I submitted my room to auralex to get a basic feel for what I may need to treat it

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Juanpa

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The room in question is 27x11x14. Walls are drywall/sheetrock and the floor is carpeted. It will be used for monitoring finished projects in a small film house that does corporate commercials and wedding films, so nothing crazy. And record voiceovers for said commercials on occasion. The amount of materials they recommended goes up to almost 5,000 dollars. Here's the recommendations:

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Thank you for turning to Auralex® Acoustics, Inc. for help with your acoustical needs. I have attached a PDF document which includes a top-view drawing of your room as well as suggested product and product placement. Please keep in mind that these suggestions are prepared off-site, based on the information supplied, and the combined experience of Auralex® Acoustics.

First, for optimal acoustic symmetry and critical listening, center your mix position on the short wall with your speakers firing down the length of the room. Also, place your listening position at 38% of the length of the room, or 10’ 3” from the front wall in your case. This should allow the sound in the room to develop more naturally, and can help improve the overall quality and accuracy of your mixes.

Given the dimensions and application of your room, I am recommending the following:

-Twelve (12) M224 Corner Bass Traps ProPanels

Mounting Hardware Included

-Fourteen (14) B224 ProPanels

Mounting Hardware Included

-Fourteen (14) B222 ProPanels

Mounting Hardware Included

-Three (3) B224 Ceiling Cloud ProPanels

Eight (8) Cloud Anchors Included

-One Pair ProMAX Portable Treatment System

Two (2) Stands and Panels Included

-One Wave6 System

Mounting the M224 ProPanel Bass Traps in the corners as shown can help control low frequency build up, which should smooth out the overall bass response of the room. Backfilling the corner behind them with additional insulation or heavy fabric can increase their effectiveness. ProPanel Corner Bass Traps are shipped with special angled impaling clips for installation.

Spread over the walls and ceiling as shown in the attached PDF, the ProPanels can help control harsh high frequency reflections between parallel surfaces. This can help to control “room ring” as well as any excess reverberation in the room. For additional low frequency control, you may consider using our 1” or 2” offset impaling clips (sold separately) to provide space between the wall and the panel. The air space between the two can help improve the overall broadband absorption of the panels, and should help improve overall bass response in the room.

As for ceiling installation, we suggest using our Cloud Anchors (4 per panel). Your dealer should be able to provide you with more information on this mounting technique. I have also taken the liberty of attaching installation instructions to give you a better idea of how the system works.

Place the Peak Pyramid Diffusors on the walls and ceiling as shown. The diffusors should help more effectively scatter the high frequency reflections. This can help create a comfortable listening environment without losing the “live” feeling of the room. Be sure to rotate each diffusor 90-degrees from the adjacent one for best results. You can also backfill the cavity (about 2/3 full) with loose insulation for extra absorption.

Space the ProMAX Panels evenly around the listening position as shown, and they should help control overall reverberation and reflections while mixing or monitoring. They can also be easily moved around the room to create a recording area for vocals and instruments.

The Wave6 System is to be suspended from the ceiling above the first reflection point. It can help redirect the first reflections from your speakers into the treatment above.

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Is that just a little too much or am I crazy? We're in a bit of a budget, is there a better approach trying to tackle main problems area first? Thank you for your help in advance, it would be greatly appreciated.
 

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Keep in mind that this is really just my opinion based on what I've read and learned from much more knowledgeable people than me.

As far as I know, Auralex lies on their spec sheets about what their FOAM can do. First of all, one thing I know is that foam is useless for "Bass traps". It doesn't go down low enough, frequency-wise. So, what Auralex calls "Bass traps" really aren't bass traps. I would do a lot of research before spending that kind of money. You could probably treat your room with better material and for about 1/5 of the cost. If you go DIY, you could get more REAL bass traps in your room than you can fit for that money.

If you started off making bass traps for the 4 corners, you'd be about half-way there. Then you can add broadbands at the first reflection points, and a ceiling cloud over your listening area. That wouldn't even come close to 5 grand and you'd be pretty much set. I'm the least handy guy in the world and I made myself about 24 panels for less than $300.

Again, just my opinion. Hopefully others will straighten me out if I'm way off.
 
Keep in mind that this is really just my opinion based on what I've read and learned from much more knowledgeable people than me: $5000 is a lot of money.

:eek:

Again, just my opinion. Hopefully others will straighten me out if I'm way off.

