Building Bass Traps!

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mikeeb

Whats the best RAP MIC??!
Hey guys. I have just started to build some bass traps using a wood backer with the fiberglass on top wrapped in fabric. My goal is to build one a day. The backer is cool because it gives like a 2'' air gap for more bass absorbtion. The first trap I built was 2 2x4 pieces of oc703. In my other trap ( One of My corner bass traps) I used 2 peices of oc703 2x4, and 1 piece of oc705 FRK 2''. I read that if I wanted maximum bass absorbtion, I should put the side with the foil facing the room. I am going to build all my bass traps this way because I belive it is more effective. However, now I am second guessing myself about using the oc705 FRK. Did I mess anything up by mixing the oc703 and 705 in the same trap and also is it stupid to use the FRK facing the room in the corner or where would be the best position. Thanks and I will post some pictures of what they look like after I get a few more done! Here is the link I used to build them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyYUpkpL0gw

Also, the room is like 20x12. I am planning on using about 8 4-6'' thick bass traps in there along with a few 2'' oc703 panels and like 6 or 8 auralex 2x4 panels in there. Is this too much treatment for one room. I figure it will not get boxy because the bass will be well mantained. I have a pretty harsh echo in there now so some auralex to spot treat along with the bass traps and a few acoustic panels should work well, no? In addition, I was just wondering if it is better to deaden my vocal booth with tons of auralex and 2 thick bass traps, or to use less auralex and keep it a little more alive still with the bass traps and 2 acoustic panels with still some auralex. The vocal booth is like 10x6.
 
mikeeb said:
Also, the room is like 20x12. I am planning on using about 8 4-6'' thick bass traps in there along with a few 2'' oc703 panels and like 6 or 8 auralex 2x4 panels in there. Is this too much treatment for one room.
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No...as a matter of fact, it's probably not nearly enough. I have a slightly smaller room than yours, and I have five 6" traps, fourteen 4" traps, five 2" panels and four poly cylindrical diffusers. That room is very well controlled with even, musical decay times across the spectrum.

mikeeb said:
I figure it will not get boxy because the bass will be well mantained. I have a pretty harsh echo in there now so some auralex to spot treat along with the bass traps and a few acoustic panels should work well, no?
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You'll almost certainly need more bass trapping. The Auralex will definitely help with the flutter echo though.

mikeeb said:
In addition, I was just wondering if it is better to deaden my vocal booth with tons of auralex and 2 thick bass traps, or to use less auralex and keep it a little more alive still with the bass traps and 2 acoustic panels with still some auralex. The vocal booth is like 10x6.
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10'x6' isn't too bad. I'd start with 2" panels (maybe you can make twice as many?) and some Auralex, then add more foam as necessary. In other words, start with less and add rather than starting with more and subtracting.

Frank
 
Thanks Frank. I wanted to go all out and buy like 20 GIK panels but because I am saving up for college and have no one to give me money I had to go with the DIY route. So far putting the bass traps in the room have not made a noticeable difference. I still have half of them to do though, so we will see. My vocal booth is actually like 14 or 15x5 or 6. I will take your advice on everything though. I just hope I do not over deaden the room.
 
mikeeb said:
My vocal booth is actually like 14 or 15x5 or 6. I will take your advice on everything though. I just hope I do not over deaden the room.
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You may not have a choice because of the dimensions. Rooms that are more than twice as long as they are wide can be very difficult from the standpoint of flutter echo.

Frank
 
mikeeb said:
So far putting the bass traps in the room have not made a noticeable difference
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How did you come to that conclusion? Did you do any frequency analysis? And from the little digging I have done around this and other forums, it is my understanding that foam is almost useless if not bad for acoustics as it only absorbs the higher frequencies and does nothing for your lows...don't quote me though...:)
 
Well thats odd Weasel. The vocal booth right now with nothing in it seems to have no echo at all while the main room does have a lot of echo. Chava-foam is not bad if used correctly because I still need to eliminate much of the flutter echo in the room. Auralex is def not bad for acoustics if used properly. Back to you though Weasel. How important is putting bass traps in the vocal booth. My setup is as follows. One one side of the room I have 2 6'' bass traps stacked on top of eachother taking up the entire floor to ceiling. This is done on both walls for a total of 4 6'' bass traps. I would have 2 6'' bass traps left to use which I was considering putting them in the vocal booth rather than in the corners behind the drums. My question is, how important is it to have bass traps behind the drums while my computer and stuff is on the other side of the room. I was thinking I would just put up a few peices of auralex to get rid of the echo the drums cause and not trap those corners, so I could use the bass traps in the vocal booth. In the vocal booth I would have 2 6'' bass traps and like 2 4'' bass traps. Is this stupid? Thanks so much for your help man you really don't know how much I appreciate it.
 
For the vocal booth, it depends on what you're trying to do in there. If it's vocals only, then some properly built 2" panels will get down low enough to take care of most of the issues. If you're doing electric guitars in there, then 4" panels may be more the ticket.

Drums and bass are a whole 'nuther deal. If you're recording those, then either the room has to be huge or you have to do some bass trapping. Both of those instruments produce plenty of energy below 150Hz.

Frank
 
Alright sweet. So do you think I could use the 6'' traps behind the drums instead of in the vocal booth and just use 2 4'' traps in the vocal booth along with auralex to keep it from sounding boxy?

I understand that you can only give me a general answer because you are not seeing what my basement looks like so I guess in most cases what would you say.
 
mikeeb said:
Alright sweet. So do you think I could use the 6'' traps behind the drums instead of in the vocal booth and just use 2 4'' traps in the vocal booth along with auralex to keep it from sounding boxy?

I understand that you can only give me a general answer because you are not seeing what my basement looks like so I guess in most cases what would you say.
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I think that's fine, but you'll probably need more than two 4" panels in a room that size. Maybe at least four to begin with.

Frank
 
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