A drum shield, sometimes called a drum screen or an acoustic shield, is a tool that acoustic engineers use to avoid the sound control problems that are caused when louder instruments drown out the softer instruments and vocals on-stage. Some of the best drum shields can often be found surrounding professional drum kits.
In this guide, we are going to provide you with more information about drum shields, including what they do and how they work. We will also review some of the best drum shields on the market to help you find one that suits your needs.
What Exactly are Drum Shields?
Drum shields are tools that audio engineers use to avoid problems for sound engineers that are caused when loud instruments overpower softer vocals and instruments on-stage.
They are acoustic, transparent panels or systems of panels that are used around percussion instruments, drums, and sometimes other loud instruments to separate them acoustically from other instruments and vocalists that may be nearby.
How Do Drum Shields Work?
Drum shields are placed around a drum set or any other percussive instrument that may be drowning out the other sounds on-stage. These shields 'contain' the sound that the drums produce.
This results in a muffling of the sound of the drums but not so much that they cannot be heard at all, allowing for the ensemble of instruments to sound more balanced overall.
The Benefits of Drum Shields
Let's take a look at some of the benefits of using a drum shield in your band.
Good Isolation Without Sacrificing Visibility
Drum shields are available in many different sizes and configurations. They often feature high-quality, crystal clear acrylic panels that are transparent and that deflect the sounds of the drums away from the audience.
This makes them good for live performance situations that require maximum sound environment control. If you are looking for a great starting shield, we recommend getting an acrylic drum shield.
On-Stage & In-Studio Volume Control
These shields are perfect for small-venue gig spaces, places of worship, and recording studios. They offer effective acoustic separation between instruments both on the stage and in the studio.
These shields help prevent drum sets, guitar amps, and other loud instruments from bleeding into quieter instrument mics.
Drum shields also allow instrumentalists to reduce their stage volume to allow their bandmates to hear themselves better.
Highly Portable
All panel systems on drum shields boast full-length hinges and cable cutouts with nearly no gaps between the panels for sound to escape.
They are constructed from transparent, durable acrylic materials, and they are made specifically for rugged use anywhere that drum kit isolation is necessary.
The Drawbacks of Drum Shields
While getting a drum shield might sound like a worthwhile investment, there are a number of drawbacks that you should take into consideration, as well.
Drum Shields Do Not Encourage Dynamic Drumming
If you are considering getting a drum shield because you are playing too loud and driving up the volume of your band, you should first consider concentrating on learning to drum more dynamically. Using the shield can prevent you from doing this.
Drum Shields Can Cause a Feeling of Isolation
The use of a drum shield can promote more of a 'me and them' stage presence rather than the ideal 'us' stage presence.
In other words, the drummer might feel more isolated and not a part of the group or band, which can lead to poor band relations and dynamics.
Types of Drum Shields
There are three main kinds of drum shields, namely full coverage, full front, and partial front.
Full-Coverage
As the name suggests, full-coverage drum shields prevent the drum sounds from escaping the shield on any side.
Panels are installed all around the drum set, and there is also a panel placed above the drummer, sealing the set within. According to most full-coverage drum shield manufacturers, these types provide the best noise reduction, at about 70%.
Full-Front
Then there are full-front drum shields, which are the most common type of drum shield. As you probably could have guessed, this type of shield is placed at the front of the drum sets, lowering the on-stage volume.
Partial-Front
Finally, there are partial-front shields that feature a similar design to the full-front drum shield, but they are not as tall.
The panels are tall enough to reduce the noise of most of the parts of the drum sets while also allowing the drummer to view the stage and communicate with their bandmates. These shields provide the least amount of noise reduction.
How to Choose the Best Drum Shield
There are so many variations in drum shields that knowing what to look for will assist you in making the best decision.
Here are some of the factors to consider.
Material
One of the first things you'll want to take into consideration when shopping for drum shields is the material. The material will determine how well it functions and will also impact the shield's durability.
Make sure that you look for a drum shield that is made of acrylic because this material is durable and can last for years. It also provides very high noise reduction, making it one of the best choices amongst drum shields.
Type
As we have already discussed, there are several different types of drum shields: full-coverage, full-front, and partial-front. The choice for the type of drum shield you choose will depend on how much noise reduction you are looking for.
Full-coverage paneling works well for drummers who want to be able to play loudly without overpowering their band mates. This type of shield also provides the most noise reduction.
Full-front is more common and features paneling around the front side for the drum set. Professional drummers generally use this type of shield when they know they have a lot of instruments in front of them.
Measurements
The measurement of your drum shield will determine its effectiveness when it comes to noise reduction.
Drum shields that measure 6ft. x 2ft. (72 x 24 inches) allow reasonable volumes but do not drown out the other instruments in the band.
Some panels measure 2ft. x 5ft. (24 x 60 inches), which is a great measurement if you want to reduce the volume of your drum kit.
However, if you are working with larger drum kits, then you should look for larger paneling.
Ease of Installation
You are going to want your drum shield to be as easy to set up as possible. The shield you purchase will come with either chrome hinges or living hinges, which can make installation easier.
Make sure that you pick a drum shield that come with an installation manual. The hinges will do an impressive job of holding the panels together, but you are going to want to know how to install them.
You should ensure that you choose hinges that cover the entire length of the panel if you're looking for the best performance.
