CONCEPT
Shell construction. shell material and edge shaping are 3 key factors that determine drum sound. All drum manufacturers in Japan and around the world have been conducting research on these 3 factors. CANOPUS is taking its research one step farther than the others with the policy that we will seek to achieve the best sound drums can offer.
Reproduction of the Recorded Sound with Acoustic Drums
At Canopus. our optimum outcome in drum manufacturing is to reproduce the recorded sound with the acoustic drums we manufacture. All drummers have experienced the disparity between the sound of a real drum-set and the recorded sound. In the recording studio. many devices are used such as muffling. microphones with special properties. supplemented and reduced overtone elements by equalizers and other sound manipulating devices such as gate-reverb and limiters.
We assigned the role of muffling to edge shaping. Generally. muffling is implemented to adjust overtone and make the entire drum sound more coordinated. When muffling is used. at least some of the natural vibration of the drum head will be lost. As a result of our research on overtone control by edge shaping. we successfully gained clean and clear sound without sacrificing the natural vibration of the drum heads and eliminated unwanted overtone. On our bass drum. we eliminated unwanted high overtone by edge shaping and realized a tight and rich (fat) sound without muffling or putting a hole in the drum-head.
Moreover. by reviewing shell construction. we have concluded that no equalizing is needed to supplement the low and high tone when we pull out the shell's full potential. Consequently. recording engineers and PA engineers praise CANOPUS drums as well as drummers.
Different Shell Construction Depending of Shell Size
When we developed R.F.M., CANOPUS' first drum-set. we spent several years determining the ideal shell construction and edge shaping for the 10 inch tom. We tested more than 25 shells and we learned that the ideal combination in the10 inch is not applicable in different size shells. Therefore. R.F.M. series of CANOPUS drums are manufactured under our original theory of having different plies in the shell and combining reinforcements with the best width number of plies depending on shell size. To pull out the best in the shell's potential. CANOPUS' supreme edge shaping technique is utilized.
Shell depth is another important consideration. CANOPUS offers only one kind of shell depth in each size (except specific size and customized shells. ) Depth is different even in the same diameter when the product line is different. We determine our recommended size based on our elaborate research. We are confident that our recommended shell size can satisfy all requests of most drummers in any music genre.
It is worth noting that sound variation depending on the finishes and colors.
In the introduction, we mentioned 3 factors in drum sound. However, CANOPUS has learned that the surface finish and coloration of drums affect drum sound from our experience. For further details, please refer to "Finish List".
With that philosophy, we are most careful and through in manufacturing drums without sacrificing sound or quality for mass production. We are happy to have your comments on our product. Contact email address: custom@canopusdrums.com
Our Concern about Material
The Die-cast hoop we made 25 years ago later turned out to be the hoop that can produce an ideal overtone. which came out almost unexpectedly. We found this fact after our remaking of the mold and testing the hoop by other suppliers.
With one piece of die-cast hoop. we have experienced various problems since we started our production for the first time 25 years ago. We saw the situation of having different sound when we tried another plating factory. when we made thicker plating for better looks. and when we remade the same mold to make the same die-cast hoop. We spent about 2 years in the trial and error process to gain the ideal sound we have been searching for since we started our re-making of the mold.
Even the slightest change can be an important factor that makes a difference in sound. The slightest change in metal composition. change in shape and change in temperature can all make a difference in sound. The same die-cast hoops. from which you cannot tell the difference visually. can make completely different sound. "The smallest factor can make a big difference in sound. " Our concern about such detail is the rationale that supports the belief that at CANOPUS. we can realize the ideal drum sound.
What is the ideal sound?
What is the biggest difference between the musical instrument and industrial products? The ideal of industrial products is "beautiful and durable".
However. in musical instruments. even thoug
The search for further possibilities in drum design, and the evolution of our development concept.
What could be the ideal drum sound for drummers ?å
In the first stage of our development, under the theme of reproduction of recorded sound of present-day , in other words, reproduction of equalized sound, as a result, we have completed “ RFM (reinforcement Maple) Series “, taking sound control from the aspect of various shell construction of each size of drums into account. In pursuing the bearng edge shape, it was those period when we achieved a technology that enabled us to control theoretically down to the 1/100mm.
Furthermore, as the result of our monitoring, we found tendency among rock-drummers that they prefer tough and straight sound projection. So, we felt the need for such series which led us to develop “Birch Series “ . We thought we could be able to respond more or less for the needs of drummers with these two series.
However, even after the completion of drums of these series, we realized that many drummers referred to the recorded sound on the past ( 60’s and 70’s), which led us to the conclusion that “ an ideal sound is not just equalized and controlled sound.
Then, what we tried to develop was “ Reproduction of those vintage sound which is glamorized in our mind.”
The series which is named as “ NEO-Vintage “ , we have completed “NV60-M1” under the development concept of literally “ Reproduction of the drum sound which swept the jazz world in 60’s.
In the second series, “ Reproduction of drum sound that have dominated rock world in 60’s” which successfully led to the completion of “NV60-M2”.
We also have developed in collaboration with Rocket Shells of U.S.A., carbon fiber shells which make roaring sound that are required at loud scenes, and thick shells of segmental construction.
In the course of these developments, we have realized that there are three different
directions in the development of CANOPUS drums:
1...REGULAR Line
Realization of the ideal sound that we propose.
（R.F.M Series、Birch Series）
2...VINTAGE Line
Reproduction of the vintage drum sound wich is glamorized in our mind.
（NEO-Vintage Series）
3...R&D Line
We seek after how the drums should be in the near future, while pursuing possibilities of drums not only its sound, but appearance and material.
（Carbon Fiber Drums, Acrylic Drums, Multi-Colored Finishes, etc)
※R&D=Research and Development
We will continue to keep trying the possibilities of drum design based on the 3 major concepts of development.
| Sound of each Series | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rock | Pops | Jazz | ||
| R.F.M. Series | Bright sound with a bulge | ● | ● | ● |
| Birch Series | Dark tone and straight sustain | ● | ||
| NV60-M1 | Simulate the 60's G sound | ● | ||
| NV60-M2 | Simulate the 60's L sound | ● | ||
We make a proposal on the customized sound wich is specialized by the charecters of each drummer.
An ideal ound of each drummer means in the en d we might need 100 drums for 100 drummers. There are diverce factors involved in determining drum sound, such as materials for the shell, shell construction, hardware such as hoop adn lugs, shape of the bearing edge, etc. Therefore it's possible to create innumerable sound in combination with dese various factors. We are pleased to introduce our endorsers as a typical example on how they have been succesful in creating their own sound.
Example 1.
Yasuo Sano is one of uor talented endorsers an he has been playing CANOPUS drums ever since the inception of the RFM Series. He has played drums of every others series since then, and and now he plays the NV60-M1. Whit the customize bearing edge, open sound and the same shell construction, he created the sound character which is nearest to his own taste by adopting pressed hoops instead of die-cast hoops which comes as a standard equipment. With this slight modification, he enjoys playing his own sound.
Example 2.
How many kind of drums does a professional drummer need for his several types of music situation?
The drummer requires 2 unique drumsound: One for live sound an d one for studio.
Whit his countless recordings, and out of his experiences, the drum sound he has selected are from CANOPUS' Brich Series with the arranged heads and mutes. For his tom sound, he use Remo coated Ambassador drum heads slighty muted with rings or gel. He also applies a Remo muffle bass-drum head on the batter and resonsant side of his bass drum to cut high over tones and emphasize the low and midraneg of the drum.
By making your own custom alteration to our drum design, and innumerable variety of drum tones are available to allow everyone the abilityto find their own custom sound.
