Again, you can cure overly bass freqs during mixdown, applying low cuts and/or EQ. (Many mics have low-cut/roll-off switches, but quality-wise it's better to do processing like this later on, you'd also have more freedom for decisions as the sound is still "there"/unprocessed).

[Sjogras]

Thanks for the replies.

No micing is involved here, so far I'm only practicing at home and jamming with friends.

It seems that it's mainly the rack tom resos that cause the unwanted frequencies, but tuning them higher would alter the tom sound too much, I'm not really a fan of that pitch drop some people like.

And yes, like you guys said acoustic kits obviously have these characteristics, but I didn't have this problem with my old kit to the same extent. My approach to resonance has changed greatly over the years, I used to dampen toms and snare a lot, and I used to hate snare buzz, which I'm no longer bothered by. I have no intention to completely get rid of the unwanted frequencies, but it's a point where it's jusgt too much. I guess I'll have to spend some time figuring this out, just like figuring out how to tune the toms for instance, hours and hours of trial and error.