Acoustics question.

[Dougdlux]

I recently bought a new mattress so I have a 4 inch foam top just sitting in my garage. If I cut that into squares and cut them into 2 inch thick pieces would that be good for acoustic sound proofing, or whatever you may call it. I don't mean sound proofing, but sound bouncing off the walls. I was thinking of getting cheep sheets and wrapping them so they at least look nice as well. Also, I am thinking that would be for around my actually monitors and in the room I want to record with (drums, vocals etc) hang my extra comforters/blankets on the walls in that room to deaden the sound. Any input on this would be awesome.

 

[saads]

Just a heads up, theres a LOT of foam haters here .Foam and blankets might be good for damping some highs and mids but the lows will still be a problem. You'll need bass traps for those, which you can make at home too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyYUpkpL0gw

 

[Jeff_D]

Yup. I *hate* foam because I've tried it and it turns out, everyone was right. Just isn't a good solution. Look up your local commercial building product supplier (i.e. commercial metal stud & drywall supplier) and find rigid fiberglass (Owen Corning 703 or equal) or rockwool (rockwool is alot easier to get your hands on).

 

[Jeff_D]

Just a heads up, theres a LOT of foam haters here .Foam and blankets might be good for damping some highs and mids but the lows will still be a problem. You'll need bass traps for those, which you can make at home too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyYUpkpL0gw

Good related video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbLVjHfHahg&feature=related
Ethan has always been a nice guy and he used to be a regular poster here and still checks in once and a while.

 

[saads]

Jeff D, how's your experience with DIY bass traps been?

 

[Jeff_D]

Jeff D, how's your experience with DIY bass traps been?

Immediate and VERY obvious improvement. Mixing is easier and mixes translate to other systems MUCH better. I used rockwool for most of my treatments because it was readily available and slightly less expensive (but mostly because it was readily available ).

My old space was about 12' x 15'- it was more of a band practice room. Initially I "treated" it with the same mattress foam mentioned above. The room sounded "un-natural"- the bass was off and all the highs were sucked out of the room. I later treated the same room with rockwool panels (that would correspond roughly with my HR.com join date )

I moved out of that house and into my current house about 5 years ago. You can find a layout of my studio a few threads down (I'm trying to improve my drum area now). I can say comfortably and confidently based on my own experience, that rigid fiberglass / rockwool room treatments are the way to go... and if you price the stuff against Auralex or other reputable foam mfgs, the fiberglass is usually cheaper.

Hope that helps.

 

[Jeff_D]

Another good video...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSX14geMw-c&NR=1

You can DIY VERY similar panels to Ethan's RealTraps. Actually, I think Ethan used to post plans for DIY traps.

 

[Dougdlux]

That guy Ethan has some incredible videos. Def a lot of help. And the DIY bass traps, I will give those a shot when I get a few extra bucks on the side.

 

[Dougdlux]

New thought. As I am on a budget, as in like I have $10 at the end of the month type of budget. If I hang the blankets like I said before, and maybe place like towels in every corner, then put sheets on the ceiling draping down in squares, if you know how I mean. Wouldn't that do, in a sense, the same thing as $12,000 worth of sound acoustics, and bass traps? I mean, of course it won't be nearly as good, BUT, it will retain the reverb and bouncing off the walls and corners and such. In theory it should deaden the room.

 

[Jeff_D]

You might get some mileage out of blankets, but other than that, I doubt you'll accomplish much. Of course, Ethan's video had a shit load of $ worth of his stuff in it... but, I think most home recordists spend more on the order of a couple hundred bucks to reasonably treat a room.

 

[Dougdlux]

Ok... a few hundred bucks sounds a little more reasonable lol. Tax season is coming up, maybe I can get a big ass gift for myself.

 

[ThaArtist]

Jeff D, how's your experience with DIY bass traps been?

I will second that. Im in the process of buying one or two more as soon as I can get the el fundzies together.

But the cloud above me is rock rock rockin...

do do do do I feel sunshine.... on a cloudy day.... when its cold outside... i got better sound today.... lol i dunno

 

[saads]

Yup! That definitely helped. But a part of me still wishes it were actually as easy as slapping on some foam

 

[Jeff_D]

Yup! That definitely helped. But a part of me still wishes it were actually as easy as slapping on some foam

I truly think this is why foam still sells so well. Wishful thinking! lol