i don't know if the mat cuts down on noise or not. just got a newish janome 1600p off craigs list. pretty quiet. but if i am machine quilting...my machines always slide a bit. so i just routinely set up this way now. haven't tried quilting on the janome yet, pretty heavy machine, but on the pad anyway. i sew in d room on 1800's oak table. also don't want it gouged by machine moving. and..i also sew w the pedal foot bare...get in the "groove" and am up and down one slipper on one off as i pin up on wall and back to machine...forgetting to put slipper back on the pedal foot. sometimes that foot gets pretty darned chilled
