Dimo Application for the Dizi

[Ry]

One of the things I've found challenging about the dizi compared to the western concert flute is how fickle the dimo is!  I find that when I apply a new membrane, it sounds warm and full and buzzes beautifully.  A few minutes later however, as I'm playing the flute loses its buzzing quality and starts to sound more like a normal flute.  The membrane itself also smooths out and loses some of the wrinkles I'd placed.  Is this normal?  

Another thing I'm curious about is how often do you change the dimo?  Admittedly this is more so a hobby and I only get around to playing it once or twice a week.  When I do try to play it with a previously-applied dimo, the buzz is very loose and the sound is flat.  I saw a tip where you add some water around the edges and readjust the wrinkles, and it definitely brings a little more life back to the dimo! (I've also seen tips for tapping the membrane and blowing warm air on it to get it to loosen up and buzz more.) 

Overall, I'm just looking for some advice on how volatile the dimo is and whether I should be changing it more frequently, adjusting it every time I play, and if I should be applying more or less wrinkles because it tightens over the hole once it's dried.  When applied correctly, the dizi sounds amazing!  I just wish I could figure out how to make it stay that way ... 

[camellia]

The thing is, dimo is a disposable product. You need to change it fairly often. I usually change it every 1-2 weeks. But I know some people do it more often.

I don't think there is a set "formula" as in how many wrinkles it should have and whatnot. You just need to apply it and adjust according to how it sounds on your flute. When there is not enough wrinkles it sounds flat, when too many it also sounds flat, when there is a hole in the dimo it doesn't sound at all

Sometimes no matter how you put it, it just doesn't sound right because something is wrong with the dimo itself.


A tip I got is to slightly stretch the dimo in the center before you apply it. But careful to not tear it. When you look at the glued dimo, it should slightly curve inwards where the hole is. The wrinkles should be in the center but not on the edges. The edges should be glued flat. I'm not sure how to explain that better, maybe someone else will pitch in and explain with proper terms!