Frequently Asked Questions
How do I tune to a specific Note ?
Batter and resonant heads can be tuned to different LUG notes for different decay or after ring sound characteristics. We don’t offer specific voicing advice regarding if, how much, or which direction to detune heads. To tune your drum head to a desired target note is straight forward. First perform a FIND NOTE operation so the RESOTUNE knows what the drum head is currently tuned to. Then just adjust the lugs tighter or looser to tune up to or down to desired note. The lower Fundamental note will show in red the next higher Lug note in Green. Be aware that you should adjust all lugs a similar amount and will need to clear the head again after reaching your new note tuning.
Can I tune my drum to Fundamental note instead of lug overtone note ?
Yes, after FIND BOTH just adjust to make the red note what you want. You can change the fundamental note by adjusting either batter or resonant head lugs and the RESOTUNE II display will follow as you adjust. You should adjust all lugs in each head varied in a pattern a little each lug per time. After you reach the fundamental note you want you should perform another FIND BOTH to confirm and clear the lugs to agree with each other.
Will RESOTUNE work with drum sitting on flat surface?
Yes and no. Sitting on a flat surface will damp the bottom head and suppress the lowest fundamental resonance which involves both drum heads. This damping of the fundamental can confuse the automatic FIND NOTE function so RESOTUNE may have difficulty finding the correct lug resonance. While the FIND BOTH function may be compromised you can still clear lugs and work with the lug resonance which is local to the head being measured, if you are close enough or know what it rough head tuning is. If you have previously saved this target note you can TUNE LUG to fine tune, but the lower DRUM note will not be accurate.
Do I need to remove one head to tune my drum?
There is no benefit from removing one drumhead before tuning the other. The lowest fundamental overtone is influenced by the average tension of both heads, but not used by RESOTUNE for clearing. The Lug Overtone that is used is local to only one head at a time. See the About Drums web page for more discussion about these different resonances.
Does Resotune work with Conga Drums?
While we haven’t studied an actual conga drum in our lab with a RESOTUNE, we expect the drumhead resonance series behavior to be similar to the one head concert toms. RESOTUNE tuning and clearing technology should work fine. We do have a mechanical interfacing problem similar to the tympani, where the drumhead protrudes above the rim tensioning system, so there is nothing to support the weight of the RESOTUNE for making measurements.
Whatever solution we come up with for tuning tympani will likely give us a model capable of interfacing with congas for tuning/clearing congas. There will likely be different software to accommodate different resonance behavior, or perhaps make it selectable.
How should I voice my kit?
The strength of RESOTUNE is to measure each lug then help you make all the others precisely the same for optimal clear sound at whatever note you want. We do not offer specific voicing suggestions as there are too many variables and subjective personal choices. We provide you with the measurement technology that enables you to precisely tune and clear your kit, then save and return to those favorite tunings. We provide some general advice on our About Drums page.
We also suggest checking out Prof Sound’s drum tuning bible website for a comprehensive general discussion about drum tuning.
Is the Resotune drum tuner hard to use?
The Resotune is engineered to be easy to use, but drums will never be as simple as tuning a guitar (see About drums discussion). “Clearing” (balancing or matching) the lugs at an existing voicing is as simple as running a “FIND BOTH” to read the drumhead and capture a clear reference. Then move RESOTUNE around to the other lugs and adjust them all to read the same (green Clear LED). This can take several minutes. Replacing heads and retuning them to a previously identified and saved notes will take a little longer.
Dialing in your whole kit with very specific tuning (to precise notes) while experimenting with different voicing combinations (like detuning one head from the other or using different weight heads) can take as much time as you are willing to spend. The good news and a very strong benefit of RESOTUNE is you can see what you’re doing while you do it, and once you get your kit dialed in the way you want it to always sound, you can save that data in memory and always return to it.
We predict this new technology to raise drum tuning to new higher level thanks to removing the difficulty of lug clearing. Now drummers are free to focus on the actual notes they are tuning to and the sound of sundry voicing combinations.
Does the Resotune completely replace other tuning techniques?
Resotune is a very precise tuning tool that offers new levels of accuracy into the true state of drumhead note tuning and lug matching (clearing). The mechanical lug torque wrench tensioning approach and/or drum head deflection dial gauges can still be used in combination for coarse tuning, like while changing heads, but will not match Resotune resolution for final adjustment.
