Help! Do I "soundproof" my practice space? OR buy an Electric kit?

[Tazerdlaze]

Hello, everyone!

It's been quite a while since I've posted on here, and quite a while since I've been able to actively play drums. Throughout different living situations and just life in general, I haven't really been able to play much and then fast-forward to when I actually am able to, I've been kind of making excuses. My wife and I purchased a home a couple years ago so I have the space and ability to be able to have a little practice area, the only issue is that it's just too loud. We have a young baby and so the times I get to play are slim as I can only play when they are both out of the house. Currently my drums are setup in the single bay of our garage (the acoustics are obviously horrible) but the real issue is that it's just way too loud inside the house, and I also don't want to be rude to the neighbors because it's still quite loud near our mailbox. Our houses aren't really that close together or anything, it's just leaking through the garage door.

I am really having a hard time deciding on whether to invest in an electric kit, buy some acoustic blankets to hang up so that the sound is more manageable, or build a small room within my garage (the most expensive and complicated way). I think the only issue is that I have no idea how much of a difference hanging up acoustic blankets around the space in the garage would really make. I think that's the idea I like the most as I don't really want to invest in an electronic kit, and I don't really want to spend the time and money to build a room in my garage. I also don't really want to practice with low volume cymbals and heads, as I would like to be able to have friends come over and Jam here and there. I am just hoping to hear from those that were in my shoes and what they ended up doing.

Thanks!

 

[TPC]

That's a tough one. A garage is a big space and a rather complicated soundproofing project, with the garage door, and all.

A room within a room is much easier to soundproof, but then you have to actually build the room within a room.

Any way you slice it, it'll take some significant work and budget.

Electronic drums, with all their disadvantages, might just be the best option here.

 

[robthetimekeeper]

Buy some earmuffs for your wife, baby, and yourself. Problem solved.

 

[Tazerdlaze]

That's a tough one. A garage is a big space and a rather complicated soundproofing project, with the garage door, and all.

A room within a room is much easier to soundproof, but then you have to actually build the room within a room.

Any way you slice it, it'll take some significant work and budget.

Electronic drums, with all their disadvantages, might just be the best option here.

I think I’m just having a hard time because I love my acoustic kit and cymbals and don’t really want to have to pay a significant amount of money for an electric kit that is of similar quality. I do agree I think an electronic kit is probably the most reasonable answer. My only issue is I eventually want to be able to play my acoustic kit and jam with friends so I don’t know if I just need to build a room within a room in my garage.

 

[hsosdrum]

Building a room within the garage (acoustically isolated from the garage's ceiling, walls and floor is the only way to ensure that acoustic drums won't be audible within the house. Building one large enough for a band to jam in will be an expensive (many thousands of $$) proposition. Anything you do short of this will allow some sound to pass into the house; exactly how much sound depends on a great many variable factors.

 

[Tornado]

Hanging blankets will do next to nothing, except maybe improve how it sounds inside the garage. You have two problems: The sound inside your house, and the sound outside your house. First, for the problem inside your house, there is almost nothing you can do (easily or inexpensively) that will make you quiet enough to play with a sleeping baby in the house. For the problem outside your house, the average garage door might as well be open. Even if you addressed that somehow with a heavier door, it's always going to leak sound by virtue of how a garage door has to operate. My suggestion is to move the drums inside, and play when your wife and baby aren't home. This will help with the outside problem. If your house is tight enough and your neighbors are far enough away, they are unlikely to be bothered by your playing. Or find another place to play.

 

[DavedrumsTX]

I have sound proofed several rooms as I have moved. The term sound proofing is really not appropriate. It’s really about sound reduction. There are countless articles out there on how to do it. It’s expensive, but worth it in my view.

An electronic percussion instrument(I can’t call them drums) works effectively for laying a demo track down and for mentally keeping you sharp. However, it will not replace the technique required for real drumming. Just my opinion.

 

[Tazerdlaze]

I have sound proofed several rooms as I have moved. The term sound proofing is really not appropriate. It’s really about sound reduction. There are countless articles out there on how to do it. It’s expensive, but worth it in my view.

An electronic percussion instrument(I can’t call them drums) works effectively for laying a demo track down and for mentally keeping you sharp. However, it will not replace the technique required for real drumming. Just my opinion.

Yeah I totally agree, that's why I said "sound proof" as I know for my situation it's really just reducing the sound.

 

[Tazerdlaze]

Hanging blankets will do next to nothing, except maybe improve how it sounds inside the garage. You have two problems: The sound inside your house, and the sound outside your house. First, for the problem inside your house, there is almost nothing you can do (easily or inexpensively) that will make you quiet enough to play with a sleeping baby in the house. For the problem outside your house, the average garage door might as well be open. Even if you addressed that somehow with a heavier door, it's always going to leak sound by virtue of how a garage door has to operate. My suggestion is to move the drums inside, and play when your wife and baby aren't home. This will help with the outside problem. If your house is tight enough and your neighbors are far enough away, they are unlikely to be bothered by your playing. Or find another place to play.

