soundproofing

[tas2son]

Hi
I'm trying to soundproof an existing room to use for my recording studio. The room is about 500sqft and about 8-10 ft high. My budget is kinda of limited, so i'm looking for a cheap but effective way to do this. I've been told that Pyramid Foam channels are the way to go. Most studios i hear start out that way. The studio will cater mostly to vocal recording and not much live or acoustics...maybe down the road.
Is the foams the way to go??

[Anomaly Design]

No. I just finished researching this myself, foam sucks. Research Fiberglass/Mineral Wool. Good brands are Owens Corning (703/705), Auralex (Minerwool) and others possibly.

Go here for resources.

www.realtraps.com
www.ethanwiner.com

[apl]

Originally Posted by Anomaly Design

No. I just finished researching this myself, foam sucks. Research Fiberglass/Mineral Wool. Good brands are Owens Corning (703/705), Auralex (Minerwool) and others possibly.

Go here for resources.

www.realtraps.com
www.ethanwiner.com

Good reply. Ethan's site can be kinda tricky to navigate, so I'll add this...

www.ethanwiner.com/acoustics.html

[Shout It Out]

I think I will jsut post in this existing thread...
I plan to use 2 bass traps made of 4'' 703 i nthe corners, and 2 absorbers on my two side walls made of 2'' 703...Since Foam helps kill reflections, is it ok to add some light foam to the mix to help my RFZ?

[SonicClang]

Originally Posted by tas2son

I'm trying to soundproof an existing room...

Guys, you're not seeing his question, you're answering from the "here are some suggestions on helping the acoustics of your room" side of things.

tas2son, foam does nothing for soundproofing. The question I need to ask is, what are you trying to accomplish? Are you actually trying to acheive sound isolation from the studio to the adjascent rooms? Or are you simply trying to improve the acoustics inside the studio?

If you are trying to improve the isolation, you need mass. Mass is the only thing that stops sound, and decoupled mass is the best. Also search for "mass-air-mass", you'll find TONS of posts about that.

If you are trying to imrove the acoustics within your studio, follow the links the other guys posted. Most small home recording studios suffer from one major common problem, bass build up. You need to concentrate on eliminating the spikes in the bass response of your room by adding bass traps to the corners. Again, follow the links posted above to learn more about that. Once the bass traps are in place, then you can concentrate on the eliminating flutter echo and that kind of thing, which foam is OK for.

One word on foam, if you do go with foam, make sure it's QUALITY foam, from a place like Auralex or some other reputable company. DO NOT buy cheap flamable bed foam. Remember that fire climbs, and foam and fire get along great, and when it burns, foam lets off deadly toxic gasses. Just a word on fire safety.

[Shout It Out]

I know your reply touched on my issue, but should i spend the time and money making 4 more absorbsion traps to place on the walls for the RFZ or can i simply go with auralex 1' x 1' 2 inch foam??

[HapiCmpur]

Originally Posted by Shout It Out

I know your reply touched on my issue, but should i spend the time and money making 4 more absorbsion traps to place on the walls for the RFZ or can i simply go with auralex 1' x 1' 2 inch foam??

Hey there, Shout (and tas2son, too). Here's what you need to do. Read the link apl posted, then come back to this thread and answer Sonic's question about what it is you want to do. I get the sense that you're not really ready to shoot for sound-proofing yet, and frankly, who is? Sound-proofing is terribly expensive, terribly difficult, and usually unnecessary for home recording.

That said, your best bet is probably to start by putting 4"-thick bass traps made of rigid fiberglass in all your corners, then some 2"-thick broadband absorbers (also rigid fiberglass) on sections of your walls and on much of the ceiling, and then you can do a little spot treatment with foam after that. This is not "sound-proofing;" it's just improving your room's acoustics. But it will make a huge difference. (Click on my signature below to see how I did mine.)

By the way, if you decide on 4"-thick bass traps, I recommend that you don't use 4"-thick fiberglass. Instead, use 2"-thick sheets and double them up, or use four 1"-thick sheets. You'll probably end up having to cut and trim your fiberglass, and it's much easier to do that with thinner sheets.

Best of luck, and don't forget to post some pics for us as you make progress.

[Shout It Out]

Yes, I am going with 2'' sheets doubled, gotta wait for em to come in the mail, I'll def post some pictures when I am done.

