live mix

[dusint]

I just started running the soundboard in my church for a band. We use a drum kit, bass guitar and acoustic guitar along with vocals. Because the room is very 'live', the drums don't need amplification, just the opposite! I need a way to bring the drum level down. I would love to get a electronic kit but there is no money right now. Any suggestions how to bring the level down but keep the sound quality?

[dr.colossus]

this is one of the great mysteries of drums a 2"x2" square of gaffer tape folded over the edge (so half is on top and half is on the bottom) of of your cymbals will help, i does kill the niceness of the sound a little.... as far as the rest of the kit goes, gaffer is the most unobtrusive to deaden the sound a little also zero-rings.... but you dont need to use the whole ring, just cut a four inch section out of it this reduces the volume only a little, but wont effect the overall sound of the kit.....

finally you will sacrafice sound quality the minute you takenything away from the natural resonance of a kit..... but on the other hand its only being played in church, its not like they are paying customers at a gig specifically ther to listen to the band, so the you may get away with desicrating the sound a little... good luck

[Prizmaxic]

It might be a blow to your drummer's ego, but ask the drummer to play softer.

[dusint]

The drummer's ego can handle being asked to play softer, but every so often he forgets and starts to play louder. Because I'm not miking him at all, I have no control other than to raise the overall volume to try to balance the sound.

[Matt303]

I had a simillar problem with a function band. We play some small venues as well as larger ones. Ofted the first time we get to see the venue is on the night we're playing. One compromise relating to playing softly is to get your drummer some Hot Rods. These are stickes made up from lots of individual small sticks taped together (a bit like brushes but with wood). These take the edge off the sound and also makes the drummer work harder. The advantage is that he can play naturally and although its quieter they dont totally destroy the natural resonance of the drum. Also heavily dampen the bass drum. The drum sound produced reminds me of the Steve Gadd sound on the Paul Simon One Trick Pony Album. Unfortunately with this method you only get the sound, not the drummer.