Ethan Clarke
Drummers sometimes sit behind a plastic wall, also known as a drum cage, drum screen, or drum shield, to reduce the sound levels of the drums for the audience and other musicians on stage. This setup is particularly useful in small venues, churches, or when recording live performances, as it prevents the drums from overpowering other instruments and vocals. The plastic wall helps to isolate the drum sound, reducing microphone bleed and feedback issues, and allowing the sound engineer greater control over the overall mix. While this setup can make the drummer feel disconnected from the rest of the band, it also has the advantage of providing a more natural listening experience for the drummer, as they hear their own sound without it being dispersed into a large venue.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Material | Glass, plexiglass, acrylic |
| Thickness | 0.22-inch (5.6mm) |
| Purpose | To reduce sound levels for the audience and other musicians, prevent microphone feedback issues, and isolate the drum sound |
| Advantages | Helps with microphone bleed, dampens drum sound, provides sound control, protects the drummer from objects being thrown |
| Disadvantages | Can make the drummer feel isolated or alienated from the rest of the band, can get very hot inside |
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What You'll Learn
To reduce sound levels for the audience and other musicians
Drummers sometimes sit behind a glass or acrylic shield, also known as a drum cage, screen, or shield, to reduce sound levels for the audience and other musicians. Drums are designed to project, and their sound can easily overpower other instruments on stage. The sound from drums projects in every direction and can bleed into other microphones around the stage.
Drum screens are typically made from a 0.22-inch (5.6mm) thick clear acrylic sheet material. This material reflects most sound, so the sound of the drums is redirected away from other instruments and microphones. Drum cages are particularly useful in situations where most things on stage are mic'd up, making life easier for the sound engineer. They can also be used to redirect the sound back towards the drummer, allowing them to hear their own sound more naturally.
Drum cages are often used in churches and other venues where sound control is a priority. They are also useful in small venues, where the sound of the drums might otherwise be overwhelming. However, they can make the drummer feel isolated from the rest of the band, and they can get quite hot inside.
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To prevent feedback issues
Drummers sometimes sit behind a glass or acrylic shield, known as a drum cage, drum screen, or drum shield, to prevent feedback issues. Drums are designed to project, and their sound can overpower other instruments on stage. The sound from the drums travels in every direction and can bleed into other microphones, which can cause feedback issues. Drum cages help to isolate the drums and reduce the sound levels for the audience and other musicians on stage, while still allowing the drummer to play normally.
Drum screens are typically made from a 0.22-inch (5.6mm) thick clear acrylic sheet material, which reflects most of the sound that strikes it, rather than absorbing it. To address this, acoustic absorption products such as acoustic foam, heavy curtains, or acoustic panels can be used on a significant percentage of the screen surface to help dissipate sound energy.
By placing a drum cage around the drums, the sound is reflected back to the drummer, preventing it from travelling directly into the microphones of vocalists and other instruments. This helps to prevent feedback issues caused by high volumes of sound from multiple sources. Additionally, drum cages can provide cleaner individual tracks during live recordings, making it easier for sound engineers to mix and process the audio.
Drum cages are particularly useful in small venues, churches, and situations where multiple microphones are in use, helping to control sound levels and prevent feedback issues.
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To avoid microphones picking up the drum sound
Drummers sometimes sit behind a glass or acrylic shield, known as a drum cage, drum screen, or drum shield, to avoid microphone feedback and control the sound of the drums. Drums are designed to project sound and can easily overpower other instruments on stage. The sound from drums travels in all directions and can bleed into other microphones, which can be an issue depending on room or venue acoustics and microphone placement.
Drum screens are usually made out of a 0.22-inch (5.6mm) thick clear acrylic sheet material. While these screens reflect most of the sound, they still help to dampen the sound of the drums and prevent microphone bleed. They also help to deflect the sound from the front of the house, so the audience isn't overwhelmed by the drums. This allows the sound engineer to have more control over the mix that the audience hears.
In addition to controlling the sound for the audience, drum screens can also help to isolate the sound of the drums for recording purposes. While it is hard to entirely isolate sounds in live recording situations, drum screens can help provide cleaner individual tracks with less bleed from other instruments. This makes it easier to mix the tracks later on.
Finally, drum screens can also provide a level of protection for the drummer. In some cases, they may be used to prevent objects from being thrown at the drummer or to protect them from falling objects.
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To deflect sound from the front of the house
When drums are placed behind a plastic wall, it helps to deflect the sound from the front of the house, ensuring that listeners at the front have a better mix rather than being overwhelmed by the drums. This is particularly useful in small venues where drums can easily overpower other instruments.
Drums are designed to project their sound, and their sound is not directional, so it will project in every direction and can bleed into other microphones on the stage. This can cause issues with feedback, especially when combined with the high volumes of vocal mics and other microphones. By placing a plastic wall, also known as a drum cage, drum shield, or drum screen, around the drums, the sound of the drums can be contained and reflected back towards the drummer, reducing the volume for the audience and other musicians on stage.
Drum screens are typically made of clear acrylic sheet material, usually about 0.22 inches (5.6mm) thick. While these plastic screens reflect most of the sound that strikes them, very little sound is absorbed. To address this, acoustic absorption products such as acoustic foam, heavy curtains, or acoustic panels can be used on a portion of the screen surface to help dissipate the sound energy.
The use of a drum cage can provide several advantages in terms of sound control and isolation, making it easier for sound engineers to manage microphone placement and feedback issues. However, it can also make the drummer feel isolated from the rest of the band and create a challenge in terms of the temperature inside the cage.
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To make the drummer feel comfortable
Drummers sit behind glass or acrylic shields, often referred to as drum cages or drum screens, to reduce sound levels for the audience and other musicians on stage. By isolating the drums, these shields help prevent feedback issues and microphone bleed, allowing the drummer to play energetically without overwhelming other instruments and vocals on stage.
While some drummers may feel isolated or alienated from the rest of the band due to the physical barrier created by the shield, others find it more comfortable as it allows them to hear their own sound naturally without being dispersed into a large venue. The shield also helps deflect the sound from the front, providing a better mix for the listeners out front.
Additionally, the shield can serve as a protective barrier, shielding the drummer from objects that may be thrown on stage and preventing potential accidents.
To enhance the comfort of the drummer, it is important to consider the size of the shield and the potential impact on temperature. A larger shield may require the use of a fan to prevent the drummer from sweating profusely during their performance.
Overall, while the primary purpose of drum shields is to manage sound levels, they can also provide a more comfortable performing experience for the drummer by addressing sound dispersion, temperature control, and safety concerns.
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Frequently asked questions
Drums sometimes go behind plastic walls, also known as drum cages, drum shields, or drum screens, to reduce sound levels for the audience and other musicians on stage. This helps to prevent feedback issues and microphone bleed, where sound from the drums is picked up by other microphones.
Drum screens are typically made of a 0.22-inch (5.6mm) thick clear acrylic sheet material. A more expensive scratch-resistant or AR (abrasion-resistant) acrylic is sometimes used for touring applications.
Some drummers feel isolated from the rest of the band when sitting behind a drum screen. Additionally, it can get quite hot behind the screen, requiring the use of a fan to prevent excessive sweating during performances.
Alternatives to drum screens include using sound-absorbing materials such as acoustic foam, heavy curtains, acoustic panels, or absorption baffles to reduce sound reflection and improve overall sound control.
