Foam/ Fiberglass Alternative

[Diffusion]

ok look... ive been waiting for months to be able to record in my echo-happy room, hoping that someday ill be able to afford some auralex or some fiberglass panels or something to at least make the sound decent enough to record... and, after much blood sweat and tears... ive got nowhere... now, christmas and other personal debts are runnin me broke, but i NEED to record... my question is what is the best cheap and temporary alternative to fiberglass and foam... this will only be until i can afford some fiberglass panels (in a few years..... )
so far all i can come up with is to cover my walls in thick blankets... will this work? any other ideas?

 

[chris-from-ky]

I know how you feel. I'm in that boat too. If you have to have something. Buy a pack of mineral wool from www.insulationworld.com, some burlap from your local Wal-Mart, and borrow a sewing machine from some elderly lady and just make some "pillow case" type of panels and hang them using fishing wire or twine or something. You should be able to get 6 traps for less than $100.

By the time you buy blankets, you could buy the stuff to make panels.

 

[Diffusion]

i appreciate the advice, really do, but remember i said a fiberglass alternative.. finding fiberglass in my area is difficult, and shipping from somewhere else kills me...

 

[scrubs]

Well, you can hang heavy blankets on the walls to kill early echoes. Stack boxes of clothing in the corners for bass traps. Big furniture (couches) can also make effective bass traps. It's not ideal, but it will help some.

 

[Diffusion]

thanks... i guess ill just try some thick blankets

 

[chris-from-ky]

Yeah, your profile doesn't tell me where you're from so, I was a bit hindered in a completely sound suggestion. As for blankets, comforters (as we call them in KY) may work better than just a heavy blanket being as they're more of the fluffy type of blanket. Good luck.

 

[Innovations]

Open up the door to a closet full of clothes and position the mic so that you are singing at the clothes...that will take care of much of the first reflections. Then hang a blanket behind you to get the remainder.

Frankly though most folks who say 'it is hard to get fiberglass/rock wool here' just haven't found the right place to buy it. It is NEVER in the home improvement stores so just because it isn't in the home improvement stores doesn't mean that it isn't available in your area.