Acoustic panel/foam question. Taming the drums.

[unfun75]

Here's a picture of my drum kit and the wall behind it.

I want to take some bite out of the sound coming from the cymbals. I play with headphones (that's why the kit is mic'd) but it would be nice to play without them every now and then. The ring of the cymbals is just unbearable to my abused ear drums. Would placing some acoustic panels or foam on the wall behind me, especially the slanted part, help with taming the sound? If so, where would I want to place them and how many?

Also, are these any good and would I want to use them? I've also looked at the foam products on foambymail.com. They seem to have good prices and good variety.

Thanks in advance!

[JohnnyB]

Acoustic panels, especially on the slanted part, should help. Cymbals have very high frequency overtones. The very short soundwaves make them fairly easy to damp. I think I've heard of ATS, the examples you linked to look to be pretty good and their prices are attractive compared to most other acoustic treatments I've come across. As to how big, how thick, how many and where you should place them, you best bet is probably to email them a picture of your kit and room and ask for a recommendation.

Here's an alternative solution, especially since it's the cymbals that bother you the most. Different configurations are available.

In fact, judging by the look of those cymbal dampers, for next-to-nothing, you might get a stack of used mouse pads at a thrift shop and cut them to fit. You could experiment with the size and shape to get what you want without spending much money.

[veatch]

Have someone take a hand mirror around the room while you're sitting on "the throne". Wherever you see crumbles in the mirror is where you will have a first reflection. This doesn't find multiple wall reflections, but it will give you a good start.

I agree that the slanted wall is likely your biggest problem.

When getting foam, be sure it is partially reticulated open cell foam. Closed cell foam will do nothing for you. Normal open cell works Ok, but not as well as the partially reticulated open cell.

If you want to do this on a poor man's budget, pink fiberglass insulation in a cloth covered frame works pretty dean good. But those samples you linked to look affordable enough to make the DYI not worth the effort.

Overall, get the 4 inch. 2" will knock down the highs, the 4 will get you closer to the mids.

As far as dampening, mouse pads work great on the snare/toms. EPDM rubber works better on the cymbals. If you can find a sheet of 1/8" EPDM, you can cut it out like the dampers Johnny listed. If you can't find any, let me know. I might know a source for some.

Hope that helps.

[unfun75]

Thanks for the replies. I'll see if our maintenance shop at work has any EPDM. I'm sure they'd let me cut a scrap or two. I'm also thinking about ordering 5 of those ARS panels (24x48") and placing them around the room, especially right behind my head. I have guitar/bass amps, keyboards, and PA speakers in the room, as well. Can't hurt.

[veatch]

Thinking about it, 1/8" is likely too thick. Maybe 1/16". As long as it can lay flat on the cymbal. If the shop has some scrap, trial and error is our friend.

[murkat]

old towel, cut into strips draped from the top to over the cymbal.

cheap

easy

it works

cut to size to level of damp.