“If I buy a unit soundproof room, I can play the drums at home!” If you think so, please stop and think once.
I will tell you the cruel reality. If you play real drums in a commercially available assembly-type soundproof room (Dr-35 to 40), the police will be called by neighbors immediately.
Drum soundproofing is in a different dimension from other instruments. I will explain why it is so difficult and what you can do to be able to play.
Two Giant Enemies of Drum Soundproofing#
1. Explosive Sound Pressure (110dB to 120dB)#
The volume of a drum set is the same level as near the engine of a jet plane. Even if you use a Dr-40 soundproof room, the sound “70dB to 80dB” leaks outside. This is the same level as “noisy streets” or “close range of cicadas chirping”. If this is heard in a quiet residential area, it will undoubtedly become a noise problem.
2. Low-frequency Vibration that Shakes the Ground (Solid-borne Sound)#
This is the true boss. When you step on the bass drum (kick), an impact like a person jumping with a thud is transmitted to the floor. This “thud!” vibration travels through the concrete of the building and echoes not only in the neighboring house but also in all rooms upstairs, downstairs, and diagonally in the apartment.
Even if you block the air with a wall, the vibration will not stop.
Is it Impossible to play Drums in a Unit Soundproof Room?#
Basically, “impossible”. However, there is a possibility with “electronic drums” or “custom-made models” under the following conditions.
- Ordinary Units (Dr-35/40):
- Real Drums: Not possible.
- Electronic Drums: Since the sound of hitting (pad sound) and the vibration of the pedal echo downstairs, a powerful anti-vibration stage such as the “Disk Funya Funya System” is required.
- High Insulation Units (Custom-made products such as Dr-50):
- Yamaha and Kawai have custom-made soundproof rooms dedicated to drums. Real drums are possible with this, but the price jumps to $30,000 or more.
The Only Solution to Play Real Drums: Studio Construction (Dr-65)#
If you play real drums at home, “soundproof construction (renovation)” is required instead of a unit. And it’s not just any construction.
Create a “Concrete Room Floating Inside a Room”#
- Floating Floor (Floating Sound Insulation Layer):
- Float the floor together with the concrete using rubber or springs.
- Complete Insulation of Walls and Ceilings:
- Create a state where the inside room does not touch anywhere in the building.
- Stop by Mass:
- Pile up heavy concrete blocks etc., and stop sound by physical weight.
Only by doing this can performance of “Dr-65 to Dr-70” be produced. The cost is $40,000 or more for 6 tatami, and it is common for it to cost $50,000 or more for an apartment.
Summary: “Soundproofing + Anti-vibration” is Essential to Play Drums in Collective Housing#
Even unit-type soundproof rooms considerably reduce the “sound (ringing)” itself transmitted through the air. However, the true enemy in drums is the “vibration (solid-borne sound)” where the impact of stepping on the pedal travels through the floor.
- In the case of a Detached House (1st floor):
- There is a high possibility that neighboring trouble can be prevented by just introducing a unit soundproof room.
- In the case of an Apartment (2nd floor or higher):
- This is the biggest hurdle. In addition to soundproofing the wall, “powerful anti-vibration measures (floating floors, etc.)” that physically block the impact transmitted to the floor are indispensable.
If you play drums in collective housing, please consider “stopping the vibration to the floor” as a set, not just “stopping the sound”. Easy countermeasures will lead to trouble, but as long as a correct anti-vibration structure can be made, it is not impossible to enjoy drums at home.
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