Reduce Drum Volume | Drum Sticks Comparison

[@stevecarter6707]

I think the lighter sticks with an in control Drummer sounds best. Being a drummer and FOH sound tech I've found you lose both attack and punch with rods or silent sticks. That's my preference for what it's worth. Great video. You guys are an amazing help for struggling church sound technicians. Keep it up!

[@JTakasa]

Hey bro, what if you were running FoH for a drummer that can keep a beat but doesn't have time to really practice? I'm a guitarist, so I can recommend picks, strings, compressors, amp and gain techniques all day. I'm wondering if you have any tips or tricks for controlling volume as well besides "practice more" (because we all know that's ultimately the solution, just not viable in some cases). Thanks in advance

[@가명-f1w]

Playing with a cajon brush is also a great idea. And instead of worrying about sticks, it's a good idea to muffle the snare drum and toms with something like a towel.

[@tallmark100]

I use the silent sticks I like em. I have 3 different kinds of rods but use thunder sticks if I do use the rods. The toms in the video did not sound like toms. more like another snare type sound. True for all of the sticks and my ears. Cheeers. thanks, Mark

[@PastorKade]

Thanks Mark!

[@youngsterjoey9038]

Sticks help, but using hydraulic heads, thin, dark cymbals, and proper use of muting devices (moon gels, etc.) really helps more than stick choice. That being said, the most essential thing about drum volume is having a drummer who can play with proper feel and dynamics.

[@collabworship]

All things help. Especially drummer control 🙂

[@PanRider939]

Our drummer used bamboo multi rods, but there were toothpicks everywhere. I got him some lighting rods and he loves them, the toothpicks are now a bit larger. 😂

[@sauzeeee]

i'd go for the Cool Rods (and other dowel drumsticks) for practice and lower volume settings. i'm currently using Promark's Cool Rods when i'm drumming at home and it gives me 2-for-1 benefit ; lower in volume and improving my hitting technique and tone. story: during my first year of drumming, i was using standard VF 7As. my room is not sound-treated and since i dont wanna disturb my family i had to hit my drums lightly. this does not translate well when i transfer into a proper acoustic setting as my teacher would tell me to hit the drums properly to get the tone out lol. now i can hit drums just as hard with lower volume.

[@collabworship]

Great tip. Thank you!

[@pabloarmasb]

I really enjoyed your video. Just a couple of questions: Rods sticks are better to use in worship? Or according the songs if they are soft or what's your opinion? The light sticks are suggested too for worshiping or just with the idea to reduce noise? I mean I would like to know or read suggestions for praise and worship or just the idea is only reduce noise? Kind regards and blessings from Switzerland. By the way I am playing with a E-drum

[@collabworship]

Whatever sticks give you the sound you're looking for in your specific setting are the best choice. I lean more towards the Maple sticks (that look and feel like regular drums sticks) as they give a much more authentic sound and feel for the drummer, but the drummer does have to use a lot of control still if you have a noise problem.

[@PneumaticTube]

I like to hit harder. I just got asked to play at a church next week. The church music group is very timid. I have normally played using Vic Firth Hickory American Classic 5A's. Those, along with my style will be too loud. So, I'm going to pull everything down one notch. I''ll play just a little bit more restrained, and I'll use Vater Sugar Maple Manhattan 7A's. The smaller grip size and the lighter wood type of these 7A's will allow me to still play with the same basic feel that I usually do.

[@collabworship]

Sounds like a great idea!

[@matthewmore6893]

Moo cowbell the not 2b if your a light hitter like me they also make a heavier version. Better than any plastic or hot rods.Tell them you want the ones with the tip on the end. Im trying to get them to start making them again they just recently stopped. They are a absolute game changer and my go to stick. Moocowbell split nz not 2b with tip on end

[@collabworship]

Thanks for the tip!

[@jjbast]

I can hear some difference... Would have loved to see that comparison with a decibel meter.

