Acoustic coupling of drum-set cymbals

Abstract

When playing the standard drum set there is a definite audible coupling between the crash cymbal and the splash cymbal. The purpose of this paper was to evaluate this coupling by studying the spectral signature of each cymbal. Separate recordings were made of a 16-in. (40-cm) thin dark crash cymbal and a 10-in. (25-cm) splash cymbal in an anechoic chamber. Spectra Plus software was used to extract the spectral signature of each cymbal. The two cymbals were then placed in proximity with each other and new recordings were made, striking each cymbal in turn. New combined spectral signatures were extracted showing a change in signature for each cymbal due to cross coupling with the other cymbal. The signatures of sympathetic vibrations produced by the unexcited cymbals were then extracted from the combined spectral signatures using MATLAB software. This experiment provided a better understanding of the nature of the coupling between cymbals and provided the needed data for future study of the actual coupling mechanism.