What Does a Drum Riser Do To The Sound of a Drum Kit?

[@DarrellNutt]

Hi Tate - great video man! I've been undecided about building a iso-riser for my studio and now I don't think I will. I appreciate you doing this video. I am close miking everything so I really don't need more resonance. I subscribed!

[@tate_berkey]

Thanks Darrell! Glad the video could help.

[@microheavy21]

Good stuff Tate. My whole little drum room is basically a riser filled with rock wool. Best kick drum sound ever with no skin port or deadening at all

[@tate_berkey]

Nice!

[@irishmadman007]

Excellent experiment Tate . Some very interesting points and observations. Txz for sharing!

[@tate_berkey]

Thanks for watching Mike!

[@marbar1844]

Man. So much more focus and presence with the riser.

[@steveschenker1380]

Thanks for the info, man!

[@moko253]

Great Video!

[@markallen381]

What are the dimensions of your riser? Thank You!

[@tate_berkey]

5 foot by 7 foot.

[@isaacvelasquez31]

Thank for the video Tate, also great playing! Is your floor concrete?

[@tate_berkey]

Hey Isaac! Yes, the floor is concrete and I have carpets spread around the area.

[@douglasdrummer]

Great video and thanks to share with us. I'm considering to build a riser just to avoid a vibration problem between bass drum and house walls. Do you think that's a good way to fix that?

[@tate_berkey]

Douglas, I do believe that a riser could help the problem! I am by no means a sonic expert, and depending on what is/isn't in the walls as far as insulation could also play a role. You could also try putting up moving blankets on the walls that are causing problems. I bought a bunch of really cheap blankets at Harbor Freight and hung them to the walls in the basement of my apartment via binder-clips and Command Strip wall hooks. Could be an easier first step before going through the hassle of building a more permanent/ time consuming structure.

[@dennishritz4677]

I have heard that Simon Phillip's requires a riser built to his specs when he at least plays clinics. Also Dom Fomularo shared with Dave Weckl that Buddy Rich's tech had 2 sheets of plywood that Buddys kit was placed on. The surface makes a difference.

[@stanfordkoch1271]

Then its something recent from Simon coz all the clinics i saw of him in the netherlands he never had a riser, only saw him on a riser at Toto shows

[@dessykinantih2374]

I want to ask, does this riser make big soundproofing? Because i have not so thick soundproof my wall. Thx dear.

[@tate_berkey]

I don't think it helps as much for sound proofing... Its main purpose is to isolate the drums from the floor, allowing them to resonate together on one single platform.

[@rocknrollhifives8087]

I was wondering the same thing Dessy. Dead space is best for soundproofing, room within a room. Maybe a riser would help stop some sound from traveling through the floor? Not sure about the walls though. Let me know if you try it and how it works, thanks!

[@paulakay5333]

I thought they actually sounded a little fuller and warmer on the riser. So, I was surprised at your closing comments. How about that!

[@tate_berkey]

Paula, from hearing the drums in person as well, it seemed that the drums always rang out of control on the riser. The tone and warmth is still there, but they are so much easier to mix now and I don't have nearly as much bleed and ring between the individual drum mics.

[@jimflys2]

Fuller with the riser. BTW my Yamaha maple kick sounds awful compared to my old Ludwigs, Roger's and gretsch. Using a kick drum riser fixed it. Different than a full riser, but I was amazed.

[@tate_berkey]

It all depends on what kind of sound you're going for. I've been really trying to aim for a kick sound with the right amount of punch while still having tone and decay. I think the attack comes through better on the floor, and the ring that I didn't need is now gone.

[@earldrum]

The advantage of not being on the riser is the ability to move the kit around in the room easier. I didn’t hear a lot of difference, but I’m not in my studio on the studio monitors! Also the big concert tom kit might set up easier not on the riser! 👍🏻

[@tate_berkey]

Totally Earl. I've already had an easier time moving things around and setting up/tearing down my kits.

[@CCMDrummer]

I think your snare had less of a ring when you were playing on the riser.

[@SteveTheDrummer]

Back in the day when I played an acoustic kit, I always thought it sounded better on a riser but I never had my own riser, just some of the clubs we played had them... anyway, interesting topic and I do agree with Earl, not using a riser gives more flexibility in your set up... listening to your kit with earbuds, the riser gives the drums a little more reverb and the non riser is a little dryer...

[@tate_berkey]

Hey Steve, I always think my drums sound better out at venues than here in my basement too lol! I've already been able to get things moved around and set up more efficiently without the riser.

[@mattiasmalmgren8723]

I thought that the sound on the riser was much better. A darker more filling sound and more spread between cymbals and drums. On the floor made the drums sound thin. I preferred the riser.

[@m1ch4315t31n]

Without riser the drums sound more focused and punchy to me with less ring out (especially noticeable on the low end of the hat, Tom’s and snare. On the riser the kit feels more distant and the Tom resonance a lot more, it feels as if your kit is in a larger room and mic’d from further away

[@tate_berkey]

My thoughts exactly Michael!

[@arturosaenz9208]

That,s good for studio work ,but live,different venue,s,acoustic,s,etc.,it,s a different animal.

[@ryanthepianoman27]

no difference

[@dennishritz4677]

I have heard that Simon Phillip's requires a riser built to his specs when he at least plays clinics. Also Dom Fomularo shared with Dave Weckl that Buddy Rich's tech had 2 sheets of plywood that Buddys kit was placed on. The surface makes a difference.

[@tate_berkey]

Hey Dennis, all is correct here. I attended a camp that Simon was at a couple years ago and he spoke about always having his drums set up on a wooden platform much like Buddy always did.