Do Electronic Drum Kits Make Noise?

Electronic drum kits are not silent and generate sounds when struck. There is impact noise when you hit the pads with your drumsticks but the noise is not nearly as loud as acoustic drums. While acoustic drum sets usually make noise at around 130-135dB, the e-drum kits are much quieter at 60-65dB.

There are a lot of different components in an electronic drum kit that makes a difference when it comes to noise. For example, mesh heads are way quieter than rubber pads. Thankfully, mesh heads are becoming a standard in e-drum kits for reasons other than loudness. They also offer better bounce, can be tuned, and are generally more responsive.

Other than heads and pads, if you play your e-drum kit in an apartment, you should know that most of the noise comes from the kick pedal. Therefore you should always put a carpet under your e-drum kit. Believe me, your downstairs neighbors will appreciate it.

Are Electronic Drums Loud in an Apartment?

Electronic drums can be relatively loud in an apartment. Vibrations from the kick pad generally contribute to the most amount of noise. Even though mesh heads are generally quieter than rubber pads, they still produce that “thud” sound when you hit the pads and cymbals with your drumstick. So, if you need your electronic drums to be absolutely quiet, you might want to consider soundproofing the room as that’s the best solution for noise.

How to Make Your Electronic Drums Quieter?

There are things to consider before buying an e-drum kit. Mesh heads are quieter than rubber pads. But, there is a difference between mesh heads too. Generally, 1-ply mesh heads will produce less noise than 3-ply mesh heads. The reason is that thicker mesh heads are much louder, and some 2-ply mesh heads are thicker than 3-ply, so make sure to do your research before you buy an e-drum kit if loudness would be an issue for you.

There are also some sound-absorbing beaters you can buy for your kick drum, and they do help by absorbing the impact but they don’t completely solve the volume issue.

The last thing you can do is buy or build some sort of a noise-absorbing platform to put your e-drums on. The function of these platforms is to trap a lot of the vibrations and reduce them by around 70% before they reach the floor below you. You can check out Roland’s “noise eater” – NE10.

Roland’s “noise eater” - NE10
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How Loud Are Electronic Drums Compared to Acoustic Drums?

The difference between acoustic and electronic drum kits largely depends on the drummer, but most of the time, e-drum kits can go as loud as 65dB, while acoustic drum sets are much louder at 135dB.

Playing an acoustic drum set in an apartment is almost impossible due to the noise it produces. E-drum kits are a different thing, and they are practically made to be played where acoustic drums cannot be.

How Loud Are Different Components of an Electronic Drum Kit?

Many components make up an e-drum kit, some of which are louder than others. Here are some noteworthy things if you want to make some adjustments and make your e-drum kit a bit quieter.

Drum pads are the source of the majority of the noise created by your electronic set. However, this depends on the sort of drum heads you have on your electronic drum kit. Rubber head drums are substantially louder than mesh head drums. So, if you can, choose the mesh heads.

Cymbals also make a lot of noise, and just like drum pads, some cymbal pads produce more noise than others. This depends on the thickness of the rubber used for that particular cymbal; the thicker the rubber, the less noise it produces.

The pedals are components that make the same type of noise both in acoustic and an e-drum kit. They are not as loud as the drum pads but they are worth mentioning here. There are different “thud” sounds, vibrations, and squeaks they make that can still create some noise.

Drum shells also produce some noise. And the size difference between different drum shells does matter. Bigger drum shells can be a little bit louder, and what really makes a difference is when you hit the rim of the drum.

Conclusion

When it comes to noise in electronic drum kits, the most important thing is to know that they are not completely silent. Though, they are way quieter than acoustic drum sets!

Mike O'Connor
Mike O'Connor

I've been playing drums for over 18 years. I work as both a session drummer and a drum teacher, and I love to share my knowledge and tips on this site. You can also find me on the Electronic Drum Advisor YouTube channel.

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