Are Drum Shields Necessary?

 

Do You Need a Drum Shield?

 

Give the drummer some — some noise separation, that is. You have probably seen some of the world's best drummers behind a plexiglass barrier at some point in their careers and asked yourself, what are the advantages of a drum shield? Surely The Rolling Stones' Charlie Watts, The Police's Stuart Copeland, and Chicago's Tris Imboden know what they're doing by using drum shield's, right?

 

Why drummers use a drum shield

 

Drummers don't need a private enclosure to avoid the rest of the band's antics. Drum shields are far more practical than that. They are used to help isolate and control the band's sound.

 Specifically:

 

1. It enables the mix engineer to produce a cleaner mix by stopping the drums from muddying the sound of the other instruments.
2. This allows the drums to be treated with EQ and reverb separately, enabling a more distinct sound to play through the PA.

 

Gives the Drummer More Freedom

 

Though drummers are positioned toward the back of the stage, they are an integral part of a band's sound, and skilled drummers are artists in their own right. A drum shield allows expressive drummers to:

 

1. Show their virtuosity, playing loudly and using sticks instead of hot rods or brushes.
2. Play without fear of overpowering the band or complicating the mix.

 

Why Are Drum Shields Used So Extensively in Churches?

 

Some of the world's best drummers came through the church. Gospel drummers are known to hit loudly, so drum shields are often used in this setting. It's especially beneficial for congregants with sensitive hearing while allowing the most precise, controlled mix possible.

 

Helps The Rest of The Band by Cleaning Up Monitor Mixes

 

A drum shield prevents drums from bleeding back into vocal mics. Sound bleed creates a headache for mix engineers because both the house speakers and monitors are then affected. Drum shields help solve this issue. 

 

Cymbals and Vocals Don't Mix

 

EQ-ing the vocals for a house mix usually means boosting the higher frequencies. This doesn't work well with the cymbals, which are boosted in the mix and create sonic confusion. 

 

The same problem is exaggerated in the monitors. Turning up the monitors so a vocalist can hear themselves more clearly increases the noise of the cymbals bleeding through. The problem is further exacerbated when different vocalists are on stage in different positions at different distances from the drums. They hear the drums differently, which affects their timing. Thus, a drum cage is essential to separate the drums from the vocals, allowing the singers to hear themselves as precisely as possible. 

 

 

Drum Shields Help a Church's Broadcast Mix

 

Large churches often broadcast their services and gospel festivals over the airwaves or in other areas of a large venue away from the stage. In this instance, they use the front house feed or a matrix mix to do so. Unless the house mix is fixed, the same issues will persist.

 

Why Some People are Hesitant to Use a Drum Shield

 

Aesthetics- 

 

Sometimes drum shields are bulky, scratched, and smudged, and can not great to look at. Proper care and maintenance(or upgrading to Abrasion Resistance) will reduce the possibility of distractions from the shields.  In addition, there are often improper sound baffles placed on top of the drum shield or in front of the glass. The overall effect detracts from the cohesive look of a band unit.  This is why making sure to use ClearSonics' Sorber, and use it correctly will improve the aesthetics of the booth.  

 

Isolates the Drummer Visually

 

A drummer is the beating heart of a band. The drummer and bass player form the nucleus of the rhythm section, often playing off one another. Separating the drummer with a drum shield can reduce visual ques.  With proper placement and management of the shield and isolation booth, you can expect the band to groove as if they were next to one another. 

 

From an audience's perspective, the look of a band can be affected and made to appear somewhat antiseptic by a drum shield — more like a recording session than a live performance. However, all these issues can be resolved with the right drum enclosure.

 

The Solution

 

ClearSonic's newest line of drum shields is made with high-quality, durable, crystal-clear Acrylic with full-length hinges and cable cutouts, allowing maximum sonic separation while keeping the drummer visually connected to the rest of the band and the audience. The shields are adaptable to both a studio setting and live stage, allowing the engineer to create a clear and distinct mix without compromise, whether you're in the church at a rock concert or a jazz club. Looking and sounding good with a drum shield has never been easier.