Foam for acoustic panels.

  • Thread starter Thread starter j.harv
  • Start date Start date
j.harv

j.harv

@#$%
Hi.Im new here,and Im pretty sure this has been asked alot.
What I want to do is cheaply treat a small room that needs deadening.
I recently went to a fabric/textiles warehouse near my place and they have big squares and rectangles of that yellow foam,ranging from 1" to 4" thick.Its not super dense either.Would this be good to use for homemade acoustic panels?
They also have big sheets of memory foam too.Im not trying to get it down to the acoustical science of things,I just want to treat this room simply.When I clap my hands loudly there is that tinny,snappy kinda reverb I just want to tame.This room is basically for recording acoustic guitar and listening to and mixing playback.
Thanks.
Jason.
 
j.harv said:
When I clap my hands loudly there is that tinny,snappy kinda reverb I just want to tame.This room is basically for recording acoustic guitar and listening to and mixing playback.
Thanks.
Jason.
Click to expand...

Clapping your hands only shows a small part of problem, easy to treat - mids and highs - most above 500hz.
But reverb and peaks and nulls of low frequencies are a different story - worst and more difficult to treat in any room.
You have choices; to tame only the slap "snappy kinda reverb" echo coming from untreated parallel surfaces, any 2" thin foam will works.No need to treat the entire wall, just like a "chess" from wall to wall will works.

To treat the low frequencie issues of a room (below 100hz - the way to go for accurate mixing), you need VERY THICK absorption spread in the room (rockwool/fiberglass 4" at least - but thicker is better) in the corners (are 12, not only 4 like some people think) and reflection points (side walls between speakers and mixing position / ceiling at same point / rear wall).

Much more information here:

http://www.realtraps.com/articles.htm
http://www.gikacoustics.com/education.html

Ciro
 
No!!!

Please, please do not use bedding foam, egg crates, blankets, or other such products in your home.

Do you remember Great White?

http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/Northeast/02/21/deadly.nightclub.fire/


article said:
Video shot by CNN affiliate WPRI showed the band performing Thursday as on-stage fireworks went off in the background. As the crowd cheered, fire engulfed the soundproofing foam behind the stage and quickly spread.

"The building was well involved inside of three minutes," said Hall.
Click to expand...

96 people died because of that goddamn foam, dude.

This is why you should only use acoustic products that are treated to be fire resistant.

Also, acoustic foam doesn't work as well as other products that cost less. Bedding foam doesn't work at all. Use rock/mineral wool or rigid fiberglass.
 
Hey Ciro.Thanks alot man!
Very inforamtive.I'll just make a few panels up and see how it goes.Im not trying to go too crazy with it,just want to lose abit of the zing in the room.
Thanks again.
Jason
 
Thanks Supercreep.I didnt see your reply when I read the first one.I remember that tradegy.That was too bad.Can rockwool be purchased at the local hardware store.
Thanks again.
Jason
 
j.harv said:
Hi.Im new here,and Im pretty sure this has been asked alot.
What I want to do is cheaply treat a small room that needs deadening.
I recently went to a fabric/textiles warehouse near my place and they have big squares and rectangles of that yellow foam,ranging from 1" to 4" thick.Its not super dense either.Would this be good to use for homemade acoustic panels?
They also have big sheets of memory foam too.Im not trying to get it down to the acoustical science of things,I just want to treat this room simply.When I clap my hands loudly there is that tinny,snappy kinda reverb I just want to tame.This room is basically for recording acoustic guitar and listening to and mixing playback.
Thanks.
Jason.
Click to expand...

Forget foam. Stop by your local commercial framing and insulation supplier (not Home Depot). Get rockwool or rigid fiberglass. Roxul Safe is good for rockwool and Owens Corning 703 is good for rigid fiberglass (but much more expensive).
 
haha, I clicked on this thread like 30 minutes ago and got side tracked. Looks like everyone beat me to it. :mad::laughings:
 
Sunshine superman.

I so look forward to Supercreep, Rami and Jeff D's comments when it comes to foam and vocal booths. It's informative, yeah, but it's entertainment value is second to none. Appeals to my sense of humour.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top