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There are different ways to soundproof a room for drums with the more affordable options likely to cost you about $200 on the upper end, which is probably $800 less compared to the more expensive soundproofing options. (*)
One of the affordable ways to soundproof a room for drums involves using old rugs and carpets. In this article, we shall look at some of the different techniques on how to soundproof a room for cheap.
Ultimate Cheap Ways to Soundproof a Room for Drums
Drums can produce up to 120 decibels (dB) of sound. Drum noise is normally transmitted through the air and also through your room infrastructure. This means that your ceiling, floor, and walls can transfer drum noise from one room to the next.
Soundproofing your drum room will not only prevent loud drum noise from leaking outside but will also block outside noise from leaking inside which could affect the quality of your recordings. Let’s look at some of the cheap ways in drum room soundproofing.
1. Seal all the gaps
Door, windows are significant culprits in allowing noise outside the room. At times ceilings and walls could also pose problems especially when there are cracks.
Inspect for any gaps in your windows and doors- ideally because sound can travel through the air, find any opening where air can enter.
You can use Great Stuff 157906 Foam Sealant to seal all the gaps higher than 1inch. Additionally, you can also 2758 Close Cell Weather-Strip to seal the holes on the windows and doors.
If there is a gap between the door and the floor, it’s best to use a door sweep to seal this gap.
2. Solid core door
Most modern-day interior doors are hollow core doors. This means that they can’t block out sound waves, and they can amplify the noise throughout your house.
If you got the bucks, please get rid of that hollow door in your drum room and replace it with a solid core door.
Solid core doors have more mass and will absorb most of the sound waves generated by the drums.
Check out Home Depot or Lowes to get an estimate for a solid door. It’ll most likely cost you something above $200 or more depending on the types and the design you need.
3. Sound insulate the door
If you’re on a budget and find it impossible to replace the hollow door with a solid core door, there’s a cheaper way around.
Ideally, all you need to do is to add more mass to the hollow door to allow for sound absorption.
Add mass to the existing door in different ways:
- Use a TMS Mass Loaded Vinyl and hang it on the door- it’s perfect for studios, classrooms, apartments, bathrooms, automobiles, and more.
- Hang Singer Double Faced Quilted Fiberglass on the hollow door.
- Attach some acoustic foam panels
4. Add More Mass to the Walls
Impact sound can travel through walls in vibrations forms. Adding more mass to the existing walls will ensure that vibrations are absorbed before they can make it to the outside surface of the drum room walls.
You can try using wallpapers, or hang acoustic foam panels –like those found in recording studios and night clubs. (check acoustic panels review)
Foam panels will help trap noise and reduce echo in the room hence improving the quality of your recordings/drumming.
And because bass noise tends to bounce off the most at the corners, you will need to install some bass traps (see them here) on the four corners of the room. Bass traps help trap low-frequency sound waves.
5. Noise Reducing Curtains
Now that you’ve treated the windows by sealing all the gaps, it’s time to boost their soundproofing effectiveness.
You will need to install some noise reducing curtains. These aren’t your typical window curtains. They are specially designed using sound-absorbing materials to help block out outside noise and also prevent noise from the inside from leaking outside.
A recommended one is NICETOWN curtains. Make sure these curtains extend from the top all way to the floor and also extend by 1 inch on the width of your windows.
6. Carpeting Your Drum Room
Carpeting is one of the most popular techniques for flooring sound reduction. Sound waves will be effectively absorbed and also deflected by the carpet and the padding under the carpet. The thicker the carpet, the more sound will be absorbed. (*)
In the short run, carpet is the cheapest way to soundproof the floor but also the most problematic in terms of cleaning, durability, and allergy aggravation because it tends to trap dust and allergens.
How to Quiet a Drum Room without Soundproofing
If you want to avoid the mess of soundproofing your drum room, there are other different hacks you can implement today for quiet practice. They include investing in:
Quiet electronic drums
Unlike acoustic drums, electronic drums are more silent and highly recommended for apartment practice and unplugged performance.
They allow you to practice silently and still give realistic drum sounds, as in the case of acoustic drum sets. One of the best quiet drum set for home practice is the Yamaha DTX522K E-Drum Kit.
Quiet Cymbals
Unlike regular cymbals, quiet cymbals are created using unique metal alloys that produce harmonious sounds like regular cymbals. They usually are 70-80% quieter than traditional cymbals.
They are perfect for home practice and in neighborhoods where noise can be an issue. One of the most recommended cymbals for apartment practice is the Zildjian L80 Low Volume.
Silent practice drum pads
You can alternatively invest in quiet pads for all your cymbals and drums in your setup.
You can invest in something like the Vic Firth Practice Pad that will enable you to practice in silence. They come with a Velcro sticker to ensure they tightly fixed.
On Soundproofing A Room For Drums Cheaply
After all, soundproofing a drum room doesn’t have to be expensive. All above methods will significantly help in reducing unwanted noise and echoes from leaking in or out of the drum room without breaking the bank.
What’s your favorite method? Please do let us know in the comment section down below.