RockBand Mods.net

The Foam and Felt drum silencing mod is one of the first mods created in order to help dampen the “clacking” noise that the stock Rock Band drum pads create when played.  This mod is also one of the easiest to create and least expensive to implement.

With the proper supplies, this mod should only take about 15-20 minutes to complete.

Supply List:

• 4 sheets of 9″ x 12″ sticky-back foam rubber
• 4 sheets of 9″ x 12″ sticky-back felt
• 1 circle cutter  

Most of these supplies can be found at your local craft supply stores such as:

• Jo-Ann’s
• Michaels
• Hobby Lobby

Step 1 - Create Test Pattern:

Use some plain printer paper (8.5″ x 11″) and set the circle cutters diameter between 6.5″ and 7″.  Cut a test pattern from the paper and test the fit on one of the drum pads.  You can use a compass and scissors to cut the circles, but the results will be much better using a circle cutter. 

The paper should easily fit on the drum pad without any creases.  You can adjust the diameter of the circle cutter to increase or decrease how much of the original colored rings will be shown after the foam and felt pads are applied, so it may take a few test patterns to get the fit that you desire.

Step 2 - Cut Foam and Felt:

With the size set on the circle cutter from the test pattern, repeat the cutting procedure for each piece of foam and felt. 

When finished, you should have four foam circles and four felt circles ready to be applied to your drum pads.

Step 3 - Adhere Felt to Foam:

Remove the paper backing from the adhesive side of the felt circle.  Lay the felt down with the adhesive side up. 

Place a foam circle (adhesive side up) on top of the felt circle.  Apply pressure to the two pads to ensure a good seal.  It’s best to use a rolling pin or clothes iron (off of course) to get enough pressure to keep the two circles tightly together. 

Repeat for each felt/foam pad combination.

Step 4 - Apply to Drums:

Remove the paper backing from the foam circle and apply to the drum pad. 

If you cut the circles diameter to allow the original colored rings to display, be sure to take your time to get the alignment correct for best visual appeal. 

Rating:

Pros:

• Dampens the “clacking” sound effectively
• Inexpensive
• Supplies are easy to find
• Easy to make
• Warranty Safe (easily removable with little to no residue left on the drum pads)

Cons:

• Decreases stick rebound
• Felt wears out easily and foam breaks down with continued use

Overall:

The foam & felt drum silencers are an inexpensive and easy to create drum pad dampening mod that is great for reducing the “clacking” noise of the standard Rock Band drum pads.  The supplies needed for this mod can be easily found at local arts and craft stores or purchased online.

However, the stick rebound tends to be reduced, which can greatly affect accuracy during “fast rolls” and the foam and felt wear out easily with continued use.

(4/5)

A video demonstrating this mod can be seen below: