Plexi-glass sound screens

[Skacatz]

Forgive me if this appears elsewhere, but I couldn't find it anywhere.

Any of ya'll have experience playing behind those clear shields? The church I play in is considering buying one. I can see the benefit to the audience and any musicians in front of me. But, I would think that all of that sound coming back at you can't be a good thing.

Thanks

[jayzbeats]

Depending on your location, it's actually a good thing to have, especially in the church setting. I have one on my church setup, but because I'm directly in front of a wall, I also put the sound absorbing panels behind me. Play with it a little, but you're right about everyone else appreciating it.

[Deathmetalconga]

This just supports what I have often said: People like the concept of a drummer more than the reality of a drummer.

[Madwatch]

Your right .... all that sound coming back at you isnt good for your ears. We use one at our church and also have sound panels on the sides of the and behind to help absorb sound. Its still lound in there but only if you dont protect your ears. I use headphones to monitor the rest of the band and it helps keep out the drum noise and keeps everything at a nice level. They really do help keep the sound down for the audience and stage. Our room is real "LIVE" sounding and reverberates way to much so they end up still sounding louder than we would like. We are in the process of adding more sound proofing to the room so that should help the drums not sound as loud and in turn get a better sound mix back at the board.

Here is a bad pic of our drum shield ( its really just a sweet pic of my pork pie set...lol ). You really cant see it very well but you can see the sound panels that are on the sides and behind the kit. I will try to take some better pics and post them after practice on wednesday.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/madwatch/28KitFront.jpg


This is where we purchased our sound shield and sound panels from. We have been using them for about 2 years now.

http://www.drumperfect.com/

[nickg]

even with drum kits mic'd up, i still find bands that use drum shields lacking in drive from the stage. that extra OOMPH is gone behind that wall. i hate 'em myself.

heaven forbid we should have those darn drums and cymbals coming across the stage while the moron guitar player is blasting his gear on stage during his best richie sambora impression on some blah bon jovi tune.

either you're a band or get a drum machine!!!

[Mendozart]

We use one at our church and also have sound panels on the sides of the and behind to help absorb sound.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/madwatch/28KitFront.jpg




http://www.drumperfect.com/

Holy Cr@p! You use that massive Pork Pie at church!? j/k.lol

[Deathmetalconga]

even with drum kits mic'd up, i still find bands that use drum shields lacking in drive from the stage. that extra OOMPH is gone behind that wall. i hate 'em myself.

heaven forbid we should have those darn drums and cymbals coming across the stage while the moron guitar player is blasting his gear on stage during his best richie sambora impression on some blah bon jovi tune.

either you're a band or get a drum machine!!!

If most band members could have their way, we'd all play on mesh heads and be totally silent, just there for looks.

Hey the kit in your avatar looks cool. I like deep toms. Do you have a thread here on it?

[harryconway]

In lots of very controlled environments, they work well. "Cirque du soleil" and lot's of Vegas shows use them. Since the drums are mic'd, that's the sound the audience and the other band members hear. The soundboard feed. As with any "loud volume" environment, hearing protection is your friend. Whether you're behind plexi-glass or not. And honestly, a lot of drummers need to hear more of what their drums sound like. So many cats only know or care about the sound "from the drivers seat". From a church standpoint, it's an easy way to make sure the drummer isn't gonna run over the band with his "sonic exuberance".

heaven forbid we should have those darn drums and cymbals coming across the stage while the moron guitar player is blasting his gear on stage during his best richie sambora impression on some blah bon jovi tune.

Basically, moron's need not apply, but if the drummer either has a penchant of "spitting" or "throwing filth" at his fellow bandmates or the audience, the drum shield might have a place as well in the testosterone fueled rock stage.

[nickg]

Hey the kit in your avatar looks cool. I like deep toms. Do you have a thread here on it?

thanks.

actually the toms aren't that deep at all: 9 x 12 and 10 x 13, with a 16 x 16 floor, 18 x 22 kick and a 5.5 x 14 snare. it's probably just the angle that i took that picture at. here's another angle (with only 2 cymbals setup. i took these the day i got my kit and just set it up in the living room to look at it all night!!!)

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p256/nickg2/rsz_3Drums034.jpg

[nickg]

In lots of very controlled environments, they work well. "Cirque du soleil" and lot's of Vegas shows use them. Since the drums are mic'd, that's the sound the audience and the other band members hear. The soundboard feed. As with any "loud volume" environment, hearing protection is your friend. Whether you're behind plexi-glass or not. And honestly, a lot of drummers need to hear more of what their drums sound like. So many cats only know or care about the sound "from the drivers seat". From a church standpoint, it's an easy way to make sure the drummer isn't gonna run over the band with his "sonic exuberance".


when i was in Vegas last year i saw the beach boys (if you want to call them that) and some other bands in the casinos that used them. it just takes away from the fullness of the band on stage i think. don't like 'em.

[sticksnstonesrus]

Anton Fig played behind one for David Letterman forever. I don't think it sounded bad over the tv...but that is mixed. It might have sounded like trash in the tv studio...who knows.

I play behind one at my church and...well...hate the sound. But I know that it does help in cutting some of the overall "attack" which just doesn't need to be there during our church service. I would say what makes the most difference is how you play. I'm a very emotion-driven player and hit...hard...but for contemporary church stuff...I keep it pretty laid back. In fact, very laid back. Fact is, if I played it how I really wanted to, nobody would show up for the service...and playing on sunday isn't about me.

Andy.

[Drummertist]

I play at church and I used to be loud. People wanted to put a wall in front of me!!

Now I've learned to play VERY softly so I don't tick anyone off. So softly in fact that I have problems with control. Church playing can be really difficult since most churches are very reserved-old-people filled. But it's changing very slowly.

I do get loud sometimes because my pastors wife plays really loud on the piano and we just rock together! Cheesy huh?