Electronic drumming is not quiet, right?
How Loud Are Electronic Drum Kits Really?
While drum manufacturers would love you to believe otherwise, playing an electronic drum kit isn’t exactly silent. Depending on your living situation, your roommates or neighbors might not be as thrilled about your drumming passion as you are.
Why do electronic drum pedals make so much noise?
The biggest culprit when it comes to noise complaints from e-drumming is not the sound coming out of your module — it’s impact noise. The physical thumping caused by hitting the kick and hi-hat pedals travels straight through your floor and into the structure of the building. And yes, even mesh heads don’t completely fix this: the beater strike still transfers vibration into the ground.
If you live in an apartment, this can become a real issue. While you might be rocking out with headphones on, your neighbors don’t hear your performance — all they hear is thump thump thump, like someone hammering away or doing renovations.
Interestingly, with an acoustic kit, even though it’s louder, people can at least recognize it as drumming. With an electronic kit, the mechanical pounding often just sounds like disruptive noise.
So what can you do about it?
Despite all the claims about silent practice, more and more companies are developing products specifically to reduce unwanted noise from e-drum kits — which says a lot about how “silent” they really are.
Quieter Pedals
- Roland KT-9: A bass drum trigger pedal that reduces noise by removing the beater mechanism entirely.
- Roland FD-9: A low-noise hi-hat controller pedal designed for quiet operation.
- Roland KT-10: Offers realistic feel, but still produces a fair amount of impact noise.
Ultra-Silent Alternatives
- Triggera Krigg: A brilliant solution by a lesser-known Serbian company. This pedal trigger allows you to remove the beater altogether and mount your own pedal directly onto a quiet trigger surface. The result? Near-silent performance with almost no floor vibration.
Noise Isolation Platforms
Another effective trick is building a DIY isolation platform. Grab four old car tires of equal height, place a thick wooden board on top, and set your drum kit on the platform. This floating floor drastically reduces contact noise and costs next to nothing to make.
Roland’s Noise Eater Series
Roland also developed a range of accessories under the Noise Eater name, such as:
- NE-1: Small vibration-absorbing feet
- NE-10: A larger mat-like solution for kick pedals and stands
These are purpose-built to minimize contact noise traveling through the floor.
The Quietest E-Drum Kit Yet?
One of the most impressive innovations is the Roland VQD106 Drum Kit, designed with silent practice in mind. It reduces ambient playing noise by up to 75%, bringing the volume down to around 30 dB — about the level of a whisper.
It features:
- Roland TD-07 sound module
- Low-noise pads and pedals
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Built-in coaching tools
- 25 preset drum kits
Perfect for apartment drummers or anyone who needs to keep the peace at home.
Roland VQD106 Drum Kit
The Roland VQD106 Drum Kit is a quiet e-drum set featuring new VQD pads that reduce volume by up to 75%, with a playing volume of approximately 30 dB. It includes the TD-07 sound module, various drum pads, and advanced features like Bluetooth, built-in metronome, and coaching functions. Ideal for practice without disturbing others
Build Your Own Floating Drum Platform
Another smart and budget-friendly way to reduce contact noise is to place your entire drum kit on a surface that absorbs vibration. One of the most effective DIY solutions? Old car tires.
Here’s how it works:
Get four used car tires of the same height and place a sturdy wooden board on top — large enough to fit your full electronic drum kit. The tires act as shock absorbers, creating a floating floor that dramatically reduces the low-frequency thumping caused by foot pedals. It’s cheap, simple to build, and surprisingly effective.
This homemade isolation platform is especially useful for drummers in apartments or multi-level houses where floor vibrations are a problem. It won’t make your kit completely silent, but it will significantly reduce the amount of noise transmitted to your downstairs neighbors.
Listen for Yourself
In the audio example below, you’ll first hear the sound coming directly from the drum module — what you hear through your headphones. Then, you’ll hear the actual acoustic noise produced by the pads and pedals themselves — the part your neighbors hear.
This stark contrast shows just how important proper isolation can be, even with so-called “silent” electronic drums.
© e-drumstel.nl
