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picostudios
New member
I'm getting some $ for my tax return. I was thinking of purchasing more foam for my vocal booth and control room. Anyone know of some affordable foam I can get for about 150-300 dollars?
reshp1
New member
Most of the regulars here are probably sick of this question already, so I'll pay my dues by fielding this one.... 
If you do want cheap foam, ebay sellers "foambymail" and "foamforyou" are good.
HOWEVER.... Foam is generally not desirable material to cover every surface of your studio. It does a fantastic job of absorbing the highs and some of the mids, but does virtually nothing for the bass frequencies. This leaves you with a dull lifeless sounding room with all the uneven bass response you had before.
If you can find a supplier near you, you should really look at rigid fiberglass boards and/or rockwool, especially for bass trapping. www.amerisafe.net will deliver Knauf fiberboard anywhere, but depending on where you live the shipping can be substantial (they're in Aurora IL). The fiberglass is cheaper and more effective absorbtion than foam, and when wrapped in fabric it looks better too. Post what area of the country you're from and chances are someone will be able to suggest a distributer near you.
Good luck
Mike
If you do want cheap foam, ebay sellers "foambymail" and "foamforyou" are good.
HOWEVER.... Foam is generally not desirable material to cover every surface of your studio. It does a fantastic job of absorbing the highs and some of the mids, but does virtually nothing for the bass frequencies. This leaves you with a dull lifeless sounding room with all the uneven bass response you had before.
If you can find a supplier near you, you should really look at rigid fiberglass boards and/or rockwool, especially for bass trapping. www.amerisafe.net will deliver Knauf fiberboard anywhere, but depending on where you live the shipping can be substantial (they're in Aurora IL). The fiberglass is cheaper and more effective absorbtion than foam, and when wrapped in fabric it looks better too. Post what area of the country you're from and chances are someone will be able to suggest a distributer near you.
Good luck
Mike
frederic
New member
Naaah, we're not sick of answering this question.
I can appreciate those who find this resource being misinformed prior to their arrival - companies like Auralex spend good money trying to market their products - and they should - its their business to do so.
But on the flip side, I find it difficult at times to comprehend why some people (generically speaking) seem to still believe that acoustical foam is the answer to every acoustical problem. That's like saying a contractor only needs a hammer. Try cutting wood with a hammer someday
Like everything else in the world, acoustical foam absolutely has its purpose and place, and in most cases would in fact be part of the overall treatment of any recording studio. But its not the answer in every case, for every problem. And for someone (generically speaking) to insist until their last breath, well, is a bit frustrating. Its frustrating not because I care that a particular person is stubborn and misinformed, but what is frustrating is the likelihood of somene who doesn't have the information or experience to figure it out on their own, might believe that insistant person, and spend an awful lot of money on materials that very well might not solve their problem. I think that is why some of us fight those insistant people so hard too - we're trying to make sure others reading the thread aren't taking misinformation as facts.
And to be fair, 703 rigid fiberglass isn't the answer for all acoustical problems either. Neither are clouds, refraction pads, rubber, neoprene. Every one of our studios (whether it be a closet, a bedroom, a rickety shack out back, or a pro facility) are different and have their own acoustical issues, so one answer of "foam" or "whatever" can't be right all the time.
I can appreciate those who find this resource being misinformed prior to their arrival - companies like Auralex spend good money trying to market their products - and they should - its their business to do so.
But on the flip side, I find it difficult at times to comprehend why some people (generically speaking) seem to still believe that acoustical foam is the answer to every acoustical problem. That's like saying a contractor only needs a hammer. Try cutting wood with a hammer someday
Like everything else in the world, acoustical foam absolutely has its purpose and place, and in most cases would in fact be part of the overall treatment of any recording studio. But its not the answer in every case, for every problem. And for someone (generically speaking) to insist until their last breath, well, is a bit frustrating. Its frustrating not because I care that a particular person is stubborn and misinformed, but what is frustrating is the likelihood of somene who doesn't have the information or experience to figure it out on their own, might believe that insistant person, and spend an awful lot of money on materials that very well might not solve their problem. I think that is why some of us fight those insistant people so hard too - we're trying to make sure others reading the thread aren't taking misinformation as facts.
And to be fair, 703 rigid fiberglass isn't the answer for all acoustical problems either. Neither are clouds, refraction pads, rubber, neoprene. Every one of our studios (whether it be a closet, a bedroom, a rickety shack out back, or a pro facility) are different and have their own acoustical issues, so one answer of "foam" or "whatever" can't be right all the time.
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picostudios
New member
What Is fiberglass?
frederic
New member
picostudios said:
Fiberglass is essentially a cloth - a cloth woven of very thin glass fibers typcially about the thickness of the hair on your head. Fiberglass insulation used in your home or in rigid fiberglass panels are made of short strands mushed together, which is why you can grab a corner of it and pull it out - while itchy, you'll see how its constructed.
Fiberglass does a better job attenuating lower frequencies because of the increased friction the sound waves will experience passing between the haphazzard layout of the short woven strands, friction is the key to low frequencies, because as you know they tend to be very powerful coming out of the speaker. If you're familiar with bi-amped speakers, its not uncommon to drive the tweeter with about half the RMS power of the woofer, for this reason. Bass frequences require more power to reproduce, and more friction to absorb and not pass back into the room.
Since energy cannot be created nor destroyed, the friction the fiberglass exhibits to low frequency is coverted into heat. The fiberglass strands actually do increase their temperature while absorbing. Its difficult to measure because of the strand thickness and many other variables, but with specialized equipment it can be measured. The low frequency soundwaves are energy - and for something to absorb energy, it has to be converted into another form of energy. In this case heat.
Foam doesn't generate enough friction for lower frequencies, which is why often you'll find some of us who have been around a while, harping this very concept.
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picostudios
New member
So how may I used this fiberglass? Do they sell some sort of pannels you can put up? Keep in mind that the house I am running the studio out of can not be broken. It's rented ha. So I cant knock down and walls and stuff it with fiberglass.
Suggestions?
Suggestions?
frederic
New member
picostudios said:
In a nutshell, you build yourself a 2'x4' pine frame using nails, screws, whatever floats your boat. The wood could be 1/2" x 2" by the above lengths.
Then you staple fabric of your choosing over one side, lay the rigid fiberglass inside, then staple fabric over the front thus containing the fiberglass between the two layers of fabric. For a nice touch, you could wrap the front cloth over the sides and staple on the back, so you don't see any staples.
Ethan Whiner has an excellent write-up on these things, and also makes them for people who don't want to get itchy.
HangDawg
bUnGhOlIo
frederic said:
Huh! I've never heard that one. I thought it was matter, that cannot be created or destroyed.
frederic
New member
HangDawg said:
You scientific prick! ha ha.
Actually, you're correct and I'm not... I did have it backwards.
But friction does generate heat, at least I got SOMETHING correct lmao
reshp1
New member
Yeah, but energy is always CONSERVED
Also Pico, if you don't have the tools/workspace to build anything elaborate, you can simply wrap up the fiberglass in fabric, Christmas present style.
Also Pico, if you don't have the tools/workspace to build anything elaborate, you can simply wrap up the fiberglass in fabric, Christmas present style.
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picostudios
New member
sounds good. I figure home depot would sell this fiberglass correct?I was thinking of building some frames and placing them in the control room to control some reflections.
mshilarious
Banned
picostudios said:
No they don't, at least around here. Try a local building supply co, or better yet an insulation supply company.
If you get desperate, HD does stock ceiling tile that is made out of rigid fiberglass, I think it's only 1/2" thick, and it's double faced . . .
reshp1
New member
http://www.amerisafe.net/store/index.asp?DEPARTMENT_ID=152 will deliver all over the US, but the freight will be pricey (they quoted 20-30 for 1 carton from Aurora IL to Detroit MI).
You can try to call Knauf directly and find a local distributer.
1-800-825-4434 ext 8212.
You can try Owens Corning too, but they didn't even know what I was talking about when I asked about their 700 series.
1 800 GET PINK (trust me it's not a phone sex number. )
You can try to call Knauf directly and find a local distributer.
1-800-825-4434 ext 8212.
You can try Owens Corning too, but they didn't even know what I was talking about when I asked about their 700 series.
1 800 GET PINK (trust me it's not a phone sex number.
)
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visions
New member
alright i have a question on top of this in the crappy studio im makin im just building a small vocal booth for my live area and i already am soundproofin the room w/ insulation but to stop the waves from bouncing around the room i dont really want to make these trap things that your talking about cuz i thing it will take up too much room but i dont really dont no wht to use and my friend beside me is saying egg cartons but i dont wanna be that ghetto then i was thinkin carpet but i guess that is looked down upon cuz they were talkin about it in the thread about flooring and then no to foam i guess because it doesnt do nething 4 the lower end so i dont really dont no wht to do any advice would be greatly apreciated
thanks
thanks
frederic
New member
reshp1 said:
Are you sure that's the same stuff (more or less) as 703? I ask because a buck thirty-six ($1.36) per 2" sheet, 2'x4' seems to be too cheap...
M
Mind Riot
New member
frederic said:
I was thinking the same thing when I was looking at it, but something tells me that that price is for each square foot, and that the description is a bit badly typed.
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cwill4bmore
New member
I got some Auralex for a 100 bones, comes wit chaulking and I believe about 36 pieces of foam, dont remember. If you check out local music stores you prolly can find it.
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Chris Klein
New member
ya im hopein it the right stuff cuz i need some of it, and cant find it anywhere
reshp1
New member
frederic said:
Yeah, it's price per square foot (
), which I had to call to find that out. Like I said, that's prolly a last option if you really don't have anyone to buy from locally.It is the right stuff too BTW, if you look at the manufactures website the absorption coefficients are almost identical to 703
http://www.knauffiberglass.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=prd.dspProdDetail&ID=12
They sell rockwool too, which will probably be cheaper
reshp1
New member
I tried starting a where to buy rigid fiberglass "sticky" thread a while ago, would anyone still be interested? I figure everyone just posts all the places they know of to get it in whatever region they live in, and we'll probably have to manually bump it until Dragon makes it a real sticky