Getting the room Right?

[D K]

Hello to all,

I am new to this forum - Been lurking for a while - this looks like the right place to post these questions. It looks like I am going to have about $1000.00 to spend on my studio (a major rarity) and most likely the last time I will get to spend on it for a while. I would love to upgrade some of my gear but I am coming to the conclusion that the "smart" investment would be in Acoustically treating the room. I know this budget is small but I would love to at least get some good bass traps and some diffusion out of it. I searched the archives and read thru the stuff on Ethan's site. I am not much of a DIY guy but he states that you can do some good work with Rigid Fiberglass across the corners of the room. My questions after using the search feauture are:

1). Does anyone know how to do this well enough to explain it to a "DIY idiot"?

2). My room is very oddly shaped and there are very few "full corners" (meaning 2 walls and ceiling that are not interupted by a door,closet etc.)
Do all these corners need to be covered?

3) What covering would/should be used for the trap and does it need to be floor to ceiling?

4). Where is the best place to get rigid fiberglass? - I went to Home depot but I did not see anything like that - does it have to be ordered from somewhere? Any reccomendations would be appreciated - I am in Dallas if that matters.

5). Is doing it myself (lack of wood working skills noted) worth more than just getting them from Ethan or GIK or someone like that? Reccomendations?

Thanks for any help with this - I need to make the most of this opportunity and want to make sure I do this right

Truth is - I sure hope I can do it myself and save some money - Maybe I can get some of that gear I have been wanting

Seems like a real cool forum by the way

 

[Innovations]

1). Does anyone know how to do this well enough to explain it to a "DIY idiot"?

it is absurdly easy. If you don't care about crisp corners you don't need any carpentry skill whatsoever.

2). My room is very oddly shaped and there are very few "full corners" (meaning 2 walls and ceiling that are not interupted by a door,closet etc.)
Do all these corners need to be covered?

No. You only need enough treatment to get the room to sound right. In addition bass does not collect in the corner so much as it forms between a corner and the opposite corner (that being the longest air colunmn in the room). If you have one of the corners covered you have that diagonal covered.

3) What covering would/should be used for the trap and does it need to be floor to ceiling?

cover it with a loose weave fabric (one you can easily breathe through. And no, it does not have to be floor to ceiling.

4). Where is the best place to get rigid fiberglass? - I went to Home depot but I did not see anything like that - does it have to be ordered from somewhere? Any reccomendations would be appreciated - I am in Dallas if that matters.

look for places that sell insulation to builders and HVAC contractors. Maybe the best thing would be to ask one where they buy their insulation from.

5). Is doing it myself (lack of wood working skills noted) worth more than just getting them from Ethan or GIK or someone like that? Reccomendations?

It is definitly cheaper. Unfortunately finished traps cost a lot to ship because they are considered 'oversize'. Woodworking skills come into play only if you want the crisp edge of a frame. To be fair to Ethan though his traps are a little more than just framed 703, but a thick panel of 703 makes a fine DIY bass trap.

 

[D K]

Very detailed response Innovations - I appreciate it very much

I think I am going to try it - I want it to look decent but I am not overly concerned with great looking corners or anything like that

I will definitely look into Insulation companies ( You would think that would be obvious to me huh? )

Good stuff - we will see what happens - Thanks again!

 

[D K]

I have beeen researching all night and I think I understand how to build traps

I was hoping that somebody could take a look at this room and offer some advice on a couple of things:

1) How can I build traps for these types of corners ?

2) Should I change the room configuration? - Not many options here as the right side wall (smallest) is only place I could move (with a different desk).

Appreciate any input

[/IMG]

 

[Bill Furnett]

DK,

It might prove helpful to those here in the know if you can draw (post) a simple overheard floorplan (like in MS paint) which indicates the room's shape and dimensions.

-Welcome aboard-

 

[Innovations]

Be Flexible in your thinking. Most folks presume that to be in the corner the four foot dimension must be vertical. This position is just as much 'in the corner'

On a unrelated subject although hanging your axes on the wall looks cool the strings will vibrate sympathetically with any music being played while tracking and mixing.

 

[D K]

Got ya -

Thanks for the tips on the guitars as well

I think maybe I did not post the picture correctly but I think you have given me some good answers - I have also been speaking with Glen over at GIK and he has been extra helpful

Thanks for the feedback - much appreciated!!