Optical Measurement of Acoustic Drum Strike Locations

This paper presents a method for locating the position of a strike on an acoustic drumhead. Near-field optical sensors were installed underneath the drumhead of a commercially available snare drum. By implementing time difference of arrival (TDOA) algorithm accuracy within 2cm was achieved in approximating the location of strikes. The system can be used for drum performance analysis, timbre analysis and can form a basis for an augmented drum performance system.