Need some advice and help on playing drums with pa speakers and ear plugs please.

SYMBOLIC DEATH said:

Did i read correctly that your room is 8 feet by 8 feet? An acoustic kit with a pa in there will super loud so you need to do a lot of research so you dont kill your hearing. Loud sounds get louder in small spaces. If it were me I'd go with IEMs and no PA. There's been a lot of good info here so you have options to research and pick the one that works best for your budget. Just be careful and ask if you have any questions.

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Thanks ,will do

My home practice setup is an electric kit with headphones. Most electric kits have a function that you can run music into the brain and it will do all the mixing for you so you can hear the drums and the music.

If you want to use an acoustic kit, get the Vic Firth isolation headphones and that's all you need. I'd avoid the PA at all costs, you're risking serious hearing damage.

mikyok said:

My home practice setup is an electric kit with headphones. Most electric kits have a function that you can run music into the brain and it will do all the mixing for you so you can hear the drums and the music.

If you want to use an acoustic kit, get the Vic Firth isolation headphones and that's all you need. I'd avoid the PA at all costs, you're risking serious hearing damage.

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Yep point taken thanks will totally re think

DB60 said:

I don't want the music coming from headphones I want the music coming out of pa speakers ,sorry if I don't make my self clear , but I wish to protect my ears at the same time , I don't know if this is possible! Thanks

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I use the plugs with the hard headband as they just rest in my ears, but don't block out 100% of the outside sound. They work really well & are very comfortable.

Some of you have mentioned getting a electric kit I think I'll look at them ,so thanks for all your help , I think realistically a acoustic kit isn't going to work which is a shame ,all the best

I've got a 7x16 drum room so it's a bit bigger than yours, but I had the same dream when I first setup the room.

In order to enjoy playing (not forced to change natural dynamics for the music), the volume needed to hear the music and the drums in a good mix is unbelievably loud. It's so loud in fact, that my ears couldn't distinguish instruments anymore. It's just a cacophony. It hurts the ears and isn't fun anymore.

So your dream is not unique - but in my experience, I gave up. I ordered a mixer and some mics and use in ear monitors to practice. Occasionally, I'll host jams in which case I use lighter sticks and only the vocals come through the speaker so it's clearer and more manageable for everyone. But my mixer has multiple headphone mixes so if everyone just wants to jam with headphones, we have that option too.

I too have been playing for about 5 years now after a very long absence. And while it is likely a bit too late for me at 62, I began using earplugs after never using them before. Hence the tinnitus. But I now wear Hearprotek earplugs every time I sit behind a kit. Working with two different bands I have no problem hearing the other instruments with these earplugs but feel they are protecting my ears from further abuse. I encourage every drummer to wear ear protection from the very beginning because once there is damage, there is no way to reverse it.

My practice\ studio room is 20'x 12' with carpet floor & usual wall board. I use $12 'construction' earmuffs and a small stereo system. No PA-too loud. Play for 10 or 15 min. With snares off, wait 10 more minutes and play with snares on. The sound sounds gated! I can hear vocals, bass, etc..

I use over the ear headphones. They reduce the drum sound while managing the sound of the recordings that I play along with.

In my opinion and from my personal experiences, you are going to be able to hear the music better with in-ear monitors as opposed to a loud PA system with ear plugs, so I'll throw out my suggestions:

First buy these:

These are 6-driver IEM's for less than $50. I quit using my $300 Westones, and I now use these because they sound better. They don't isolate 100% which is a good thing; they will allow the sound of the drums to bleed through without having to mic them and put them in a soundboard.

If you want more isolation, then get these:

Also, don't forget to get a dongle if you don't have one and possibly and extension cable. This all will have you in for less than $100.

Thanks I'll look into all of this