Cheap mod quiets Rock Band drums

by Justin McElroy { Nov 29th 2007 at 9:40AM }

We don't know why there's been such a fervent quest to dampen the clickety-clack noise of the Rock Band drum kit:, as we've already solved the problem. Here, try our free mod: First, turn the TV up. Second ... there is no second! You're done. And as a side benefit, you're playing louder! Like a real rock star.

But, if neighbors or local noise ordinances make our plan impossible, forum members at the Quarter to Three Forums have been working to curtail the problem. The biggest success so far seems to be these circular mouse pads, trimmed and glued to become efficient, silent conduits of rock. Keith Moon would be ... well, he'd be disgusted. But your wife will be happy.

[Thanks, Jeff]

Tags: drums, ea, hacks, harmonix, mods, mtv, rock-band, rockband

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

JohnZ22 @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:10AM

These things totally work great! This site does a good job telling you how to make your own, but it sort of seemed like a pain in the butt. Seems like it starts to add up in materials and circle cutter.

In the end, I bought some from http://www.drumpads4rockband.com/ and was totally happy with the results!

Intentless @ Nov 29th 2007 9:45AM

Or the same principle as for the guitar can be used for the drums... It isn't real so you don't need to slam it harder...

Its like the ATM machines at grocery stores the ignorant destroy them by pushing into them with sooooo much pressure it is crazy... Yet you barely even need to touch the screen...

FidliousWong @ Nov 29th 2007 10:11AM

So it's like those Automatic Teller Machine Machines....

It's an ATM, not an ATM machine.

mforgione @ Nov 29th 2007 10:18AM

They're much closer to the real thing than the guitar is, and the minimum amount of force needed to register a hit is still pretty loud. It's not fun to play it tentatively.

Intentless @ Nov 29th 2007 10:20AM

Yes technicly. But the English language has evolved to the point where everyone says ATM Machine, well at least a vast majority. Just like every says PIN Number even though PIN means Personal Identification Number.

Also please take into accnt this is a "blog/forum" outlet for informal communication. I'm not applying for a job or discussing financials with a client, so yes I tend to be a little more lax. This is no place for Grammer Nazis...

Intentless @ Nov 29th 2007 10:29AM

And no I'm not one that doesn't know what ATM means to begin with...

dark_inchworm @ Nov 29th 2007 10:36AM

I'm not sure if I would call something such as "ATM machine" an "evolution" of the English language. :)

Intentless @ Nov 29th 2007 10:43AM

Evolution implies growth change and adaptation. Just because the English language is becoming simpler and idiotic when compared to the older rules, doesn't mean it isn't any less an evolution. Thats how languages change and evolve.

The way things are going people will be speaking leet speak in professional scenarios... It'll start as the CEO trying to be hip then it will become the norm.

The impression and I would agree is that language as a whole will be destroyed. But how do you think the individuals before our time felt when the American Version of English was in development, or when people started speaking something beyond Latin.

Wonderflex @ Nov 29th 2007 10:48AM

"Well, Earth to Intentless, I'm not so sure you knew what it meant, because you were all like, 'the English language has evolved to the point where everyone says ATM Machine,' like you didn't know - Ah-ha?"

Intentless @ Nov 29th 2007 10:56AM

Well Wonderflex, you can have your theory based on whatever you decide to use. You don't know who I am and you don't know my credentials. Thats fine.

You can take my word for it or not.

Gone is the day when one's word was worth more than gold. Honor respect and decency are dead. We live in a time where those with money make the decisions and decide what is right and wrong. No longer is there a higher calling. And no I don't refer to god or gods in that higher calling. I refer to the times when a man's name was enough. Who your father was mattered to others.

Oh well...

Wonderflex @ Nov 29th 2007 11:06AM

Intentless...as well, gone is the day when people will pick up on Zoolander lines and respond with, "Earth to...," as well.

I actually agree with you. I think we are working our way into a really weird hybrid language that fuzes written shorthand and spoken word - and visa versa.

Look at, "LOL," for crying out loud. People say it out loud as, "lawl," and then they go back into the written world and spell it out as, "lawl." I also hear, "ROFL," said out loud, then spelled out as, "rofl."

Intentless @ Nov 29th 2007 11:14AM

Loved Zoolander but I didn't find it heavily quote worthy... If you had picked Monty Python or Futurama I would have been a little quicker on the uptake.

WiNG @ Nov 29th 2007 11:23AM

...

spelled grammar wrong

...

just had to say it

Larz @ Nov 29th 2007 5:59PM

I don't even notice the noise of the pads. Maybe I'm deaf, maybe I always have my PS3 way too loud. Either way, it doesn't bother me one bit. I just wish the pads had just a tad more bounce-back. Will this mod help with that?

JeffM @ Nov 29th 2007 10:39PM

Interesting dissertation...

Sounds like the only solution is to get extremely wealthy! Good luck!

baby sea tuna @ Nov 29th 2007 9:46AM

That's pretty clever. There's a weird disconnect in my living room when we play Rock Band, no matter how loud the stereo is turned up, the clacking of the drums always seems to overpower everything else.

Well, that and my awful awful voice...

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Nov 29th 2007 10:31AM

When I demo'd the rock band drums in BB, I was most disappointed not only in the sound, but in the response the drums gave me. Not nearly enough bounce, not at all like a real drum, or even like a real practice pad.

I'm gonna try out the foam rubber + felt fix when I get my set, because the current state of the drums is unacceptable.

baby sea tuna @ Nov 29th 2007 11:47AM

Hold the sticks looser. There is actually some decent bounce on the pads, you just might have to alter your style a little to compensate.

deaftly @ Nov 29th 2007 10:00AM

I picked up rock band last night, i do have to say the drums do get annoying when you have a guy hitting the shit out of them, ill have to steal a couple mouse pads from work heh

FidliousWong @ Nov 29th 2007 10:14AM

Forgive my ignorance here (haven't actually shopped for these yet) but couldn't a person simply BUY the drum dampeners? I mean, when my friend was a drummer, he had dampeners so he could practice without the loud tones.

baby sea tuna @ Nov 29th 2007 10:17AM

Yeah, except these pads don't match any standard drum head sizes.

jpw21683 @ Nov 29th 2007 10:15AM

There's a better solution at http://generationgamerz.com/v2/insight/time-for-rock-band-arts-crafts.php. Doesn't require gluing anything to the drums, and makes them look pretty!

Player1 @ Nov 29th 2007 10:39AM

In the video for that felt mod you can't really hear much of a difference. Seems like a waste of time.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Nov 29th 2007 11:33AM

You need to get your ears checked, because the difference is huge.

dingus @ Nov 29th 2007 10:19AM

ha!

the first night my friends and i were playing Rock Band the lady that lives downstairs called the cops on us because we were making so much noise, when he came in he saw we weren't partying and just started laughing when i told him we were "practicing for world tour, dude"

torte @ Nov 29th 2007 10:38AM

I had the same problem with my Roland V-Drums. My downstairs neighbor came to my door asking if I was "practicing dancing or something". It turns out it's not the noise, it's the vibration from hitting the drums that goes into the floor and creates the impression that you're jumping up and down in your apartment (think about the kick drum, you're basically stomping on the floor). I built a simple drum riser out of plywood and foam and saved myself a lot of trouble.

Todd @ Nov 29th 2007 10:38AM

Hmm, Justin... you're assuming these people even have wives.

Riot9 @ Nov 29th 2007 10:41AM

I modded mine last night but used the walkthrough here: http://generationgamerz.com/v2/insight/time-for-rock-band-arts-crafts.php (same one jpw21683 mentioned above. It cut down on the click clack of the drums, and looks awesome in my opinion. The foam pads were 4 bucks, the felt pads were like 5, and they were all self adhesive, so no messy gluing. I didn't use the circle cutter they mentioned (it was like 20 bucks or something), I just used scissors and was careful. I might like to dip the tips of my sticks like in the picture above though.

Neon Jebus @ Nov 29th 2007 11:02AM

Plasti-Dip would be a good option for such things. You can buy it in most auto parts stores. They use it to coat the handles of pliers and other hand tools.

Stuff is pretty cheap though I don't know how well it bonds to wood.

yakapo @ Nov 29th 2007 10:59AM

I watched the video... you can get about the same results with less work/ money.

tightly wrap one disposable rubber latex glove around each of the drumsticks, then put a rubber band around the glove to hold it in place.

the stick will bounce a little better and it will prevent you from damaging the corners of the pads.

Spartacus @ Nov 29th 2007 11:53AM

And that is a textbook example of a poor man's solution my friend. Brilliant!

yakapo @ Nov 29th 2007 12:12PM

thanks spartacus...

I played the drums nonstop while visiting family over thanksgiving... after Christmas I figure I'll be as good as you.

Maratu @ Nov 29th 2007 11:15AM

Nice Zildjian Anti-vibes in the picture. I never liked 'em, but they're a neat idea.

booticon @ Nov 29th 2007 11:11AM

I haven't had much of a problem with my drums. I think a lot of the time it's just the drummer getting into the groove of the song, not to mention hitting the rims.

dan stabbingworth @ Nov 29th 2007 11:25AM

Step 1: Turn up volume
Step 2: ?
Step 3: Profit

scaught @ Nov 29th 2007 11:41AM

I agree, turn up the volume. My brother-in-law has this game. We had his receiver turned way the hell up. That drowned out everything.

RAWK!!

CubeGuy @ Nov 29th 2007 1:21PM

Fascinating.

Volcomite @ Nov 29th 2007 2:08PM

Turning up the volume is always better. I remember playing Guitar Hero II with my cousin back at home when I first got it, and my dad came out wondering why the hell he could hear the buttons over the music. He then proceeded to tell me that I "don't know loud."

ColossalHat @ Nov 29th 2007 2:21PM

Baw! Give me Les Paul compatibility for PS3.

~My obligatory comment on all Rock Band posts.

Cain @ Nov 29th 2007 11:31PM

Seen some pads that could work, they are for underneath vases and other plant containers. like $1 a pad.

Burnt Meatloaf @ Nov 30th 2007 7:41AM

Feh. You traditionalists and your "warmer" sounds.

Errestal @ Nov 30th 2007 5:26PM

Found a site last night that offers foam pads to muffle the drums... kinda looks like what was done on generationgamerz.com. Not too bad looking and not too expensive (12 bucks) if you aren't handy enough to go to an art's & craft store. Anyone else heard of them/bought these? Website is beatdownpads.com.

Lerch @ Dec 3rd 2007 2:50PM

mforgione: however, playing "tentatively", translated to "grooving while playing softly," is one of the hardest things for a real drummer to do. If you can get a high score while playing softly, you are on your way to real drumhood.