hushbox for computer

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hdi

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Anyone out there build a hushbox for your computer? I just bought a new Compaq Athlon 1700 and it is LOUD. Even if I were going to use it for word processing I would want to quiet it down. It is not just the noise level but also the frequency, higher than my old one. This will be dedicated soley to music. I tried throwing some aurelex around it but that didn't work. I'll probably build something out of plywood and use rubber auto insulation pads. Anyone have some good ideas out there I'd love to hear them. Also, this thing puts out a lot more heat than my old PIII, probably why the fan is so loud.
 
There are a couple of companies that make products designed specifically for this. One is called Isoraxx. I think there is at least one other - but they can be a little pricey ($1000). They are wonderfully built - beautiful wood, glass doors, rack rails for noisy rack-mount stuff, and a very quiet fan for ventilation.

But if you want to improvise, what I did was get one of those inexpensive 6-space rack cases - the kind made of plywood covered with carpet. Stand it on it's short side (if you are using a tower style computer), line the inside with acoustic foam, and place your CPU inside. When you are recording, you can slap the front lid on, and it will greatly attenuate the noise. I leave the back open for ventilation, but if you need to cut out even more noise, drill some holes for the cables and power cords and put the back cover on as well.

Good luck!
 
hdi said:
Anyone out there build a hushbox for your computer? I just bought a new Compaq Athlon 1700 and it is LOUD. Even if I were going to use it for word processing I would want to quiet it down. It is not just the noise level but also the frequency, higher than my old one. This will be dedicated soley to music. I tried throwing some aurelex around it but that didn't work. I'll probably build something out of plywood and use rubber auto insulation pads. Anyone have some good ideas out there I'd love to hear them. Also, this thing puts out a lot more heat than my old PIII, probably why the fan is so loud.
Click to expand...


I have the same problem with my Athlon 750. It's not so much the sound of the fans spinning, but the sound of the air turbulence that comes out of the fans. I upgraded to a quieter ThermalTake cpu fan and stuck the pc in my closet. I bought some mouse and keyboard cable extenders (they only run you about $10 a piece). And I run all the cables under the door.

It really cut down on the noise around here. It's kind of annoying to have to go into the closet to put in a cd or something...but most everything I need on cd is copied to my hard drive, so I don't have to do that much. An Athlon can warm up a closet like a space heater...so airing it out every once in a while isn't a bad idea :-)

Enermax powersupplies are suppose to be real quiet...some with adjustable fan speed. You might also want to check out www.quietpc.com for some other quiet solutions.

A friend has around three or four of those new silent bearing Seagate drives that are suppose to REAL quiet too.


-Shag Fu
Shaolin-style, baby!
 
Thanks

Thanks for sending me to quietpc.com. I put my word processing PC in the closet but my music PC has to be right next to all my gear. Looks like I'm going to have to spend about $200 to buy all the stuff to quiet it, though. Building a hush box would be cheaper but I really think I would have cooling problems and building it with the proper vents would only cut the noise down by half, I think...
 
hdi,

If you go to the Studio Building forum thingy here and search back through the threads, there were a couple of discussions there during the last few months on DIY computer isolation cabinets.

Maybe you could just use the search function on this site...........you are bound to find something here.

:cool:
 
Its the best policy to have the computer off while tracking. but if you must have it on get longer cables and put it outside the control room.
 
darrin_h2000 said:
Its the best policy to have the computer off while tracking. but if you must have it on get longer cables and put it outside the control room.
Click to expand...

Yes, the new ProTools version 5.666 lets you track without turning the computer on! :D
 
By tracking do you mean recording? You mean you can record with computer off?
 
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