[@spey188]

Hi i use promark blue rods and some time i use tge thicker one's to and i have 3 big handkerchiefs on the snare drum

[@gloryekeh1034]

Can you do a tour of the whole church building

[@collabworship]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5Xdo5Sqj6p2q5Ysi=q7laywkQtZcYYwIJ

[@johnlogankasinecz3055]

I know Drummer's complain about cages but man. I'd take the cage over any of these stick alternatives. They do not sound right.

[@PanRider939]

It’s what you get used to. We put in a low shield and gave the drummer lightning rods to try out, he loves both. Knocked 10db off the acoustic volume. Drummer happy 😊

[@DadBodDrumming]

I have 100% acrylic sticks that I use at home. It cuts volume by about 50% but still sounds great and has great rebound. They also last quite a lot longer than wood.

[@Penitaw]

As both a percussionist and a sound guy in not a fan of the rods. To me you lose too much of the cymbal. My preference is a thin light jazz stick with a small head. It also requires the drummer to have good control. If they can keep their stick height down then the volume will be down. My $0.02.

[@collabworship]

Thanks Brad!

[@michaelfarhart1906]

Yep. Agreed. 7A's are really thin and almost force you to not play too hard or you're gonna break them. Two more cents added to this discussion!

[@daejinhong5461]

Yes I agreed! and best way to solve this problem is practice the drums to get soft sound! this can save money in whole life. Also if I have to change drum sticks I would more consider about tone than volume.

[@nekelly123]

Including the kick was probably a bad idea.

[@ryanmaurer2630]

I know db isn't everything, but what are your overall mix levels with this set up? We have a similarly untreated room and are switching from e-drums to acoustic.

[@PanRider939]

Mix your front of house level to put your acoustic drums properly in the mix and people won’t notice them. We have a low acrylic drum screen to lower the volume near the front of the room and on stage, set overall room spl around 90dbc at the desk and it’s great. We do get complaints about drums being loud only when FOH is to quiet (not me 😁).

[@tjdreyer]

Rods + electrical tape is my jam

[@collabworship]

🤘🏻

[@spey188]

Greetings from Scotland

[@Hi_vr234]

Hot rods for sure!

[@daejinhong5461]

oh wait...!!. What a fat snare tone! I need that recipe! How did you making that fat sound?

[@doonular]

As for pure sound, my vote goes for the light sticks.

[@collabworship]

Thanks for weighing in!

[@jamescoleman3476]

At my church we use the plastic silent sticks They sound okay but I wish they would let us go back to regular wood sticks I mean seriously the Kick drum is still with the same beater so why can’t we just use regular wood and pass out ear plugs to the sensitive people

[@collabworship]

Haha! Totally understand that. The silent sticks help, but leave a little to be desired for sure!

[@gustingdis]

I hate to have to choose between the volume of normal sticks and being able to do quiet rolls in grooves for verses. Uhhh... Small hard rooms are terrible.

[@collabworship]

I know, right?

[@ja2553]

Why hit the base?

[@jamescoleman3476]

Look at Flix drumsticks orange and blue

[@CarolynKirkpatrick-v2q]

I play with the rods. They are better.

[@michaelfarhart1906]

If you liked this and want more, this is the same kind of video on steroids: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJXLZGd9m9F7r6M. Guys, please feel free to delete this if it's not appreciated here. I just wanted to provide a deeper dive if folks were interested. If it's bad form though, delete my post for real! Thanks for what you do! :)

[@richardplatt2020]

These all sound exactly the same to me

[@collabworship]

They are pretty close! But you'll definitely notices some differences when you hear them in person.

[@CaeSharp]

Get a drummer. That is not how you hit the drums. Nice production otherwise, but I can't extract any info from this, unless I want to find sticks to choke the drums silently.

[@collabworship]

😂 Kade actually plays the drums pretty well. He doesn't get to do it very often though. He's our last resort fill in at our church lol. Surprisingly good for it not being his main instrument. That being said, this video was intended to be a really simple demonstration of how the different sticks sound back to back. - Dillon

[@timkarth8529]

electric drums