cmar Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 I'm wondering what everyones opinion is on the usage of plexi glass drum shields. I've heard both positive and negative things about them so I want to see what the general consensus is. I would be using it in a school auditorium with bad accoustics. Also, if I do decide that I want one, is it possible to just make one myself or is that a bad call. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Personally I think they help to "clean up" the mix,by reducing spill from the kit in to other area's of the stage.Saw (and used) a "home made" one and as far as I could hear it was just as good as a manufactured one!Although the person that made it was good at that sort of thing,unlike me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solstace Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 If you are prepared to mic the kit, then yes a drum screen will be a big help to you. You might get complaints from band members who feel "disconnected" from the drummer, but most bands I've worked with have thanked me when I've provided a screen. As for brands, well I've had good experience with both "no-name" perspex screens and with Clearsonics products. Hope this helps C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryson Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 We had some custom made ones on my last ship when our previous ones broke. The carpenters made them out of inch-thick plexiglass that they had lying around. They were brilliant accoustically, but were a 4-man lift for each panel! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlyfarly Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Wow, Bryson. One inch thick.....luxury...just the job! :D I guess if you are going to knock some up yourself, just don't use the really thin stuff otherwise you might end up with a sort of 'wobble board' effect! ;) I have used them on occasions when doing 'unplugged' style shows that were being recorded. They were a BIG help since we had a string section on stage too. The drummer did mention that he thought the drums seemed loud to him, I guess from very close reflections that he wasn't used to in a live environment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_R Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 We use a Clearsonics screen around our kit at church and the back wall behind the drummer is sound absorbent boarding (the name escapes me!).They definitely help in keeping drum sound out of other mic's which is great!I have noticed that with the screen the drums are a lot louder, and I have heard this from other drummers too and have on a couple of occasions given the drummer headphones because of this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljstevens Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 On some of the musicals I have done we have made a perc booth up using half inch ply cut to about 3ft high and 2ft wide backed with acoustic tiles, then cut some perspex, attached that to the top of the, made about 8 of them, then cable tied them together which gives you a flexible enclosure! works wonders! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobbsy Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 We had some custom made ones on my last ship when our previous ones broke. The carpenters made them out of inch-thick plexiglass that they had lying around. They were brilliant accoustically, but were a 4-man lift for each panel! Maybe you should have used some of Scotty's "transparent aluminium" instead...I hear it's stronger and lighter! ;) Seriously, I'm a big fan of putting shields round the drums, then miking everything when working with a miked up band. Getting rid of a significant amount of spill from the drums into the other instrument mics really cleans up the mix. Like others here, I've used both the specialist Clearsonics screen and more homemade solutions...both seemed to work well. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted January 20, 2006 Share Posted January 20, 2006 Maybe you should have used some of Scotty's "transparent aluminium" instead...I hear it's stronger and lighter! ;)Transparent Aluminium ~= Polycarbonate. Ain't cheap though, but by heck is it strong and tough.It's what they make riot shields and bullet-proof glass out of... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Si Posted January 21, 2006 Share Posted January 21, 2006 I've been after one for ages... - mainly due to the cymbal Spill - nightmare trying to get vox to cut through the mix when they're standing infrot of the drummer on a small stage! Where can they be gotten from?How much do they cost? (I'm sure I should know the answer to these questions, but when there's a forum full of users, then why bother? - just ask! - that's my philosophy ;) ). The church I learnt sound at, had and probably still does have drum screens which are something like 75mm thick on their bases, which are probably made from plywood and are full of Rockwool for good ol' absorption, and then the perspex slots in to the tops. Si Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmar Posted March 9, 2006 Author Share Posted March 9, 2006 So if I wanted to make a drum shield, what materials should I purchase. Let's try to keep in mind that the school is on a tight budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueShift Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 We always use a 1676mm high, 6 segment clearsonics screen for our drum kit, coupled with accoustic absorbtion on the back wall. Works wonders, however, close-miking the kit is very important as while the screen does help reduce spill onstage, it all reflects back onto the kit so you tend to get a lot of drums bleeding into one anothers mics if you arent careful with placement.Also, I have seen so many people try and use serious drum screens with big wedge monitors behind them! This doesnt often work very well because unless you have a very focused dispersion on the box it can have a tendancy to bleed into the drum mics. We use a IEM system with a good ol' pair of HD25's So, drum screens are great - as long as you understand the other issues that go along with them. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 Unless you have, like Brysons brilliant one, plexi/perspec lying about then cheap is not a word to use here. It is VERY expensive stuff, needs very delicate handling and careful storage. Even drilling mounting holes in it is not easy - Hence why one I made about 3 years ago had very odd radiused corners by the time it was finished. Drilling near edges is a crack waiting to happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmar Posted March 9, 2006 Author Share Posted March 9, 2006 Thanks BlueShift, I hadn't really thought about some of those points, especially the floor wedges. Also, I realize that it won't be cheap, but would I basically just need about .5 inch plexiglass and then some hinges and screws? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomo Posted March 9, 2006 Share Posted March 9, 2006 I'd suggest using polycarbonate instead of plexiglass (polystyrene), because it's one heck of a lot tougher - it's what they make riot shields out of, so you aren't going to break it even if you hit it with a sledgehammer or drop it off the balcony.Polycarb is also extremely easy to cut and drill - just use normal HSS bits and a medium-toothed jigsaw. PC is more expensive though, and more prone to scratches if mishandled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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