In the past, getting a professional drum sound has been the result of controlling the tone by reducing duration and removing unwanted frequencies through various muffling techniques. Using pillows, tapes, gels, pads and other methods and materials, the main way to improve a drum sound has traditionally been to subtract from the natural resonance of the drum and vibration of the drumhead.
But what if there were a way to add to a drum’s sound instead of subtracting from it?
Well, now, with Cympad’s Undertones sound enhancers, there is.
What are Overtones and Undertones?
Overtones and undertones are frequencies that can be felt and heard in all kinds of musical instruments, including drums. Undertones, in particular, are low-end frequencies. Cympad Undertones are specially designed drum accessories that isolate and separate drums, pedals and hardware from the floor to enhance their low-end as well as their overall sustain and sound.
Undertones are advanced, cellular foam discs and pads that are placed under drums, pedals and hardware to suspend and isolate the gear from the floor.
When legs are used to hold the floor tom in a normal playing position, some of the drum’s vibrations are transferred through the legs and into the floor. This shortens the sound of the drum and alters its natural frequency spectrum. To get a fuller tone from the drums you may notice that some drummers prefer to mount their floor toms on tom-tom stands, racks, cradles or suspension mounts.
At the same time, drummers who play electronic drums often get complaints from their neighbors about the unwanted vibrations from the e-drum bass drum pedals and hi-hats that go through their floors, walls and ceilings.
Cympad Undertones have been developed to fix these problems and more.
How Do Cympad Undertones Work?
Undertones isolate and separate bass drums and tom-toms from the floor. They also provide a soft, cushion-like foundation that adds sustain and low-end by allowing the drum and head to vibrate at their fullest for a rich, well-balanced tone.
When used under pedals and hardware, Undertones absorb unwanted vibration and reduce the transfer of vibration to the floor.
And, as an additional benefit, the underside of Undertones is made from a non-skid material with Velcro™, which helps prevent drum crawl and is compatible with a variety of surfaces—eliminating the need for bulky, sound-killing drum rugs in many situations.
How Do Cympad Undertones Enhance Sound?
Isolation For Better Tone:
The main function of Cympad Undertones is to optimize vibration and resonance by providing a simple way to separate the drum from the floor. This creates a noticeably improved and deeper tone, especially in the case of floor toms and bass drums.
Better Clarity and Warmth:
The cellular foam eliminates the direct physical connection of the drums to the floor. By reducing this coupling, the Undertones enhance the drum’s natural overtones. You and your audience will hear a warmer and fuller yet cleaner sound without distractions or disruptions.
Consistency in Performance:
You might play on different surfaces such as wood, concrete or carpet and therefore, depending on the type of surface, your drum sound may also vary. However, because Undertones are effective in isolating the drum from the floor they can help bring consistency to your sound, regardless of the surface.
Reduction in Unwanted Movement:
In addition to improving the tone, Undertones also offer physical stability to the drum kit. The easy-to-use, non-skid accessories help control unwanted movement of the kit during an energetic performance.
Drumming is beautiful because it offers such a vast diversity of tones. Cympad Undertones allow drummers to efficiently and effectively expand and enhance these tones and bridge the sonic gap between beginners and professionals.
