A drum booth, also known as a drum cage, is a sound isolation chamber that is used to regulate the volume of acoustic drums. A drum booth can be a separate room lined with acoustic dampening material such as acoustic foam in a recording studio setting, or it can be an enclosed chamber set within a larger room made primarily of acrylic panels and some type of sound-absorbing material. Sound booths come in all shapes and sizes, as well as a variety of materials. Vocals, instrument amplifiers, and other loud musical instruments can all be isolated with them.
Controlling the volume of an acoustic drum set can be difficult in some situations. Acoustic drum volume can be much too loud to be properly recorded in a studio, as well as overwhelming the other band members’ instruments in a live performance setting, depending on the type of music being played and a drummer’s individual playing style. Drummers who want to practice their instrument without disturbing their housemates or neighbors will need to use some sort of sound-dampening device.
A drum booth is also known as a drum shield or a drum screen, but these terms usually refer to a partially enclosed sound shield that is open on at least one side or at the top, whereas the term drum booth refers to a fully enclosed chamber or room. Portable drum booths and drum shields are usually made of acrylic panels and are used for live performances, but they can also be used for recording in a small or home studio. When used without acoustic foam or other sound-dampening material, acrylic panels are heavy, expensive, and sometimes ineffective.
Drum booths are available in a variety of sizes and configurations to accommodate various drum sets. To accommodate individual needs and budgets, a drum booth can be constructed using a variety of sound-dampening materials. After a room has been framed out with acoustic foam, thick blankets, heavy curtains, rugs, or even foam pillows, it can be treated acoustically with acoustic foam, thick blankets, heavy curtains, rugs, or even foam pillows. Because low frequency acoustics behave differently than higher frequency acoustics and are more difficult to sound-proof, the bass drum will require special attention. Some drummers stuff pillows or folded blankets into their bass drums to help with sound quality and volume control.