Cosmetic vs. acoustic Q (concrete walls)

[agoldsmith]

OK, I've spent a couple of days reading the great advice here (and absorbing Rick Fitzpatrick's "Stickies manifesto," but that's another matter)

Please give me your considered opinion: I've got a 16'x12' basement room, concrete walls and floor, stucco ceiling that I want to use as initially as a rehearsal space (drum/bass/guitar). Recording is not my top priority but eventually I'd like to be able to.

I'm doing this on the cheap and so won't be drywalling yet. So I think I'll be building some absorption panels and bass traps using 703/705. And some rugs on the floor.

The room is pretty dry but I'm thinking I should put up vapor barrier before putting up the panels. What I'm struggling with is the cosmetics ... If I butted panels together around all of the walls, it would look better (cover all the vapor barrier) but would I actually want to leave some portion of the wall surface reflective, for a more balanced room?

All thoughts appreciated.

[Dani Pace]

Don't worry too much about the cosmetics of your room. Do whatever you need to do in order to make the room sound as good as possible. A practice/rehersal room does not require as much treatment an a room for recording. Disreguard this if you plan to be shooting videos in your basement, the best sounding rooms often look like crap, and those cool looking places often sound like crap too.

[agoldsmith]

Thanks Dani. The sound of the room is the #1 thing, yeah, but my wife is not wild about seeing plastic sheeting (vapor barrier) in between the absorption panels. Trying to find that good ol' compromise ... ?

[Dani Pace]

Why not get some extra fabric to cover the areas between the panels? Just use a spray adhesive and glue it to the plastic. I'm not sure if this is an option for you, just a thought for something to help keep the wifey happy.

[agoldsmith]

Yup, that sounds like a way to do it without breaking the bank or the rel'ship. Thanks Dani.