Drum Noise?

[billyag20]

Is it really loud? Will my neighbors be able to hear it when I'm playing if I live in an apartment? I'm picking up my bundle in about 2 hours and am a little concerned. I was thinking about going the mouse pad route, but want to know if people are overreacting.

[EliteXFactor]

From the demo I've played, it's not too loud...if it's really a problem then it's about dynamics or turn up the volume.

[hunter053]

I know my neighbors pounded on the wall last night (but it WAS after midnight :P)

[LZ_Reborn]

Is it really loud? Will my neighbors be able to hear it when I'm playing if I live in an apartment? I'm picking up my bundle in about 2 hours and am a little concerned. I was thinking about going the mouse pad route, but want to know if people are overreacting.

Man!! screw the neighbors!! you turn up that volume and pound those drums all night until your arms fall off!!! :D

[Bluvox]

We were noticing that the noise was a bit loud if you really slap the drums, we're going to work on some pads to put on the top of it to help with the noise some. Cala's not as loud when playing as I am, but she's a music major that studied percussion for a while in college, too. Proper technique definitely helps.

[KaYotiX]

Im hitting the music store tomorrow to see if i can find sticks that are quieter.

[SimsFoLife]

I had a concern about this well, not for keeping the neighbors up (its about rockin out...screw the neighbors) but more for aesthetic reasons... i dont wanna hear the tap tap of drums in my living room but rather the drum sounds coming from the speakers... looked into it and there a more than a few makers of practice drumsticks that are designed to be quiet(er) than normal ones... im getting ready to order some.... hope this helps..

Rock on!

[DivaMom]

We were noticing that the noise was a bit loud if you really slap the drums, we're going to work on some pads to put on the top of it to help with the noise some. Cala's not as loud when playing as I am, but she's a music major that studied percussion for a while in college, too. Proper technique definitely helps.


Awwwwwwwww, shucks :o
(Technically, I'm not a music major anymore, 'cause I graduated :p )

[McDeezy]

I put dish towels over them (folded in half). Takes soooo much sound away. And they seem to respond better that way.

[SoKGiX]

I put dish towels over them (folded in half). Takes soooo much sound away. And they seem to respond better that way.

really good idea, give these sticks a bit more weight too. they're light as hell

[DivaMom]

I put dish towels over them (folded in half). Takes soooo much sound away. And they seem to respond better that way.
Yeah, we tried towels, too, but they kept falling off mid-song... hehe.

[ddarko]

Aren't there some kind of rubber or cloth drumstick tips that can be bought? I do find it pretty loud as well... I was thinking maybe those foam ear-bud covers but I think they'd just fall off or wear out after a few beats. Btw, I bought the separate rock band branded drumsticks when I purchased the bundle today and they are heavier than the "stock" sticks.

[ddarko]

I'm not trying to be rude but this just made me laugh... hard.

It's not the sticks that determine how loud your playing is. ;)

At the very least, I wish I could be there to see the look on the clerk's face when you ask "could I get some quieter sticks?"....

It should be priceless. :D

I think you would be correct if we were talking about a real drum set here but since the Rock Band drum kit is not designed to produce any sound on it's own looking for some material to go between the sticks and drum pad to quiet down the impact noise is valid. Doesn't matter if it goes on the drum pad or sticks. Imagine throwing a rock at a wall, measuring the decibels and then wrap that rock in a towel and throw/measure again.

[WillDrum4Food]

Im hitting the music store tomorrow to see if i can find sticks that are quieter.


I'm not trying to be rude but this just made me laugh... hard.

It's not the sticks that determine how loud your playing is. ;)

At the very least, I wish I could be there to see the look on the clerk's face when you ask "could I get some quieter sticks?"....

It should be priceless. :D

[rchapoteau]

I'm thinking about getting round mouse pads to help quiet the drum. I hate that plastic sounding noise. If it sounded like I was really hitting a drum I wouldn't care.

[DivaMom]

I cut some circles from felt this morning, to fit just inside the rings, didn't deaden the sound much if at all. I have a set of drumsticks with nylon tips on 'em, but they're at home and we're out of town. (I had planned to bring my stick bag with me because I knew we'd get RB while we were here, but I forgot :o )
The problem with putting too much stuff on the sticks themselves to deaden the sound is that you're going to change the "feel" of them eventually, and then it'll be harder to play. (They won't bounce right.)
We're still brainstorming :D

[Micker]

I'm not trying to be rude but this just made me laugh... hard.

It's not the sticks that determine how loud your playing is. ;)

At the very least, I wish I could be there to see the look on the clerk's face when you ask "could I get some quieter sticks?"....

It should be priceless. :D


What are you talking about, of course it could be the sticks. He is talking about the tapping sound you get from hitting the hard rubber drum pads with a wodden stick. They sell rubber sticks, felt tipped sticks etc., that may make less of a sound then regular wooden sticks.

