carpet in the garage?

[classicaldeath]

Now that winter is over, I am going to be setting up my recording gear in my garage. I put carpet in there many years ago, and it flooded over the winter (damn global warming) so I am going to pull the carpet out. I got more to replace it, but would it be better to leave the concrete floor exposed? The garage is unfinished so there is no drywall, and there are spots in the half a$$ plywood ceiling for sound to escape to the attic. There is also a car in the second half which is covered with fabric. The overhead door is aluminum, but the drums and mixing area are about 10-15ft from it. The garage is also cluttered with stuff piled up the walls that I can't throw away or put any where else. This probably isn't the Ideal recording space, but its all I got right now. Thanks for any help?

 

[Dani Pace]

Considering the space you described, I'd say replace the carpet. An unfinished garage is likely to sound pretty boomy so anything to absorb lower frequencies will help. The aluminium door is also likely to cause a lot of problems too, garage doors don't have enough mass to stop sound from getting out (or in.) A few rubber mats (for the floor) would be a good idea too. Even slightly damp concrete is a good source of electrical shock and bare concrete will make things hum that are quiet in other places. Be sure to treat the concrete with bleach (or other product to prevent mold) and seal it before installing the new carpet, moisture and carpet padding are the perfect mixture for a home for mold and mildew. If you decide to keep the floor bare, consider tile or lineolium as a floor covering, as I already mentioned, bare concrete is not the ideal surface (especially for electric instruments.)