RockBand Mods.net

Drum mutes have been keeping parents and neighbors of drummers happy since they first hit the market.  Since the biggest complaint about Rock Band, well besides faulty hardware, is the noise that the drums make, I thought it would be good to see how drum mutes designed for a real drum set would work on their virtual counterparts.

The drum mutes that I chose to use are from Vic Firth.  Since these were the only mutes that advertised to be made of pure rubber, not neoprene, I figured they should give the best rebound while still providing a quieter drumming experience for everyone around.

This construction of this mod is almost identical to the Foam & Felt Silencer mod and can be completed within 20 minutes with the proper supplies.

Supply List:

• 4 Vic Firth Drum Mutes
• 1 circle cutter
• Carpet Tape (double-sided tape)

Step 1 - Create Test Pattern:

Using some standard printer paper (8.5″ x 11″), set the circle cutters diameter around 7″. Cut a test pattern from the paper and test the fit on one of the drum pads. You don’t have to use a circle cutter, but the results will be much better than using a compass and scissors.

If the paper doesn’t fit on the drum pad to your liking, adjust the diameter of the circle cutter to increase or decrease the size of the drum mute.  It may take a few test patterns to get the fit that you want, so take your time on this step.

Step 2 - Cut Drum Mutes:

Now that the diameter is locked in on the circle cutter, you will now want to start cutting out the drum mute circles. The rubber of the drum mutes is pretty thick, so be sure to use a lot of pressure when cutting the mutes and make several passes to make sure that you cut completely through the pad.

Step 3 - Apply Tape

I’ve found that the best way to apply the drum mutes to the Rock Band drum pads is to use carpet tape, which can be found at just about any hardware store. Carpet tape is strong enough to keep the mutes in place, but don’t leave much, if any, residue on the drum pads when removed.

From my experience, it’s best to apply the tape directly to the drum pads first instead of the mutes.

Step 4 - Apply Mutes

If you haven’t already done so, remove the top paper layer from the double sided tape. You should now be able to apply the drum mutes to each pad by applying firm pressure to make a good seal between the drum mute and pad.

You should now have a much quieter drum set without sacrificing much stick rebound, while making your family and neighbors much happier in the process.

Rating:

Pros:

• Dampens the noise greatly
• Supplies can be purchased at most local music, craft, and hardware stores
• Easy to make
• Warranty Safe (easily removable with little to no residue left on the drum pads)

Cons:

• Expensive
• Can decrease sensitivity on some models

Overall:

The Vic Firth Drum Mutes are an easy to create dampening mod that is excellent for reducing the “clacking” noise of the regular Rock Band drum pads. The pure rubber drum mutes provide great stick rebound and the thickness of the mutes should prevent any dents or cracked drum pads.  The supplies needed for this mod can be easily found at local music, craft, and hardware stores or purchased online.

However, the Vic Firth drum mutes can be very expensive, ranging from $30 to $50 for a set of four.  If you happen to find a good deal on some mutes that aren’t Vic Firths, be sure that they are made of pure rubber and not a synthetic, like neoprene, to get the best stick rebound and lasting quality.  The only other downside to the Vic Firth mutes is that they can reduce the sensitivity on some models.

This is the best sound dampening mod that I’ve tried yet, and the benefits greatly outweigh the cons, and therefore is highly recommended.

UPDATE (05/24/2008): After extensive testing with and EL set, I have to adjust the rating of this mod to four out of five due to the fact that the responsiveness on and EL set is almost unbearable.  As far as sound dampening goes, these are some of the best mutes available and do a great job.  However, they can really put a damper on your score as well.

(4/5)

A video demonstrating the sound difference between the stock Rock Band drum pads, Felt & Foam silencers, and Vic Firth Drum mutes mod can be seen below: