Cheap Acoustic Treatment for Room in College

[donkeykang]

I've been looking online for different ways to do this and everything comes back to being expensive or not feasible for me. I really don't need much because I'm not doing professional recordings, just a way to help the acoustics a bit. My room here is rectangular with thin carpet and walls that make the acoustics in the room horrible. I have a really bad echo in my room. I've seen some places that you can build some things with fiberglass, but again not within my budget. What can I do to cheaply treat this room? I'm just looking for something makeshift as I'll only be here until May.

I'm mostly concerned with the vocals sounding good. I could potentially spend up to $100 for this.

Thanks for the help thus far!

[BillyBo]

$100, and easy?

http://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=260527
that's my quick process of making my panels. $130 or so final cost.

cheaper and easier?
throw a mattress (2 is better) in the corner of the dorm room and record there.

[mixsit]

You got your outfits that are offering pre-made cloth wrap bags for the simi rigid fiberglass, or cover them yourself even cheeper. Get enough 2-4" to put around the instrument and/or mics you're using, gets the bulk of the reflections.

[apl]

I bought a box of 1" Owens-Corning 703. Then I went to Wal-Mart and got some $1/yd breathable fabric. I stacked two pieces together and wrapped the fabric around the 703 like a Christmas present, tacking it in place with hot glue. The panels were 2" x 24" x 48". I put the panels along the ceiling-wall corners and used to pushpins to secure them to the wall. They've been in place for over a year and doing good.

[bpape]

Yup. A box of 2" 703 or equivalent and some lightweight Muslin from JoAnn Fabrics would fit in your budget and likely help quite a bit if done properly.

Bryan

[donkeykang]

Thanks for the replies so far. I'll go take a look at my hardware store and update y'all and what I'm going to do. My equipment all finally came so it's time to just get stuff organized and make these panels!

[donkeykang]

With the getting fiberglass and fabric will that be under $50? Would it help if I took pictures of my setup for placement, etc.?

[apl]

Originally Posted by donkeykang

With the getting fiberglass and fabric will that be under $50? Would it help if I took pictures of my setup for placement, etc.?

You'd probably spend more than $100 and less than $150. But it will be the most bang for the buck you've ever gotten for anything that involves listening.

[homestudioguy]

Some ideas: http://mysite.verizon.net/homestudioguy/id31.html
HSG