The 6 Best Drum Shields
Now, it is time for our reviews of some of the best drum shields for acoustic drum sets.
1. Pennzoni Display Drum Shield DS4 5 Panel 2ft. x 5ft.
If you are on the market for a high-quality front drum shield, then this drum shield DS4 from Pennzoni Display may be perfect for you. It features panels made from crystal clear acrylic that provide excellent noise reduction and a clear view of your band.
Review
This drum shield DS4 from Pennzoni Display features full 2ft. x 5ft. (24 x 60 inch) acrylic panels that are 1/4 inches thick. They provide drummers with an unobstructed, clear view of their bandmates while still suppressing enough noise to ensure sonic balance throughout the group.
This item comes with an acrylic drum shield and drum screen panels, as well as either 12 bright chrome hinges or 12 living hinges. You can add the living hinges at an additional cost.
This is a fantastic entry-level option for drummers performing with bands that are looking for more balance in their sound but are not looking for the full insulation of full drum shields.
While the five, crystal clear acrylic panels are not the best for noise suppression, they are more than enough to ensure convenient performance for both your bandmates and your sound engineer.
Pros
Cons
This is a fantastic solution to drum shielding for those who are looking to keep things simple. It is also good for those who don't want to break the bank. This DS1 drum shield provides great noise suppression without a bloated price tag.
Review
If you are working on a budget and are not interested in the overly complicated drum shields that many brands offer, then this basic set might just be the perfect choice for you. The Pennzoni Display DS1 drum shield is a 4-section drum shield that features four 4ft. x 2ft. acrylic panels.
While these panels might not provide total noise suppression, they are great for drummers who want to be able to see their bandmates. There are six hinges that come with this shield that are meant to be both easy to use and stylish.
Of course, they are functional and durable, as well, and they will be able to hold the panels together with ease. The great thing about this drum shield is that it does not require much time to set up, and it is quite compact.
It is perhaps the best portable drum shield you can buy right now.
Pros
Cons
This drum shield is essentially the total opposite of the previous two products on this list. It is designed specifically for professional stage and studio use, but that means it also comes with a higher price tag.
Review
If money is not a concern of yours and you are looking for impressive 60% noise reduction, then the Clearsonic Isopac B Isolation Booth could be a fantastic option for you.
As you may have guessed from the name, it is a full-coverage drum shield, which means it provides you with excellent noise suppression in all directions.
The panels are made from crystal clear acrylic, and you will also receive some height extenders if you are looking to cover up the cymbals on your drum set, as well.
Despite all of its different parts, this acrylic drum shield is quite compact. It will be able to fit onto any stage or into any studio that your drum kits can fit.
Other than its panels, this drum shield also boasts SORBER baffles that offer even more sound absorption, as well as a low noise fan to keep you cool. Unfortunately, there are no attractive chrome hinges on this drum shield.
Pros
Cons
If you are looking for a professional drum shield, then we also recommend this product. It boasts all of the features that you need and expect, and it is the best drum shield for church that is available on the market.
Review
This drum shield is the perfect option for those who are seeking a professional solution to drum noise suppression.
This shield set features six, large, crystal clear acrylic panels that are connected using five, full-length, plastic living hinges. This provides fantastic durability and stability.
Additionally, the DS7DL comes with deflectors, increasing the suppression of the noise from the drums to the audience to incredible levels. In total, there are six deflecting panels, measuring 1ft. x 2ft., that are made using crystal clear acrylic.
In spite of its large quantity of parts, this is actually quite a simple set when it comes to installation, taking only a few minutes to set up properly.
While the price tag may seem a bit inflated to some, it is all worth it when you consider the noise suppression that full-length drum shield provides to drum sets.
Pros
Cons
This is one of the best mid-tier drum shield panels out there. It comes in six sections, and it is a great drum shield for anyone who is looking for high noise suppression without sacrificing their own visibility or hearing.
Review
Made from crystal clear acrylic, this drum shield is a great mix of value and cost, which is what makes it one of the best drum shields on the market right now.
It is another Pennzoni product, and its panels provide both great noise suppression and visibility without hindering your hearing.
In the case of the DS6 drum shield, there are six crystal clear acrylic panels that measure in at 6ft. x 2ft., that feature five, full-length, living hinges. These hinges are used to hold the section drum shield together, and they provide fantastic stability.
Overall, this section drum shield offers some of the best noise suppression out there, even though there are not any deflector panels. While this might be considered a drawback by some, it actually makes this drum shield one of the best in terms of setup time.
Pros
Cons
Finally, we have the Pennzoni Display DS5D section drum shield. If you are not looking for the tallest drum shield in the world, then this DS5D drum shield may be the perfect option for you.
Review
This section drum shield is compact in size but is quite effective. It is not as tall as many other shields that come with sound deflectors, featuring 4ft. x 2ft. panels that make it very easy to transport.
The six panels are attached using chrome hinges, though there are living hinges available if you would prefer. The six deflectors bring this drum shield's overall height up to 5 feet.
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
Overall, we believe that the Clearsonic Isopac B Isolation Booth is the best drum shield on the market right now thanks to its superior noise suppression and full-coverage design.
Its height extenders allow you to cover any symbols on your kit that you might want to, and the total insulation offers a professional stage and studio experience.
We hope that you enjoyed reading this guide about the best drum shields, and hopefully, you found one that suits your setup. Happy drumming!
