Soundproofing a small room with drums?

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Drummingfrog

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Question

I'm trying to soundproof a room that's 20/12

I have a Drum set (Maple) on the far end of the room with the bass drum facing the wall.

Any advice of the best method to create a good recording are with this space?

Thank You.
 
Where can I start?

First of all, I'm not contractor so I don't know if "20/12" is some kind of shorthand for room dimensions. I need three dimensions to visualize a room!

Secondly, for sure you want the drums to face into the room. You won't be able to take advantage of the limited acoustics a room that size has to offer otherwise.

Thirdly, is sound leakage an issue? Do you have neighboors (I know that's a typo but I like the implication) that hate loud noise? If so that's going to either increase the cost of treating it properly, or require deadening that will force you to use reverb in the mix to give the drums any sense of ambience.

Just some stuff to consider.......
 
Also, is this room used solely for the drums? The center of the room may be the best position for them, but then again it might not. You will need to experiment a little.
 
are you actually a frog who plays the drums? that would so totally kick ass if you were :D
 
Drummingfrog said:
Question


Any advice of the best method to create a good recording are with this space?

Thank You.
Click to expand...

You're looking enhance the sound of the room right...not necessarily 'soundproof' it. They're not the same. First thing...get as much fluffy soft crap around the room as you can...heavy curtains, carpet, foam, soft furniture...kid brothers. Hard surfaces like wood, glass and metal, will reflect a lot of sound around the room, and that's generally not cool. Compare the vibe of a gymnasium to that of a theater...see what I mean? There are bass-traps and acoustic treatments available to do this...tiles and chunks of foam designed specifically for this job, but with a little creativity you can do a decent job with little money. Then...walk around the room while holding and playing one of your drums. You should be able to find a sweet spot...o at least one really crappy place to avoid. When you find this sweet or less-than-crappy-spot...that's where your drums go. Avoid setting up the bass drum so that it's parallel...or perpendicular for that matter...with any of the four walls. This will be a decent start.
 
Well, to really "soundproof" a room, you need an air space in between two walls. I guess the best way to say it is a room inside of a room. Insulated wall, air space insulated wall. The drums would be best on an elevated wood floor with sand fill underneath where the kit is placed. These two things will also kill the vibration that accompanies sound leakage. You can control how live or dead the room is with wood panels and carpet or the Auralex foam. Quite impractical for most of us, but that is "the way".

Definately face into the room so the drums can breathe a little bit. It's a whole kit and some ambient sound is needed to make it "sound like it sounds".
Most of us just wait until the wife and kids are gone, then pound away.
 
kojdogg said:
are you actually a frog who plays the drums? that would so totally kick ass if you were :D
Click to expand...

He can play the hell out of "Michigan Rag" and "Ragtime Doll," but only if nobody is looking.

Just kidding. He plays a mean "Misty Mountain Hop."
 
Drumming and Green Glue

I have the perfect article for you to read from Wired Magazine, this guys wife is a drummer and this is his experience with soundproofing. Since I can not post the url just do a search on Google for the following: Green Glue Wired

It will be the first link in the result,

Green Glue was perfect for this project, becuase it is so effective against low frequency noise.

Dave
soundproofingwithdave.com
 
Drummingfrog said:
Question

I'm trying to soundproof a room that's 20/12
Click to expand...

Getting to soundproof is going to cost more than you want to spend. Think NASA.

Getting control of the room's acoustics is a little easier, but will do nothing for sound reduction.

Think about it: To be soundproof you need the space to be airtight. You also need to breathe.

Massive construction is the only way to achieve significant sound reduction levels, especially at low frequencies.

Fluffy stuff ain't gonna help with that.
 
dralter said:
I have the perfect article for you to read from Wired Magazine, this guys wife is a drummer and this is his experience with soundproofing. Since I can not post the url just do a search on Google for the following: Green Glue Wired

It will be the first link in the result,

Green Glue was perfect for this project, becuase it is so effective against low frequency noise.

Dave
soundproofingwithdave.com
Click to expand...



I visited your site and think perhaps the term "soundproofing" is hyperbole.

I think perhaps the products and techniques you specify are good for reduction of sound transmission. I think for someone who doesn't know better they might actually expect the products you're talking about to result in a space that is "soundproof". I think "soundproof" needs an asterisk.
 
I sourced some nice dense foam from Joann Fabrics onlne. You could make something decent out of that. They had thicknesses up to like 5 inches I think.
 
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