Controlling Drum Volume In Smaller Spaces...
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- Опубликовано: 25 авг 2024
- In this video we'll explore ways to control your drums in smaller venues making the overall sound more pleasing to your audience. I've used these tricks for the last ten plus years with good success.
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We have the same problem with some of our drummers. They struggle playing soft. I have played in a orchestra and a 80 person choir. They told me to play soft and just keep time. It taught me to play soft and be creative with your playing. Play only what the song needs. Don't overplay.
Great vid.
That was some good tips. When I played in the gospel band if I couldn't hear the. Lead singer I was. Too loud The message of the song is the most. Important thing
I’ve been playing drums for my church for a couple years & noise used to be a huge issue because our sanctuary is a very live room and has like a 50ft high ceiling. What I’ve done is
1) Put bandanas I got off Amazon under the toms+snare rims. Not as dead as towel and you still get plenty of drum tone. With the kick just throw a massive pillow in there
2) I got a set of 7A Bamboo drumsticks from Miwayer and they feel and sound much better than any rods I’ve used and they are not to heavy’s as 5a&b’s are.
3) I use a 10” Zlidjan Splash 14” Sabian HHX X-celerator hi-hats (Paiste 14” ash7 Hi-hats work great aswell and are cheaper) 16” Zildjan trash crash (which sounds amazing in church)
And a “20 Paiste ash7 ride (which cuts though the mix very beautifully)
I may look into those sound barrier he mentioned, I think those will help even more
The idea on "playing to a room" is something I can't fathom enough as a drummer/sound engineer myself.
Definitely need to learn how to play the room. I finally figured that out a few years back. In fact, I’ve been complimented by mini a club, owner and venue owner for knowing how to play the room when others aren’t.
I've had to learn from the start (with an acoustic kit) to play soft as the only access Ive had to a real kit is in a small room at a family member's house. The dynamic control, though, has been foundational to my progress. Learning to dampen, internally control volume, and use new implements give me a whole range of styles of music to play.
Not just large dark cymbals, but THIN cymbals. That will make the most difference. You can have small bright cymbals if they are thin.
yep!
For quieter rooms, play a smaller kit with appropriate sticks/brushes, lighter cymbals, and play with finesse, pretty simple... \m/
Wow you are more into Domination ,Than anything. Relax man
HI.. well.. I was planning to do this with Remo or Evans, but they are impossible to get in contact with on a serious level. Tried!
So here we go for free: to lover the volume of the drums without changing the sound noticeably: punch 10 mm (around 3/8") holes 1" from each tuning rod. Also on the snare resonant head! Use on snare and toms. BD is way easier to dampen, so not much needed there.
this will lower the volume 25-30%. Tested this in 2 studios.
Just fixing the snare drum is really effective!.
Another thing is to use drums made of poplar. Sounds good and dry, and way less loud than maple or birch.
tip: if they sound too quiet, just add some simple clear tape to one or more holes, and you can adjust the volume and tone of the drums.
The advise on cymbals in the video still hold. Just focus on thinner larger cymbals, and maybe keep at 7a sticks unless the drummer really know what he is doing. If he does he can manage 2B and still play quiet (simply by holding the stick further up the stick: less leverage = less volume)
Have fun :-)
I started playing drums in church at age 13 and the key is the drummer must use dynamics and finesse. Unfortunately, many drummers don’t understand/practice this critical skill these days.
i have been using Promark Hot Rods. Lightning Rods, and Thunder Rods for the past 12 years. I haven't played with a real stick in quite some time. The feel like a stick more than the broom things lol. I have more control of my sound. I'm not using any shields of any type... lol so far. Yes, like you said playing lighter is key, but as a drummer that's hard at times, especially when you're trying to get around the kit fast. Yes you will go through more of these type of sticks, but my playing can stay consistent for the most part. I always get looks bring my kit into a church, A: because i have the Rober Sweet of Stryper mentality, i could play with 3 or four drums... but that's not rock and roll haha. (i play a large kit). B: When i start playing and I'm not killing the church with the loud drums because of my Hot Robs, i get more comments on what I'm using and where can their church drummer get them.
Hotrod sticks!!!
What about mics? Do you still mix the drums? I feel like mics add so much more dimension to the sound even at low volumes. Just wondering. Thanks!
Yes I do!
Why don't you use an electronic kit?
Meh….. I agree but begrudgingly.
Haven’t found an electronic kit that allows me to play with nuance and clean dynamic control.. (especially the cymbal work) and the cymbals are normally what bleeds the worst in the room… so using electronic drums with real cymbals doesn’t solve the problem.. I know there are some decent electric drum kits these days… but they cost a small fortune… the kits I used in this video are more obtainable for most churches…
Just buy Sabian FRX cymbals and thank me later. Your singer will kiss you. 🤘🏻
Using maple sticks helps a lot.
Dont mic up, the drums?
Yep… I mic them and dial them into the mix…
Bonus tip: Use electronic drums for small spaces.
In the beginning playing softer is actually harder than going at it. One way to do it is just do it, try using a lighter stick than usual. Baffles are for the sound man who doesn't know any better. Get a drummer who can play soft as needed. For church drummers get an electronic set and control volume at the board. All your solutions are unnecessary. What exactly is your place? Are you a sound man or what? I've played in Praise & Worship bands.
ALL These SOLUTIONS are 100% neccesary for Modern Worship!