Need help to quiet drums

[ReDpHiVe]

First question in my quest to make drums quiet (oxymoronic ain't it). I just moved into an apartment and have a second room all to myself (me: "woohoo!") ...
BUT!!! It's on the second floor (studio audience: "awwwww!!")

What can do to soften the blow through the floors? My thoughts are to build a drum riser of some sort but my sub query is what kind of insulation or absorption material could/ should I use or (insert better idea here).

My full intention is to take a small room (9'x 12' aprox.) and record my own stuff (Drums and percussion mostly); building my custom desk as I type (good multi-tasker here) and bass traps and gobos are my next project. I am well aware of crappy measurements of my room but it's what I got.

[ReDpHiVe]

Just moved in a month ago and quickly set up shop to see what I am working with.

adding pictures for help!!!





Picture of desk I am building:

[bozmillar]

Quiet drums? I'm not quite sure that's possible. I have a sound proof listening room next to my desk at work, and you can even hear drums coming from that room. No matter how much sound proofing you have, I don't think you could ever make it not annoying for neighbors.

It looks like you have a couple drum sets. It might be worth it to put mesh drum heads on one of them, and use the other for recording. That way, when you practice, you won't have an audience. You still have the issue of playing loud when recording, but at least you won't have to expect people to put up with your playing as often.

[ReDpHiVe]

I still would like to be polite ... plus keeping the bass drum off the floor would help with the vibrations which goes back to my original question about building a riser to help with that. What materials would help?

[brandondrury]

The quick answer is, depending on how you define "quiet" is no, it isn't going to happen. I'd recommend a super cheap edrum kit triggering Superior Drummer 2.0 or equivalent.

It goes like this. Soundproofing is much like trying to hold a gas inside a balloon. Let's pretend it's poison gas. Even if there is a hole on the opposite side of you (ceiling, walls, etc) you are dead. The same applies with sound. You can't just treat the floor, unfortunately.

Brandon