I don't want to play with a sleeping baby in the house I just want to be able to play while they're in the house, and not have it be so loud they can't watch tv, play, talk etc... I don't think my neighbors are bothered by the sound I just am trying to be considerate. I don't really have enough space inside the house for the drums that's why they're in the garage so I'm just trying to figure out if I need to put some walls up or buy an electronic kit.

 

[Tazerdlaze]

Building a room within the garage (acoustically isolated from the garage's ceiling, walls and floor is the only way to ensure that acoustic drums won't be audible within the house. Building one large enough for a band to jam in will be an expensive (many thousands of $$) proposition. Anything you do short of this will allow some sound to pass into the house; exactly how much sound depends on a great many variable factors.

Based off some measurements I can build basically a 12x10 foot room with either double walls with an air gap, or just single walls to make it less unbearable. I know it will never be silent and I don't ever care to be able to play at 3 AM or something I just don't want it to be so loud (like it is now) that my wife can't even talk in the house or watch tv without it being super disruptive.

 

[malkire]

I play my drums in the garage. Moving blankets did next to nothing to reduce the sound. So I bought RTOM black hole pads and Zildjian L80 cymbals. They really do cut the volume way down. Neighbors dont complain. My wife can still hear the drums in the house but they aren't disruptive. I like the sound of L80s and the RTOMs are great, you still get the tone of your drums, just a lower volume.

 

[tapotti]

I second the RTOM pads and L80 cymbals. Use the exact setup in my house and it's great.

 

[Pibroch]

A fundamental question to ask yourself regardless of cost and convenience: Am I going to be happy playing an electronic kit even just for practicing. Some drummers can be, some can never be.

There may be other possible options worth exploring, for example :-

At one point I had a similar problem to yours. I ended up joining a local choir as their drummer - a total blast - and in return got the key to their rehearsal room where I could leave my drum kit. For a tiny membership fee I was able to rehearse there night or day for as long as I wanted for only $4 per session to cover electricity for heating/cooling/lighting.

 

[70's Drummer]

I use the Vic Firth drum and cymbal mutes sometimes. It’s not a great sound but it will lower the volume and you get to use the setup you already have.

 

[owr]

It’s a long shot, but you could start perusing local Craigslist for a used whisper room. They’re expensive, but if someone needs to get rid of one, you can find deals. That will give you a taste of what a well built room in a room will do for you. Probably too small for rehearsals, but it will get you playing and give you time to plan for a bigger room.

 

[dtk]

I play my drums in the garage. Moving blankets did next to nothing to reduce the sound. So I bought RTOM black hole pads and Zildjian L80 cymbals. They really do cut the volume way down. Neighbors dont complain. My wife can still hear the drums in the house but they aren't disruptive. I like the sound of L80s and the RTOMs are great, you still get the tone of your drums, just a lower volume.

This...i have space but during the height of Covid one of my college age kids was doing classes on Zoom. I put remo silent stroke heads on a kit I have and used Sabians low volume cymbals... I like that I can play along to recorded music at a 'normal' volume and i did some preproduction for recording using this kit when the guy I was playing with used an acoustic guitar. Cheaper than E drums...

 

[LarryJ]

Another option is mesh heads and triggers on your drums, with a controller and amp and low volume cymbals. Much better sound and volume range on the drums than the Black Holes I originally had, but more expensive. My electronic conversion cost (heads, triggers, controller and amp) was about $1500.

I have just received a set of Lemon electronic cymbals to replace the Zildjians. Actually significantly cheaper, and headphones are now practical.

 

[The Texan]

I would try building a sub wall along the walls that connect to house and leave the others if you are not worried about neighbors and as long as a bedroom is not over the garage. I think this will really lower the sound coming in the house. Then in the future you could always do the other walls if needed.

 

[blueshadow]

Have been contemplating a room for years but in truth electronic drums have been much more affordable. Some triggers, mesh heads, module and either cymbal pads or low volume cymbals and done. My only issue is that they are in the garage and in Texas it's always either too hot or too cold to play in the garage.

 

[blueshadow]

Another option is mesh heads and triggers on your drums, with a controller and amp and low volume cymbals. Much better sound and volume range on the drums than the Black Holes I originally had, but more expensive. My electronic conversion cost (heads, triggers, controller and amp) was about $1500.

I have just received a set of Lemon electronic cymbals to replace the Zildjians. Actually significantly cheaper, and headphones are now practical.

View attachment 606009

Those drum-tec heads are the best...expensive but the best. The Real Feel are as advertised, just about like playing real drums. I have a drum-tec Pro mesh bass drum head and I like the acoustic sound of it but just ordered a real feel for triggering. The Pro will go on the other 18" kick to use inside for a kick, snare and hats low volume practice kit for when it's 100 or 30 in the garage