I’ll show you how to make a soundproof drum riser for an electronic drum set in this blog. The construction of a drum riser is a relatively inexpensive and extremely effective method of preventing vibrations from entering the floor and bothering anybody.
Vibrations from an electronic drum set pass through the drum kit’s frame and into the floor. Though it may not seem extremely loud to you, your downstairs neighbour or a next-door neighbour is likely to notice frequent tapping and popping as you practise because vibrations propagate through the floor joists and the walls.
For hours on end, all they feel is ‘thump, click, thump, click,’ which can be a great source of irritation and animosity. Fortunately, there is a simple solution to this problem: making an anti-vibration riser for your electronic kit. The construction of a tennis ball riser is a relatively inexpensive and extremely effective method of preventing vibrations from entering the floor and bothering anybody.
How to build a soundproof drum riser?
We can build a soundproof drum riser by following the instructions below:
- Cut The MDF Sheets To Size
- Combine two of the sheets by glueing them together
- To hold the tennis balls, drill holes in the third MDF sheet
- Drill Holes for Ties
- Put a dab of glue on each tennis ball
- Place the MDF that has been doubled on top
- Use cable ties to keep it in place
- Add a Rug to the Top
Is it possible for electronic drums to produce sound?
Because electronic drum sets have no metal cymbals and only rubber pads, the only sound produced is the sound of your wooden drumsticks striking the rubber.
Rubber pads make some noise, but they’re no match for traditional metal cymbals. Even the most silent electronic drum sets produce sound. They are, without a doubt, quieter than an acoustic drum set.
If you acquire an electric drum set, one of the main reasons you got it was to be able to practise without bothering others. Electronic drums generate sound in a variety of ways:
- Drumsticks slamming into the drum pads
- Drum sticks hitting the cymbal pads
- The kick pedal is pressed
- The bass pad is pounded by a kick beater
So why would we put up a drum riser?
A drum riser can provide a beautiful huge resonant sound to a drum set. It can add a lot of decay to the bass drum and tom-toms, especially when compared to a concrete floor. Nevertheless, having such a loud sound isn’t always necessary. It might work for some types of music, but not all types of music necessitate the enormous noises that risers are known for. The stronger the drum, the better the isolation from each component. When employed in production, drum risers always offer a unique feel and tone contribution.
What do we need?
- 3 MDF 18 x 2400 x 1200 mm sheets
- 30 tennis balls
- Green glue
- Dispensing gun
- Drill with 32mm wood drill bit
- Cables ties
- A thick rug
Because risers are hefty and hard to move, start erecting them in the exact location you want them to stay. Also, make sure it isn’t touching the wall, as this will cause vibrations to travel straight through the wall, rendering your riser useless.
Cut The MDF Sheets To Size
The STC rating of MDF Fiberboard is similar to that of drywall, although it has a larger density. It is, nevertheless, significantly heavier and more difficult to deal with.
It’s also held together by VOCs, which are released when the board is sliced, making it considerably more difficult to work with than drywall.
MDF is a highly sturdy material, and if you need structural strength from your panels, MDF could be the solution to go. MDF is the densest alternative for soundproofing, with a density of around 720 kg/m3.
The exact size you’ll need is determined by the size of your drum set. Even the largest installations should be covered by 1200mm x 2400mm. The price of MDF varies depending on its thickness. A 12″ thick 4’X8′ sheet of MDF costs around $25. It costs $30 for a section that is 58″ thick. When trying to cover walls with a double-layer of MDF, you can see how fast this adds up.
Advantages of using MDF
- Robust
- Adequate STC levels
- Holds screws very well
- Even
- Easy to paint
How to do that?
- Begin by sizing the MDF sheets by slicing 2 full sheets to the desired length.
- Then, to make up the width, use the third sheet for two strips.
- Then, on the floor, arrange the MDF and mark where the screws will go. Before drilling small pilot holes, it is recommended to utilise 300mm intervals all around the riser, which will work well enough.
| Materials Needed | Tools Needed |
| MDF Fiberboard | screws |
Combine two of the sheets by glueing them together
Glue two of the MDF sheets together with the Green Glue. The compound’s special qualities function as a damping material, dissipating vibrations induced by sound waves travelling through connected solid structures like floors, ceilings, and walls. Green Glue begins to set after fifteen minutes, so you’ll need to work quickly if you’re working on a huge area like this.
Instructions
- Apply the green glue to the MDF’s bottom layer with a dispensing gun.
- Add a second layer after that. If you don’t leave an 80mm border around the bottom MDF board, the Green Glue will be squeezed out around the borders when the second MDF board is glued on top.
