I think I may finally have the solution to my baffling problems. For months, I've been trying to create the perfect baffle for my 15x24" cocktail drum. I was near giving up. But I talked to my brother in law last night who knows a lot about sound, and he asked if I'd tried rubber yet. So I got the idea, why not put a Billy Gladstone-type rubber snare muffler on top of the baffle?
I haven't tested it yet, but here is the theory: like Keith, I've found that the baffle (mine is an oreo made of cardboard, foam, and fiberfill) works like a drumhead. Even with a 2 1/2" vent on each side of the baffle, tons of air hits the baffle, and the baffle transmits it to the top head.
Few things can make a head as acoustically dead as my old Billy Gladstone practice pad. So if I put it on top of the baffle, the baffle should lose almost all of its ability to transmit vibrations to the top head.
If that doesn't do the trick, I may also add some studio-type deadening foam to the bottom of the baffle.
I'll let you know how it works. For now, I'm just so geeked about the idea. I know the rubber muffler follows the Peace Manhattan kit method of muting the top head of the bass drum, and I've heard that works pretty well. I don't know why I didn't think of this idea sooner.
Wish me luck!
FW
finally, a baffling solution?
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fw
Okay, so I tried the Billy Gladstone pad on the baffle, and the results were pretty impressive, although not THE solution. I think if I can get a sheet of 1/2" thick rubber and cut it to 15", then put the pad on top of that on top of the baffle, that will do the trick. I'll also probably put one more 2 1/2" hole in the bass drum side.
BTW, there is a single headed Ludwig cocktail drum on ebay for $70 right now. It has the snares and with some cleaning and mods could be a sweet drum for cheap.
fw
BTW, there is a single headed Ludwig cocktail drum on ebay for $70 right now. It has the snares and with some cleaning and mods could be a sweet drum for cheap.
fw
what i did, with pretty good results, was very similar to whole 'sandwich' baffle except i didn't bolt the whole thing together. i took two 14" circles cut out of masonite (for a 14" drum) and mounted the first one in the drum. then i just laid a piece of 1" foam (like the eggshell stuff that those mattress pads are made of.. but not eggshelled) on top of that, and then mounted the second masonite circle above that. touching the foam, but NOT smashing it down.
i'm no physicist, but you figure all the air pressure from the bottom head getting hit comes up and smacks whatever baffle one might have mounted. so with this setup, all that air hits the first masonite plate, loses some of it's *umph* but still gets transmitted by it. it then hits the loose foam which slows it down even more, then hits the second plate and totally dies out.
i have a snare fan that's about 3.5" to 4.0" long, and i'm getting virtually no sound out of them at all. you really have to concentrate and listen for it. the snare has a nice sound to it as well. no gigantic vent holes either.
(shrug) my two cents.
i'm no physicist, but you figure all the air pressure from the bottom head getting hit comes up and smacks whatever baffle one might have mounted. so with this setup, all that air hits the first masonite plate, loses some of it's *umph* but still gets transmitted by it. it then hits the loose foam which slows it down even more, then hits the second plate and totally dies out.
i have a snare fan that's about 3.5" to 4.0" long, and i'm getting virtually no sound out of them at all. you really have to concentrate and listen for it. the snare has a nice sound to it as well. no gigantic vent holes either.
(shrug) my two cents.
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fw
Thanks, Roarbot.
I've thought of using Masonite for a while--it seems that since it is so dense and thick that it should lose the vibrations faster than the cardboard I'm using. My only problem--how did you cut it? I tried using a jigsaw on a thin piece and had really crappy results. Masonite was my top choice to use for a baffle, but until I can figure out how to cut it well, I can't use it.
fw
I've thought of using Masonite for a while--it seems that since it is so dense and thick that it should lose the vibrations faster than the cardboard I'm using. My only problem--how did you cut it? I tried using a jigsaw on a thin piece and had really crappy results. Masonite was my top choice to use for a baffle, but until I can figure out how to cut it well, I can't use it.
fw
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roadhog
Try particle board for a baffle, 3/4" or even 1 1/8"...it won't resonate at all, at the expense of a little extra weight. My idea on my forthcoming kit is to make a particle board ring that fastens to the inside of the shell, then I can bolt a disc to one side, and also have the option of bolting a second disc on the other sire if I still need more isolation.
Incidentally, if you'd like a fixture for making perfectly round baffles, go to www.partsexpress.com and look at the Jasper Circle Jig...it attached to your routeer base and allows perfectly round cuts in 1/32" increments. I use one for making speaker cutouts and even recessing the drivers. Only way to fly!
Incidentally, if you'd like a fixture for making perfectly round baffles, go to www.partsexpress.com and look at the Jasper Circle Jig...it attached to your routeer base and allows perfectly round cuts in 1/32" increments. I use one for making speaker cutouts and even recessing the drivers. Only way to fly!