[WillDrum4Food]

What are you talking about, of course it could be the sticks. He is talking about the tapping sound you get from hitting the hard rubber drum pads with a wodden stick. They sell rubber sticks, felt tipped sticks etc., that may make less of a sound then regular wooden sticks.

Ummm... no.

Like I said, it's not the sticks.

I could get a monster sound out of my drums using 5As (twigs) and get a smooth jazz-tone out of some 2As (logs).

It's not an issue of "quieter sticks"....

You just have to be a "quieter drummer". ;)

[glynnjamin]

Ummm... no.

Like I said, it's not the sticks.

I could get a monster sound out of my drums using 5As (twigs) and get a smooth jazz-tone out of some 2As (logs).

It's not an issue of "quieter sticks"....

You just have to be a "quieter drummer". ;)

So if I got some timpani sticks, rubber balls wrapped in yarn....you don't think the sound would be any quieter?

You must play your drums too loud and be deaf then.

[MrNazraq]

Ummm... no.

Like I said, it's not the sticks.

I could get a monster sound out of my drums using 5As (twigs) and get a smooth jazz-tone out of some 2As (logs).

It's not an issue of "quieter sticks"....

You just have to be a "quieter drummer". ;)

Someone from a previous thread advised that I get a set of "silent tips" for the sticks. So I did. They're basically rubber nubs (looks like pencil erasers) that fit on the tips. You know what? Didn't change the noise at all.

Tried to put some kind of mat on top of the pads. That didn't help either. It definitely isn't the sticks that are making the noise.

I have a feeling it's the different layers WITHIN THE PAD ITSELF that are hitting against each other and making the noise. You'd have to open up the pad and put some kind of mat on the inside. But, then who knows if your notes will register...

Now I just try to slightly tap the drums instead of full-on wailing on them. It helps a lot, and it feels better.

PS- The silent tips help to add a little bounce and weight to the sticks. They only cost about $5 from Guitar Center...

[DivaMom]

Someone from a previous thread advised that I get a set of "silent tips" for the sticks. So I did. They're basically rubber nubs (looks like pencil erasers) that fit on the tips. You know what? Didn't change the noise at all.

Tried to put some kind of mat on top of the pads. That didn't help either. It definitely isn't the sticks that are making the noise.

I have a feeling it's the different layers WITHIN THE PAD ITSELF that are hitting against each other and making the noise. You'd have to open up the pad and put some kind of mat on the inside. But, then who knows if your notes will register...

Now I just try to slightly tap the drums instead of full-on wailing on them. It helps a lot, and it feels better.

PS- The silent tips help to add a little bounce and weight to the sticks. They only cost about $5 from Guitar Center...
You can get rubber screw covers, in a myriad of different colours, for 50 cents at Home Depot... they fit the tips of the sticks perfectly ;)
Being a "quieter drummer" is part of it, but part of it is definitely the pads themselves.

[WillDrum4Food]

So if I got some timpani sticks, rubber balls wrapped in yarn....you don't think the sound would be any quieter?




Nope.
(Add to that, the thought of someone trying timpani sticks on the Rock Band "drums" is even funnier than the idea of "quieter sticks".... ;) )

Do me a favour:

Take your bare hand.... right now... bring it down hard on the desk in front of you. Slap that sucker.

Pretty loud, huh?

Now, take your hand and slowly bring it down to the same spot.

Did you cover the desk in something before doing that?

No?

Did you put a thick glove on your hand before doing it?

No?

Why is it quieter, then? ;)

[admanimal]

I wrapped the tips of the sticks in some soft foam (I think it's referred to as camping foam or a camping mat...it's the kind that often comes in sheets shaped like an egg carton).

Anyway, doing so has significantly reduced the noise, or at least changed the noise from the thwack of a drum stick to a dull thud. The only drawback is I have to be a little more careful where I hit a pad or it won't register, but it's nothing major.

[CigDangle]

I live in an apartment and this is what I did:

http://generationgamerz.com/v2/insight/time-for-rock-band-arts-crafts.php

I'm still working on a bass pedal solution :D

[mrloofer]

Any chance of a video before/after banging on them?

[TheTogfather]

I live in an apartment and this is what I did:

http://generationgamerz.com/v2/insight/time-for-rock-band-arts-crafts.php

I'm still working on a bass pedal solution :D

yah, I'd love to hear a bit more about how well this works, I just saw this posted on the PA forums and I"m thinking I might need to make a trip to Michael's tonight. I got a 2 year old at home and I'm worried about waking her up at night, since I always play after she's in bed. As long as the resonsiveness is still there, the sound is much quieter, and the bounce is at least someone present, then it looks like one hell of a solution. Kudos for being crafty and making it look damn good too!

[CigDangle]

Check out the article on the website. I included a video someone posted on Youtube demonstrating how well they work.