A
Aksen
New member
----------- Background (you don't have to read this part) -----------
I am still in the planning/learning stages here, so any information will probably help me out quite a bit
First off, I love homebuilt projects because of the satisfaction of success, the things that you learn, and i like to SAVE MONEY. Second, I haven't really seen any plans online that suit my needs. Allow me to explain:
I am a part of the San Francisco Bay DIY punk/indie/hardcore scene. I don't have a place of my own to record in, but I have some decent gear. Most bands I'm involved with wouldn't mind being recorded in their own practice space, so basically I just bring over my stuff in a truck, set up on a folding table and do what I do. It's sort of a dirty way to do things, but the bands don't want "glistening" recordings so it works well. Basically, once I get these iso cabs I can put out ads and charge ~$100 or less for a full day's session.
The biggest hurdle is that bands want to be recorded playing all live, all at the same time. Layering is time consuming and the music ends up sounding ... unenthused. So I want to build three isolation chambers for combo amplifiers. I suppose the isolation doesn't have to be perfect, but I want to get as much as possible.
----------- /End background -----------
Goals:
1.) Build iso boxes so I can record a 4 piece band all at once, without sound pressure from amplifiers messing with the drum mic diaphragms, etc.
2.) 3 isolation boxes, each big enough for a combo amp and a close mic.
3.) Try to keep the cost below $150 ea.
4.) Sturdy enough to be portable.
5.) Handles. Casters?
I have been looking at different materials, and I am trying to figure out the best combination of layers. These are the materials I've come up with:
1.) MDF (1/2" or 5/8")
2.) Soundboard particleboard (1/2" or 5/8")
3.) Polystyrene? (it's like styrofoam) (1"+)
4.) Carpet insulation?
5.) I have a lot of sound treatment foam for the inside.
6.) can't use sheetrock because this needs to be portable!
At first I thought the best order of layers was this:
Inside ------------- Outside
[Soundboard] -> [Polystyrene] -> [MDF]
But then I did more reading about Polystyrene and people said it really doesn't help in the sound isolation process, and I also learned that soundboard is designed to be GLUED to sheetrock or somethin. So as of right now, I'm thinking of this order:
Inside ------------- Outside
[MDF (1/2")] -> [Glue] -> [Soundboard] -> [No glue?] -> [MDF (5/8")]
Other notes:
*I am still considering a layer of Polystyrene on the floor of the box, to help eliminate the amplifier's vibrations.
*What's the best way to do a door? I think that the simplest approach is to have one side of the box be detachable. I could fasten it with latches, and use weather stripping for an airtight seal.
*Casters. I think these things will way a ton, and having them on casters would help. If there are any cons to this, bring em up. I feel like there's something I'm not considering.
Alright. Please let me know what I'm doing right, what I'm doing wrong. I have a month or so before I'm going to go through with it.
I am still in the planning/learning stages here, so any information will probably help me out quite a bit
First off, I love homebuilt projects because of the satisfaction of success, the things that you learn, and i like to SAVE MONEY. Second, I haven't really seen any plans online that suit my needs. Allow me to explain:
I am a part of the San Francisco Bay DIY punk/indie/hardcore scene. I don't have a place of my own to record in, but I have some decent gear. Most bands I'm involved with wouldn't mind being recorded in their own practice space, so basically I just bring over my stuff in a truck, set up on a folding table and do what I do. It's sort of a dirty way to do things, but the bands don't want "glistening" recordings so it works well. Basically, once I get these iso cabs I can put out ads and charge ~$100 or less for a full day's session.
The biggest hurdle is that bands want to be recorded playing all live, all at the same time. Layering is time consuming and the music ends up sounding ... unenthused. So I want to build three isolation chambers for combo amplifiers. I suppose the isolation doesn't have to be perfect, but I want to get as much as possible.
----------- /End background -----------
Goals:
1.) Build iso boxes so I can record a 4 piece band all at once, without sound pressure from amplifiers messing with the drum mic diaphragms, etc.
2.) 3 isolation boxes, each big enough for a combo amp and a close mic.
3.) Try to keep the cost below $150 ea.
4.) Sturdy enough to be portable.
5.) Handles. Casters?
I have been looking at different materials, and I am trying to figure out the best combination of layers. These are the materials I've come up with:
1.) MDF (1/2" or 5/8")
2.) Soundboard particleboard (1/2" or 5/8")
3.) Polystyrene? (it's like styrofoam) (1"+)
4.) Carpet insulation?
5.) I have a lot of sound treatment foam for the inside.
6.) can't use sheetrock because this needs to be portable!
At first I thought the best order of layers was this:
Inside ------------- Outside
[Soundboard] -> [Polystyrene] -> [MDF]
But then I did more reading about Polystyrene and people said it really doesn't help in the sound isolation process, and I also learned that soundboard is designed to be GLUED to sheetrock or somethin. So as of right now, I'm thinking of this order:
Inside ------------- Outside
[MDF (1/2")] -> [Glue] -> [Soundboard] -> [No glue?] -> [MDF (5/8")]
Other notes:
*I am still considering a layer of Polystyrene on the floor of the box, to help eliminate the amplifier's vibrations.
*What's the best way to do a door? I think that the simplest approach is to have one side of the box be detachable. I could fasten it with latches, and use weather stripping for an airtight seal.
*Casters. I think these things will way a ton, and having them on casters would help. If there are any cons to this, bring em up. I feel like there's something I'm not considering.
Alright. Please let me know what I'm doing right, what I'm doing wrong. I have a month or so before I'm going to go through with it.
