Carpet, foam, and soundproofing.

D

D-Dogg

New member
Okay, so this isn't really a recording, nor soundproofing question but I'm sure ya'll know what to do.

My band practices at a mini-storage type place and we need something to cut the echo/reverb caused by the metal walls. So we figure carpet, foam, or something of that sort. The problem is that none of us are about to spend money on carpet when there are cars to put gas in. Where could we get something for free, or even better what else could we do to make the sound more even? In other bands rehearsal spots the sound is balanced and it is easier to hear everything individually. Ours just blends into a big mess.

Thanks ahead.
David.
 
Carpet is generally free if you get to the dumpster outside the store at the right time.
Sure the pieces are all odd shapes, but you're looking for square footage, not a finished look.
 
metal walls? really? i've played in storage units , but none where the walls were metal...actually sounds like a cool environment for recording some heavy technogrungemetalendof the world type musak.


[This message has been edited by nero (edited 08-06-1999).]
 
Yeah- most of the storage places around here are built like that. One problem in this environmnet: you can hear every footstep of
everyone else in the bulding. And they're usually moving some furniture which is even louder.
 
When we had a rehearsal space, we hung sleeping bags and blankets and stuff like that on the walls. Wasn't perfect ... but it was relatively free and it worked pretty good. It just got pretty cold on those winter nights.
 
Yup, metal walls...

Rattle and stuff when it gets loud. No one is ever out at our place but us so we never have any problems with other people.
 
Yes carpeting works, so do blankets, so do rugs, so do dead cats...

Try styrofoam or cardboard (folded like a V or a VV) and/or wood attached to the walls and sticking out (sort of) perpendicular to the wall instead of flat to the wall... the intent is to break up the reflection pattern of the audio waves. Go look at any theater or studio with great acoustics and you'll see all kinds of deflection/reflection panels suspended in strategic places throughout. Also, try moving the sound source(amps/speakers) around the room... place them where the reflection is minimized.

Keep in mind you don't want to deaden the entire space... if you do, the result is very dead sound. You need SOME hard flat places to keep the sound lively.

If all else fails, turn down the volume and box in the drummer... (Drummers NEVER know how to play softly!... hehe).

Good Luck!

Cordially,
the guitar half of "RockNGunz"
 
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