- Insert the second layer of MDF on top to create a glue sandwich before screwing the top MDF layer to the bottom one.
- Allow the Green Glue to set for a few hours.
| Materials Needed | Tools Needed |
| Green Glue | Dispensing gun |
To hold the tennis balls, drill holes in the third MDF sheet
- Drill 30 holes in the remaining MDF sheet using the 32mm drill bit.
- These should be spaced evenly.
- However, if you feel it is required, you can drill additional holes under the place where you would be sitting to provide additional structural strength to that location.
| Tools Needed |
| Drill set |
Drill Holes for Ties
- Drill small holes about 1 inch away from the edge every six inches or so along the perimeter of the riser.
- These holes have to go through all 3 MDF sheets for the cable ties to pass through, so make sure they are all aligned.
- To assure hole alignment, stack all 3 MDF sheets on top of one another and drill straight across all 3 at the same time.
Put a dab of glue on each tennis ball
Insert a tennis ball in every hole after putting some green glue around the edge. The ball must fit comfortably in the slot if it is the proper size.
Place the MDF that has been doubled on top
- Cover the surface of each tennis ball in green adhesive before proceeding.
- Then seek the assistance of a friend, as the doubled-up MDF will be quite hefty.
- Carefully place the MDF onto the tennis balls, making sure it is positioned correctly.
Add a Rug to the Top
Drums are really loud. They also make a vibrating noise. A thick soundproof rug, or any rug, on top of the tennis ball riser, will help a lot.
The majority of the structural noise will be absorbed by heavy carpets or rugs which will also reduce the sound of the drums and enhance the audibility of your drum room.
It would not only improve the aesthetics, but it will also aid to absorb vibrations when they hit the platform also it will protect your floor from damage. They’ll dampen the majority of the drum’s vibrations and noise.
| Materials Needed | Tools Needed |
| carpet | Non-slip area rug pad Carpet tape Carpet Cutter |
| rugs |
Conclusion
Electronic Drum kits are extremely loud. However, by implementing some of the suggestions in this blog, you should be able to blast out your favourite tracks anytime you want, without having to spend a fortune doing so. In this article, I’ll show you how to build a soundproof drum riser step by step. I talked about the most cost-efficient and practical way to create a soundproof riser out of tennis balls so that you can play without bothering your neighbours.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How to build a soundproof drum riser?
What is a drum riser’s purpose?
The primary function of a drum riser is to increase visibility. You will get a better view of the drummer if you raise the seated musician off the floor, as they are generally obscured behind the other members of the band. Given that core objective, you shouldn’t require more than 8-12 inches of height, and even less might suffice.
What is the ideal size for a drum riser?
Drum risers are typically 2m by 2m in dimension, with 40cm riser heights. A 2m × 2m drum riser is made up of two of our normal 2m x 1m movable decks that are joined together using the ‘C-Clamp’ technology.
Is it true that Roland noise eaters work?
I can certify that the noise eaters were successful in dampening the pounding heard downstairs after some testing. Roland states that it reduces noise by 75%, but in my experience, it did not make that much of a difference. It will, in my opinion, assist to lessen the thump by up to 50%. The noise eaters do not sway as much as I had anticipated.
What is the process of soundproofing a room?
Absorbing the noise in the room is one method of soundproofing it. Dense foam is a common material used for this. Because sound passes directly into the soft surface of the material, foam and several other soft materials absorb it and thereby diminish it.
How can you make a kick drum sound quieter?
Underneath your kit, place thick foam floor tiles. This will significantly limit the number of drum sounds that travel through the floor. Reduce stick noise on your electronic drum kit’s pads by using thinner sticks.
How far can Drums be heard?
The sound can be heard from 3 to 7 miles away in optimum conditions, but fascinating messages are usually conveyed by the neighbouring village.
Is it true that electronic drum kits produce a lot of noise?
There are no metal cymbals on electronic drum sets, only rubber pads, therefore the only sound created is the sound of your wooden drumsticks hitting the rubber. Although rubber pads produce some noise, they are no match for classic metal cymbals.
Is it possible to hear electronic drums through the walls?
The most significant issue with e-drum kits is sound transmission through the floors. The thumping sound created by the kick pedal will be transmitted through the floors and walls, which is something you’ll have to deal with.
Are electronic drums too loud for a small space?
Electronic drums are made to make as little noise as possible. They don’t quite manage to eliminate noise, unlike digital pianos. It’s more about imitating the sense of playing a real acoustic drum set than it is about generating music with e-drums.
