In regards to noise, I have found that there are many factors that contribute. A few years ago, I tested many different configurations out of a perfectly tuned compound. The four major influences I found were: arrow speed, feather height, feather width, and feather profile. The faster the arrow, the more the fletching disrupts the layers of air created by the shaft. The higher the fletch, the higher the drag. Same goes for feather width. The thicker the feather, the louder it is. Feather profile, I found to have the least impact on overall noise, if height and width were the same. These of course are non scientific observations, but I had repeatable results with my self and a safely hidden bystander. The quietest feather that I ever shot was a 3"x1/2" parabolic, very thin mallard feather! I believe the width at tip of the feather had more of an impact on sound than did the length. I'm sure that a 4 or 5" duck feather of the same height would have been just as quiet. On a side note, all of the feathered arrows were quieter on release than any vaned arrow that I shot. But obviously louder in flight. Go figure. Btw, I shoot a flo orange wrap with two flo orange and one red barred. Looks great, and very easy to find, and we know that deer cannot see flo orange.