Drum soundproofing HELP!!!!
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Posted on Jul 27, 2010 09:02 am
dantommum
Member Since: Jul 27, 2010
Can anyone help me?
Sorry this is so long but I wanted to explain in full to hopefully get the best advice!
I have just bought a Mapex kit for my son who is, at the moment, a relative beginner but very good and has real potential.
He has taken and passed with distinction his grade one exam and is only 8 years old!
I live in a semi detached and obviously need to be mindful of the neighbours regarding the noise when he practices.
I have bought silencing pads, put rugs on the floor and walls in the garage and my neighbour (elderly) is still not happy.
I have spoken to environmental health about the noise and asked their advice and they have told me to carry on!! I have asked her if we can come to an agreement as to the times he practices (its not as if he's on them 24-7) but she's not even happy with that. I've limited him to half hour slots at 3 hour intervals and nothing after 7.30pm but - still not happy neighbour! I dont want my neighbour becoming ill though so if anyone has any ideas how I can soundproof the garage, on a budget, I would be grateful.
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cruxTypo SzarMember
Since: Jul 04, 2002
Jul 27, 2010 09:35 am Well the short answer would be anymore material between ur garage and ur neighbor would be the best bet, material and and some air to soak up the sound before teh walls, so books and boxes and heavy cloth and such.
but seriously, if hes using pads on rugs and things already i dont know how much more suondproof u can go. I dont want to assume ur neighbor is being difficult but u seem to have made alot of compromises in his/her favor and the bottom line is will he/she deny an 8 yr old the joy of learning and playing music?
If the silencing pads ont eh drums arent enough u can also get a faux drum kit that is just rubber practice pads that make about as much noise as a TV, also elevate the little drummer boy so no vibrations travel through teh ground.
but in all honesty the best material might be earplugs for u neighbor...
Jul 27, 2010 09:52 am Have you considered buying an inexpensive electronic kit? Some of them today do have really good "feel" to the heads...failing that, all you could do is put another layer of sheetrock on your walls, maybe with some hard rubber between the layers of sheetrock...or, space in from the wall a couple inches and build another wall, ceiling and floor, but that hardly seems practical.
Jul 27, 2010 11:27 am Stopping sound transmission is rarely simple... Mass - Lots of it - without an escape route. If air can get through, sound will get through.
Two layers of 5/8" drywall is a nearly universal starting point. But in a garage, that's a boat load of drywall... You could theoretically (THEORETICALLY!!!) work the corners facing the neighbor, which will allow more transmission in the other direction. But two-sides + ceiling or it isn't going to work at all as far as 'funneling' the sound in a different direction.
Jul 28, 2010 07:48 am Thanks for this. Yes I have tried to compromise with my neighbour but she doesnt want to know. She was OK at first when I told her about the drum kit but now she says she didnt realise it was so big!!
Anyway, he did have an electronic kit at his dads but circumstances (which I wont go into) mean he cant access them and unfortunately, his dad wont allow me to have the electronic kit here for him - because he bought it!!! He wont even allow me to have his drum sticks back!!!!!!!!
Anyway, i have been told if I elevate the kit from the floor and lay carpet on it this will help. I am also looking at getting some drywall equivalent (plasterboard) between the two garage walls and then putting carpet on the walls to further soundproof it. Wll this really help??
Anyway, thanks for your advice and I will keep you posted - even if i just get my neighbour some earplugs as suggested!!!
:)
Jul 28, 2010 07:51 am One more thought for a cheaper solution, perhaps set the drums on a sheet or two of hard rubber flooring to absorb vibration going directly thru the floor...
random thought...
zekthedeadcowEat Spam before it eats YOU!!!Member
Since: May 11, 2002
Jul 28, 2010 09:43 am As a drummer, what I would do is get mesh heads and an electronic drum module with electronic cymbals...
I would need to know what your budget is though...start with mesh heads ASAP and mute the cymbals with something like washcloths... then add the electronics later.
Jul 28, 2010 11:01 am Rubber mats and carpeting can dampen some of the mechanical vibration (you'd want that if there was another room in the garage that was being used as an isolation booth or control room), but it isn't going to dampen the acoustical energy whacking the whacky music-hating neighbor.
On the other hand - those heavy rubber pads for the heads dampen the mechanical energy (the stick striking the head) that causes the acoustical energy (the head and drum subsequently vibrating)... But if you've tried those and she'd still putting up a fuss, I think the next step may be to escalate to violence or spiking her afternoon tea with sleeping pills. Okay, maybe that's not such a hot idea...
Jul 28, 2010 11:18 am There is no problem that can't be solved with the proper type, and amount, of applied force.
