4x12 Iso Cab

[chinchek]

hey guys, i did a search but found nothing on this topic.
i live with my family and they arent into metal (power metal mainly)... i want to do them a favor and build myself an isolation box for my amp when recording. (i dont blame them getting annoyed of me doing the same take over and over till i get it right ).
the gear i have: Marshall MG100HDFX half stack and a sm57, thats what will be in the box, the mic and the CAB only...

now i looked at some video's on youtube and they seem to do a good job for drowning the sound, and i would like to try this out... project will probably run me around $250.

(here is an example: gah i cant post urls, so if you will go to google, search up DIY iso box and click on Mike Ralph's DIY iso box.)

is this worth my time and money? will it help me, my family and family on the other side of my duplex? Something i can use in an apartment? making a Iso box for a 4x12 the same as making one for a 1x12 or 2x12??

also: i will be using proper studio foam from AURALEX if i plan on going with this project.

 

[Dogbreath]

It doesn't look like a bad idea and I can see where you'd get a decent iso out of it but I've never used one so I have no idea how well it would record inside that.

I'd think it'd be easier to turn it down, mic it up and use headphones but I'm kind of a lazy bat rastard.

 

[chinchek]

your suggestion is for just jamming or recording?

 

[Dogbreath]

For jamming mainly but if you can get the tone you want with the volume down, I'd say both. I usually have to crank mine a bit to find the sound I'm after. But it also depends on the tune.

Give it a shot and see if ya like it.

I'm just wondering, after you'd go thru the work of building the iso box, if the tone would be smooshed and lifeless. I mean, I mic my cab up close on the grill but I'm wondering if the lack of air around the mic would have a negative effect on your sound. I really don't know. I think I saw a place at the bottom of his page that you could ask questions or leave comments. Maybe he's done some recording with it. Worth the time to shoot him an email, I think.

Keep us in da loop, huh?

Peace..........Kel

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

hey guys, i did a search but found nothing on this topic.
i live with my family and they arent into metal (power metal mainly)...

Have you thought about switching to bluegrass?

J/K



G.

 

[chinchek]

"With this box and my SM57 I create a stereo signal going in with the SE100 and get a truly awesome combined sound.

Also this thing REALLY WORKS! I can crank my power amp right up and it soaks it up. All you get is total tone right into the microphone. It doesnt sound muffled or odd in any way. I made sure the speaker cab has breathing space. "

quoted from his intro of his instructions.

edit: ooooh i am so tempted
edit 2: this is an isobox created by someone else, you can search him up on youtube. http://www.daveweiner.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=643
unfortunately he didnt answer the guys question and provide example clips. "The box is on a tile floor which will give off some nice brightness to balance the deadened quality of the acoustic foam."

 

[Dogbreath]

It's worth a shot then, no?
I wouldn't think it would cost all that much so at worst, you'd be out a few bucks and your time and at best, you'd have a pretty cool iso box that works.

"Build it...and they will come."

I dunno about "they".... but I'll come if I can raid your fridge.

 

[chinchek]

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm x10
to bad the acoustic foam will cost me $38 a sheet (sheet = 4'x2'), and to cover an 4x12 cab and mic ill be needing at least 3 sheets, and if i want some expanded space, ill be needing at least 4-5 sheets

 

[vaultstudio]

Just remember that auralex foam does NOT = soundproofing. You need MASS to sound proof. Foam won't hurt to deal with reflections, but you can probably get results just as good (if not better) by using some wrapped owens-corning rigid fiberglass insulation and some thick MDF.