Hey everyone! I live in a rented unit in a house, which means I can't do any major renovations. I recently got an electric drum kit, but my downstairs neighbors can hear every thud from my kick pedals, and it's driving me nuts. ? I'm looking for advice on ways to soundproof my space to minimize the noise for them. I'm even willing to build a small raised platform or box filled with soundproofing material if that's what it takes. Any tips?
3 Answers
You could try using thicker rubber mats on top of carpet underlay to help dampen the sound. But keep in mind that direct reverb might still be an issue, so elevating it might be the key. Still, the rubber mats are worth a shot for some added cushion!
You definitely need to elevate it a bit! A simple riser made with plywood and some 2x4 or 2x6 will help. Just make sure to put something like horse stall mats under the parts that touch the floor to absorb the vibrations. Also, filling the riser with soundproofing material will make a big difference. And consider adding some soundproofing to the walls of that room too!
If you end up building a platform, you should be aware that vibrations might end up traveling down to the floor anyway. It’s important to insulate the vibrations properly. If the issue is mostly with the pedal, try adding some really soft rubber feet on the bottom—something squishy so it absorbs more shock. Just a little tweak like that can help tons!