Academic Research Publications by iDrumTune

The iDrumTune app is developed from thorough academic research into percussion acoustics and drum tuning by Professor Rob Toulson and a number of colleagues. This research has brought new knowledge on the acoustics of drums and has enabled for the first time a quantified approach to drum tuning. The first iDrumTune patent was applied for in 2007 and in 2008 Professor Toulson gave the first public demonstration of the iDrumTune system at the international Art of Record Production Conference in Lowell, MA, followed by an invited showcase presentation at the Audio Engineering Society Convention, New York in 2009.

A number of articles and research publications related to iDrumTune are listed below, many which are available online and open access.

Toulson. E. R. & Hardin, M. 2020 – Evaluating the accuracy of musicians and sound engineers in performing a common drum tuning exercise, proceedings of 149th The Audio Engineering Society Conference, New York, October 2020. available online here

Toulson, E. R. 2017 – The Resonant Tuning Factor: a new measure for quantifying the setup and tuning of cylindrical drums, proceedings of 143rd The Audio Engineering Society Conference, New York, October 2017. download paper

Toulson, E. R., Richardson, P. G. M. & Nunn, D. J. E. 2012 – Analysis and manipulation of the modal ratios of cylindrical drums. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. Volume 131, Issue 1, pp. 907-913 (2012). available online here

Toulson, E. R. & Richardson, P. G. M. &  2011 – Fine Tuning Percussion: a new educational approach, The Journal of The Art of Record Production, Issue 5. download paper​

Toulson, E. R.  & Richardson, P. G. M. 2010 – Drum Tuning Education, presented at The Art of Record Production Conference, Leeds, UK, December 2010. download slides

Toulson, E. R. & Richardson, P. G. M.  2010 – Clearing the Drumhead, Proceedings of Reproduced Sound, Cardiff, UK, November 2010. download paper

Toulson, E. R. 2009 – Percussion Analysis and Quantitative Drum Tuning, tutorial presentation at The 127th Audio Engineering Society Convention, New York, October 2009.  download slides 

Toulson, E. R., Cuny-Cringy, C., Robinson, P. & Richardson, P. G. M. 2009 – The perception and importance of drum tuning in live performance and music production, Journal of The Art of Record Production, Issue 4. download paper 

Toulson, E. R., Cuny-Cringy, C., Robinson, P. & Richardson, P. G. M. 2008 – The perception and importance of drum tuning in live performance and music production, presented at The Art of Record Production Conference, Lowell, Massachusetts, November 2008. download slides 

Toulson, E. R. 2008 – Instrument Tuning Device, International (PCT) Patent application number PCT/GB2009/002017. read on Google Patents

Toulson, E. R. 2007 – Instrument Tuning Device, UK Patent application number GB0713649.2. read on Google Patents