Do temperature extremes or sitting idle affect drum tuning?
Sitting idle or moving from warm to cold should not affect the quality of lug clearing which is a purely relative balance between the lugs. True pitch or note tuning will change slightly with temperature. If you are tuning to precise target notes it is best to mimic performance conditions when tuning. Sitting should not adversely affect drum tuning but there is a phenomenon only measurable with the precision of the Resotune system, where over time the drum head will plastically deform to the drum bridge knife edge and stick. When checking the tune or clear quality of drums that have been sitting even overnight it’s a good idea to strike the drum head a few times to free up this knife edge. You generally wouldn’t notice this while playing but the Resotune tuning system excites the drum head with lower energy levels so you can encounter this phenomenon while tuning.
Will RESOTUNE work with marching Percussion drums ?
Drums are drums but since we haven’t actually tested the system on marching drums with high tension heads we can only say that we believe it should. We will try to get a loaner into our lab and will report back what we find. Until then we cannot promise that it will work satisfactorily.
Does RESOTUNE work with Tympani?
In our About Drums general overview on how drums work we discuss differences between tympani and two headed or open backed drums. While the fundamental mode is suppressed our lug clearing technique uses resonance mode 1,1 which is active in tympani.
We purchased a used kettle drum and have confirmed that the basic lug clearing technology does indeed work for clearing tympani/kettle drum lugs. We would need to engineer a different support system to allow for the lack of an elevated rim system that can support the tuner above the drum head. In addition to a mechanical issues we will need to adapt FIND BOTH routines for the different profile of head resonant overtones unique to that type drum.
We do not have a plan for tympani specific models and support but have proved in our lab that the basic technology will work. Steve Fischer (of DrumDial Inc) is a long time RESOTUNE customer who uses RESOTUNE on his Tympani. There is a picture of Steve’s Tympani and RESOTUNE in the user-area. He made a spacer out of an old typmani head with the mylar removed, then cut his own longer (1/2″) dowels
If you have any comments or tympani specific feature requests please feel free to send them to us here. If they can be easily incorporated and make sense, we will try to include them.
What is the RESOTUNEs capability regarding software updates?
There is a popular saying that software is never finished and at over 5000 lines of code the RESOTUNE uses a fairly complex program. We will announce any major software updates via a revision level change. The latest revision level will be listed on the specification page . Your unit’s revision level can be read at power on. Just like the S/N displays on the level meters, the software revision level is displayed on OCT/NOTE display. Software upgrades can only be made by the factory and will involve a nominal service fee. Contact us here for return authorization, shipping address, and current pricing details.
What is warranty and sales return policy?
Circular Science warrants the RESOTUNE product against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of three (3) years from the date of original purchase (“Warranty Period”). The guarantee is given in accordance with legal requirements.
You can cancel and withdraw your order at any time before shipping and receive a full refund less any transaction costs we incur. You may return your purchased unit within 30 days of receipt in like new condition for a full refund of purchase price less 20% restocking fee. No reason is necessary for order cancellation, which may be requested in writing (an e-mail will suffice). For returns to stock we will issue a Return Authorization number upon request. We appreciate but don’t require an explanation. Returns of products older than 30 days will be handled on a case by case basis. Contact us here with specifics.
Can you tune 8″ toms?
The original release of RESOTUNE didn’t go high enough to properly read and clear 8″ toms, but in Jan’07 we added another octave higher tuning range. If you have a RESOTUNE purchased before then contact customer service to arrange a software upgrade.
How do I use Resotune to tune with DW “Timbre-Match (R)” ?
DW marks their drum shells with specific note tuning targets. When using Resotune to adjust DW drums to this note target, they are referring specifically to the lug mode (green note) overtone resonance. See mode (1,1) on about drums page. While DW suggests that both heads be tuned to the same lug note, they feel it is most important for the resonant (bottom) head to be on note so if any de-tuning is desired it can be applied to the batter (top) head.
NOTE: Timbre-Match (R) is a registered mark of Drum Workshop, Inc.
Can RESOTUNE clear drums in a loud room?
If other musical instruments in the same room (like a bass amp) play loud enough to excite sympathetic drum resonances, this can interfere with RESOTUNE’s ability to read a drum accurately. You may still be able to tune/clear the drumhead but be alert for possible false readings.