a little Help! with room treatment

[Sennheisersucks]

I have an 11 by 11 room I plan on using. I've spent some time looking at room treatment options, but can't seem to make to best budget concious decision. Would this auralex kit be sufficient? http://www.music123.com/Auralex-DST-D36-Roominator-Kit-i95457.music

I would like to pick up some other gear, but if necessary I guess I'd go with maybe this? http://www.music123.com/Auralex-Alpha-DST-Roominator-Kit-i136002.music I'm thinking it's overkill on wall tiles, but perhaps I could use them in a collapsible vocal booth?

I'd like it to be a general purpose project room where I can record bass, vocals, guitars, syths and everything else except for drumsets(i'll get to that when I get drums. Drumkit from hell for life, nigga).

I do understand that the first kit has no bass traps and that these are essential in both recording and accurate monitor listening. I've seen plenty of sites with instructions for home construction out of fiberglass. How do these perform over the LEIRD auralex bass traps? I don't want to permenently affix anything to the walls and I understand velcro can help me here if I went 100% aralex.

One more thing... I really don't have much of an idea as to actual placement of the tiles. I'm sure someone here has treated a room of similar size and could point me in the right direction. Thanks a bunch.

 

[pandamonk]

Rigid fiberglass in a wooden frame covered in fabric will probably be cheaper, and give MUCH better results! Search this forum to find out more info/how to build them.

 

[Sennheisersucks]

Thanks, I think I will go with making my traps. I've also come across a theory that they work better because they allow waves BEHIND the structure from over the top or bottom so you have two surfaces working for you. Sounds reasonable.

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

I've also come across a theory that they work better because they allow waves BEHIND the structure from over the top or bottom so you have two surfaces working for you. Sounds reasonable.

That depends on the airgap depth. These type of absorbers work on 1/4 wavelength principles. The deeper or thicker the panel, the longer the 1/4wave length of absorption is, which makes the absorption coeffiecient better at lower frequencies. Usually, absorption coefficients starts rolling off considerably below125 hz though. Hence a 2" thick panel with a 1" airgap, approaches the absorption coeffiecient of a 3" thick panel.

Remember, 100hz has a wavelength of 11.3 feet That means for absorption to occur at MAXIMUM effeciency(maximum absorption in sabines at 100hz) the panel would have to be approx....THREE FEET THICK!!


BTW, a ONE FOOT SQUARE open window is equal to ONE SABINE of absorption. Perfect absorption.

 

[Sennheisersucks]

Well, my current profession is remodeling(gotta get that degree somehows). I replace about a million windows a week. Are you suggesting that I can use old windows that I get for free for bass traps? That kinda cool. The only other person in the world that talks to me in that fashion is my dad. He's an EE and that's what I'm going after. I'm first year, but my dad's had me soldering shit since before time began(for me). I got the crystal radio set that all us nerds get when I was five. Ahh, fond memories. One of the reasons I'd like to get a room properly set up is because I also build guitar and bass pedals as well as modify the ones with good designs but cheap parts. I need that accuracy. If anyone can give me some info on good places to stick auralex panels, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks, Fnord.

 

[Supercreep]

You want rigid fiberglass or mineral wool for panels, not foam.

Auralex can be useful but you need fiberglass or mineral wool to do your heavy lifting on the LF.

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Are you suggesting that I can use old windows that I get for free for bass traps?

Good grief no. You didn't understand what I said. I told you an OPEN window in the room, allows sound to escape, NEVER to return...which is equal to PERFECT ABSORPTION! Absorption is measured in SABINES. A ONE FOOT SQUARE OPEN WINDOW is equal to ONE SABINE OF ABSORPTION.

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Another thing. You said your room is 11'x11'. Square rooms are terrible as far as modal resonace is concerned. A rooms three dimensions determine the modal frequency distribution. If two dimensions are the same, this distribution favors certain frequencies more than if these dimensions were different. Therefore, square rooms REALLY need extreme bass trapping. The best thing you could do is use SUPERCHUNKS of Rigid fiberglass. Unfortunately, I've posted this information AND drawings/pics here so many times, I'm really tired of it. Please do yourself a favor and do a search on this subject, as it has been discused and disected at least a hundred times. Once you see what this entails, you will have found the BEST solution for your problems.
fitZ

 

[Sennheisersucks]

Good grief no. You didn't understand what I said. I told you an OPEN window in the room, allows sound to escape, NEVER to return...which is equal to PERFECT ABSORPTION! Absorption is measured in SABINES. A ONE FOOT SQUARE OPEN WINDOW is equal to ONE SABINE OF ABSORPTION.

Why is Sennheisersucks's forehead flat? stupid, stupid, stupid... One square foot of perfect absorbtion is a sabine, got it. Thanks for the advice, Fitz. I have done a good deal of research but I had found conflicting information. I was hoping someone would just condense their experiences for me. I apologize for making you engage the monotonous drive. My dad just picked up a book for me that was written in the 60's on the matter. He said it has specs for a rack of different room sizes and shapes. I'm pickin it up friday. I do appreciate your knowledge. Thanks.