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

I get the sense that you're not really ready to shoot for sound-proofing yet, and frankly, who is? Sound-proofing is terribly expensive, terribly difficult, and usually unnecessary for home recording.

Thats the best and most truthful reply I've read all week. Good for you Hapicmpur. Rep points comin up

[Innovations]

True, most newbies have soundproofing and accoustical treatment confused, and most feel that they need form because they see other pictures with foam. Getting more 703 fiberglass or mineral wool is always more cost-effective than foam.

In other words when does somebody who really knows what they are doing use foam? Never.

[Shout It Out]

so u r saying i should just cut out litle 1' by 1' squares out of my 703 and put those where id place spot treatment foam, which means making more frames...I was thinking of foam because 100$ for some light spot treatment isnt a bad price...I mean sure it wont do anything for low end, but I'll already have my bass traps and absorbers from 703...Foam will do some good and I dont have to bother making extra frames.

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Foam will do some good and I dont have to bother making extra frames.

Why make frames. Simply wrap the fiberglass panels with fabric and hang them

[Notfonts]

http://www.radford.edu/~shelm/acoustics/bass-traps.html

[antispatula]

woah sweet link......arent you supposed to cover the 703 with thin plywood though, or is that necessary?

[Notfonts]

Originally Posted by antispatula

woah sweet link......arent you supposed to cover the 703 with thin plywood though, or is that necessary?

Got me, lol. I just followed the instructions and wrapped the 703 and the frame in the batting material the covered with burlap. They seem to work well for me and were very easy to make. I ended up with six using about $100 worth of 703(12 2"x24"x48" panels)

[Shout It Out]

Can I get an estimate for how much a single bass trap made with a wood frame and 4'' thick 703 is??

[apl]

Originally Posted by antispatula

woah sweet link......arent you supposed to cover the 703 with thin plywood though, or is that necessary?

No.









.

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

arent you supposed to cover the 703 with thin plywood though, or is that necessary?

Why would you cover the very thing that you want to ABSORB sound I think you better do some reading about RESISTANCE ABSORBERS before you make some decisions.

http://searcht.netscape.com/ns/boomf...acoustics.html

[Notfonts]

Originally Posted by Shout It Out

Can I get an estimate for how much a single bass trap made with a wood frame and 4'' thick 703 is??

Only info I can offer is the 703 cost. I got 12 pieces size 2"x24"x48" for about a $100 through a local Dow Cornings distributor.

[Shout It Out]

Help me....My brain is saying buy auralex foam instead of rigid fiberglass....please someone make it stop. I can't stand it anymore!!!

[HapiCmpur]

Originally Posted by RICK FITZPATRICK

Thats the best and most truthful reply I've read all week. Good for you Hapicmpur. Rep points comin up

Gracias, amigo, but I'm pretty sure it was you who first taught me the difference between room treatment and sound-proofing.

Originally Posted by Shout It Out

Can I get an estimate for how much a single bass trap made with a wood frame and 4'' thick 703 is??

My traps cost less than $40 each, and I put two in each corner (one above the other). Here's how I made 'em: http://www.hp-h.com/p/hapicmpur/basstraps.htm

Originally Posted by Shout It Out

[SIZE=5]Help me....My brain is saying buy auralex foam instead of rigid fiberglass....please someone make it stop.

Quick! Shoot yourself in the head before your brain makes you do something stupid. If you must buy foam to make yourself feel better, buy some foam after you've covered all of your corners and most of your flat surfaces with panels of rigid fiberglass.

[Shout It Out]

ah...thats what im doing...just ordered my 703 thank god. I'll see if i need anymore treatment after that is up!

[SonicClang]

Originally Posted by RICK FITZPATRICK

Why make frames. Simply wrap the fiberglass panels with fabric and hang them

I've always been under the impression that the frames are to help the fiberglass keep its shape. Wouldn't it sag over time if you simply wrapped it in fabric and hung it? Not neccessarily the ones that are vertical, but the ones hung at a 45 at the wall to ceiling corners.

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Wouldn't it sag over time if you simply wrapped it in fabric and hung it

Why do you think they call it RIGID fiberglass? Have you ever seen it? Although, I'm thinking of 4". 1"-2" could possibly sag if not hung with that in mind, but...I've NEVER heard anyone complain

[Shout It Out]

yea I'm going frameless. One less thign to worry about and less weight on the walls.