New here and building a studio

[j_tofflemire]

Hi everyone I am new here and from Canada.

I am building a studio and looking for some idea's for foam or something to help the recording.

I found FBM (foambymail) and was going to get some for my self but noticed there is a lot of bad rep here. What is wrong with their produces and what would you recommend instead.

Also if you can post some links on where to find the stuff to buy that would be great.

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Also if you can post some links on where to find the stuff to buy that would be great.

Your BEST bang for the buck is RIGID FIBERGLASS, such as Owens Corning 703, or Knauf, or Mineral/Rockwool products. Check these people or your Canadian insulation supplyers. You want 2" to 4" thick.
There are a MILLION threads on this forum that explain why.
http://www.spi-co.com/

 

[Ethan Winer]

I found FBM (foambymail) ... What is wrong with their produces

Rick gave you the right answer. What's wrong with FBM is they lie. Their foam is not as good as Auralex even though they claim it is. Proof below, derived from measurements in IBM's certified acoustics lab.

--Ethan

 

[j_tofflemire]

Thank you for the heads up here. I have another question though. What are MONDOTRAPS made from? Why are they so expensive?

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

What are MONDOTRAPS made from? Why are they so expensive?

In comparison to what? ...ie...what are Mercedes made from and why are THEY so expensive? Hell, my rebuilt Chevy gets me from point A to B too, and is a hell of lot less expensive...although if I had the time, tools, knowlege to build one, and the "essence", I'd build a Mercedes.

Expensive is relative to your knowlege of the item in question and your DIY skills to build it yourself. I already told you the "essence" of a Mondotrap. What I didn't tell you was how to build one, where to put it, and why it works.
BTW, if you don't have the knowlege, time, tools, working space, material access, or you want something that LOOKS expensive/not DIY... then hey, what other choice do you have? At least in products that do the job.(ie..if you don't know competeing product "essence" and or understand the manufacturers lab tests results ..then all you can do is close your eyes and hope your wallet recovers should you make an error in judgement. Like buying a Mercedes to haul manure.

If you want those answers, do a search here. Theres TONS of them.

However, I feel pretty generous today. Try reading this for some beginning insight.

http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6532&hilit=trap+limp&start=15

and maybe these as well...
http://forum.studiotips.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=536

http://forum.studiotips.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=535

http://forum.studiotips.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=534

Although, you can't beat Ethans site for overall info.

http://www.realtraps.com/info.htm

And theres always this thread, although my disclaimer is in full force here( ie...I ain't no stinkin expert. Ethan is.

https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=149968
fitZ

 

[Ethan Winer]

What are MONDOTRAPS made from?

MondoTraps are made similarly to our MiniTraps, and you can see how those are made here:

Made in Connecticut

Why are they so expensive?

Hopefully you'll understand after you see the video showing how they're made. Not to turn this into a sales pitch, but our traps are made from very high quality parts, by people who are highly skilled. Another big factor that many people do not always consider is the quality of the advice you get from a vendor. Jim and I spend many hours every day offering expert advice, and often that advice goes far beyond simply what products to buy and where to put them.

It kills me that people will gladly drop a few grand on a single outboard compressor or mic pre or A/D/A converter, but not understand that the quality of acoustic treatment matters just as much.

--Ethan

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Holy geezus!

Hopefully you'll understand after you see the video showing how they're made.

Wow Ethan. I never saw that. I really didn't want to ask you your "secrets", prior to posting what I did, but I have to congratulate you on providing your manufacturing "secrets". Although I had a pretty good guess, at least from the thread at Johns site that I linked to.(what a thread!)Never saw that one before..btw, funny how the last poster held up for your view about lab discrepancies, and NO ONE else came back with anything. Again, congradulations on that one.

btw, I actually came across that thread LOOKING for your secrets.( ie...I thought somewhere along the line you had patented some kind of absorber with a limp mass or diaphamatic panel within the construction. I haven't looked at the video, but does your mondotrap have just a poly(or someother kind of scrim in front of the 703?(Don't have time to watch the video right now)
fitZ

 

[pandamonk]

btw, I actually came across that thread LOOKING for your secrets.( ie...I thought somewhere along the line you had patented some kind of absorber with a limp mass or diaphamatic panel within the construction. I haven't looked at the video, but does your mondotrap have just a poly(or someother kind of scrim in front of the 703?(Don't have time to watch the video right now)
fitZ

Isn't it some kind of special fabric, maybe a bit like blackout fabric? I'm sure I've watched the video before...

 

[Ethan Winer]

does your mondotrap have just a poly(or someother kind of scrim in front of the 703?

It's a "limp mass" membrane. If I told you more I'd have to kill you. Unless you come by for a visit in person and bring the beers.

--Ethan

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Hey Ethan. When I toured the Acoustic Sciences facility, Art showed me a tubetrap they were assembling, and then showed me a roll of what appeared to be a thin(looked like clear Mylar)PERFORATED film, that they wrap the tubetrap in for diffusion. Ever seen any product like this? It had perforations about 1" to 1 1/2" in diameter and about 2" apart. I've searched all over the net, but to no avail. Art told me they get it from an industrial supplyer, but maybe they special ordered it to his specifications. Just curious. Do you use any PERFORATED films in youir products?

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

It's a "limp mass" membrane. If I told you more I'd have to kill you.

uh.............thats what I THOUGHT!

If I told you more I'd have to kill you

um....then I assume you don't show THAT in your video, right?

Unless you come by for a visit in person and bring the beers.

Hows tomorrow and Heineken sound?( just kidden but I would if I could)

 

[j_tofflemire]

Wow that is great, and with all the work that goes into these traps I can see where the price would come from. Very well build and super high quality.

 

[Ethan Winer]

It had perforations about 1" to 1 1/2" in diameter and about 2" apart ... Do you use any PERFORATED films in youir products?

We do not use perforated film, but the idea is not unique to ASC. RPG sells a line of thin diffusors that do not have wells, but instead are made of rigid fiberglass covered with some material (metal?) that has a bunch of holes. They claim it diffuses, but people who know more than me say that's not the same as a real QRD type diffusor. Which makes total sense.

--Ethan

 

[Norris Shepherd]

In Canada you can buy mineral wood under the brand name 'Roxul'. http://www.roxul.com/home Not sure where you are in Canada, but out east, I was able to order some through the Kent's building supply stores.

You can use this to make baffles/absorbers and/or bass traps. Search the forum here, lots of info here on making these...


**********
http://www.norrisshepherd.com

 

[j_tofflemire]

I am from Windsor Ontario, and thank you everyone this will help me a lot.