Perhaps a better solution would be to hang some blankets from the walls and turn down to the level of the vocal speakers.

I have that Behringer 4 channel headphone amp and we just did this at our last practice. I actually did this because I wanted to record the rehearsal. Listening through headphones was great. I could hear everything and was able to adjust my level.

It's a good idea, but with only one mix you're going to run into problems. Everyone wants to hear themselves a bit better than everyone else, so no one will hear themselves comfortably. If you had an individual mix it might work, but as is I think you'll run into problems.

Perhaps a better solution would be to hang some blankets from the walls and turn down to the level of the vocal speakers.
In our rehearsal space we've got carpet on the floors and walls to keep down the echo. Our PA speakers are set in opposing corners, and elevated. We can all hear ourselves and each other just the way we need, and we don't have to get really loud.

The drum thing could be a problem depending on how loud your drummer is. Ours tends to play quiet at rehearsal. The fact that I had the drums mic'd for recording was helpful as I was able to include drums in the headphone mix.

Perhaps it is not an issue in your area, but around here we often have to provide our own vocal PA for shows. The same PA is more than adequate for rehearsals. (Even without the monitors hooked up.) I have to assume that where you're from musicians do not own their own PAs: either the gig provides one or one is rented.


Exactly. We never bring PA - clubs have to have it. Since we're so loud, the PA has to be adequate, most of the time these are permanent installations and large consoles.

Do you guys actually practise, or just talk about different ways of setting up practise?

Blood: your idea's good, just like most of your other practise ideas. This time, rent some V-Drums. Isolation problem: gone.

You know that talking is more fun than actually doing something..

It's a good idea, but with only one mix you're going to run into problems. Everyone wants to hear themselves a bit better than everyone else, so no one will hear themselves comfortably. If you had an individual mix it might work, but as is I think you'll run into problems.

Perhaps a better solution would be to hang some blankets from the walls and turn down to the level of the vocal speakers.
In our rehearsal space we've got carpet on the floors and walls to keep down the echo. Our PA speakers are set in opposing corners, and elevated. We can all hear ourselves and each other just the way we need, and we don't have to get really loud.

Over here we call that "foreplay."

Anyway, sorry to butt in (another entendre but there you have it). Sometimes these "how should we practise?" posts are like "what kind of keyboard should I buy for my son?"

IMO you need to get a rough plan, get together and try things out. You can get as much energy and the same chops worked out in an acoustic practise, with the drummer hitting a chair pad. Doesn't matter if it's heavy metal or whatever. It's really not that technical unless it's about, you know, the guitar player, lol.

Mr. Nightime,
Am I correct in deducing that you guys rehearse in a storage space? I seem to remember other posts kind of indicating that, but never explicitly.
Regards,
Joe

P.S. Sorry for the hijack, Bloody.

My fave drummer uses a pair of bundled bamboo sticks for practicing - way less volume but you can bash to your heart's content.

I would love to have individual mixes, and will try and persuade the band into getting nice mixer with several aux busses if the headphone thing works out, but right now noone's gonna spend cash until we (the guitarist and me) prove it works.

I agree that it takes a better musician than I am to handle a single mix for everyone at a practice. I need to be able to try things I'm not sure will work, and find out just what they're doing. For stuff I have cold, no need, but then we're at practice, right?

My fave drummer uses a pair of bundled bamboo sticks for practicing - way less volume but you can bash to your heart's content.

Back on topic, Bloodymary, you might try getting your drummer some pads that fit on his drume. That way he can pound them to his heart's content without blowing out your ear drums. Even with a silent rehearsal and some form of ear protection, you'll have a hard time hearing over him. Or you can just teach the guy dynamics. If it comes down to it, get him some lighter sticks for rehearsal.

the guy can play softly when needed, but he has to play hard most of the time - the genre demands.

Can you speak further about drum pads? I guess they are placed on drums to mute them partially? What about the cymbals then - my drummer refuses to even put pieces of tape on them, he says it reduces their durability. I don't know if has some ground to it, but he seems to know his stuff.

Yes, we have a storage space that we use. We've set it up as a perfect rehearsal space, with a PA, stereo, fridge, air conditioner, appropriate lighting. There's even a Pearl drum set that doesn't move from there. Works out really good. Plus, there's a guy in the next space that runs a lawn mower repair shop out of his, so there's someone watching the place during the day. We're one of three bands that have rehearsal spaces in the same complex.

There are rubber pads that fit right on the drums. they are sized to fit perfectly, and have a thicker section in the center where they will be hit. Not being a drummer I can't personally vouch for this, but they supposedly give the same tactile response as hitting the drum head.

When I played drums in bands I put a pillow in the bass drum and towels over each drum. Ride and hi-hat are not that loud and I avoided crashes when in practice.