:D
 
Keep in mind that this is really just my opinion based on what I've read and learned from much more knowledgeable people than me: Yank is a funny guy.

:eek:

Again, just my opinion. Hopefully others will straighten me out if I'm way off.

:D
 
I'd be inclined to buy a few hundred bucks worth of rock wool and some timber offcuts, then reassess the situation! :eek:
 
I am curious why Auralex wouldn't expand it's product line to include materials that actually help to resolve low end issues.

Oh yeah. They look cool, cost a bunch of money, and people keep buying it anyway because that is the first thing they see.

Great for business, not good for the guy that actually wants a great sounding room.

Read/learn and buy what your room needs. Do not just listen to what a manufacturer tells you you need. Research or waste money. Good luck! :)
 
I'd be inclined to buy a few hundred bucks worth of rock wool and some timber offcuts, then reassess the situation! :eek:

Exactly! Build your own traps for corners, 1st reflection points and ceiling cloud. Tons of info here, youtubes on how to do it, etc.
 
I didn't even know Auralex made products expensive enough to put $5k worth of stuff in a room!
The biggest issue with using most of those products is how thin they are, and how you won't be doing much for the low and sub frequencies in the room even after spending so much. However, it is pretty easy to do $5k worth of treatment in a decent sized space, but not practical for most people outside of a professional realm. There are certainly some spaces that are more critical than others.

As far as I know, Auralex lies on their spec sheets about what their FOAM can do.

Allow me to straighten you out. Auralex does not lie on their spec sheets. Auralex has had most, if not all, of their products tested by a third party independent lab - in fact the same one that tests our products. What you're likely thinking of is the fact that many other companies that sell foams, especially cheaper, inferior foams, actually copy Auralex's data when it's not their product. This is really bad, but many companies have been caught doing it.
Some of Auralex's claims are overstated in marketing text, but most of the overstatements come from end users, not Auralex themselves.
In either case it is true that foam doesn't help a ton with low end, and Auralex's tests prove this as well. The LENRDS aren't so bad down to 125 Hz - the range that the labs will reliably test down to - but they don't do much for the sub-100 Hz frequencies. For a comparison on foam vs. regular bass traps, see here: Comparing Acoustic Foam to GIK 244 Bass Traps
 
Hey GIK....if you're still around, a quick question about your bass trap options.

I see on your site the 244 Bass Trap, and also the Monster Bass Trap....and I see they both offer the Range Limiters and other options.
I've done some comparisons with the info you have on the site....but I was looking for a quick, definitive answer right from the "horse's mouth" so to speak. ;)

I'm in need of two (maybe at some point another two) bass traps that will primarily target low/sub frequencies.
I don't mind if they also hit some of the mid/upper band with absorption, but I don't especially need that, as currently I have plenty of broad band and also upper band, flutter-echo specific treatment, plus I have some diffusion panels.

The low/sub trapping is needed mostly in two corner-type areas, but I can't really work with any of the corner/wedges type traps (for a few reasons)...so it would have to be one of the 2' x 4' bass traps, and I will need to rig them so that when I use the space for tracking and editing, they will hang in those areas from the ceiling in a cloud-type installation....but when I get to the mixing/mastering stage, I want to drop one end of the traps so they would hang down vertically from the ceilin, to better pick up the lows/subs in each of those corner areas.

So...of your two traps mentioned above and the Range Limiters and what have you....what would you feel would be the best combination of trap and options for me? :)
Oh, I assume that either of the traps have a rigid frame so that I can use a hook + wire cable to hang at the four corners, and then be able to unhook at one and and let them hang vertically at just two corners....IOW, your Cloud Mounting Brackets would not work for me.

Can you get a visual of what I'm after or do you need more info, and I can even draw it out if needed....?
 
Thanx for the clarification. I certainly don't want to bad-mouth a company if it's not warranted.

No worries. Auralex certainly isn't a bad company, it's just simple consumer products that are often used as one size fits all solutions, when they're not.

Hey GIK....if you're still around, a quick question about your bass trap options.

I see on your site the 244 Bass Trap, and also the Monster Bass Trap....and I see they both offer the Range Limiters and other options.
I've done some comparisons with the info you have on the site....but I was looking for a quick, definitive answer right from the "horse's mouth" so to speak. ;)

I'm in need of two (maybe at some point another two) bass traps that will primarily target low/sub frequencies.
I don't mind if they also hit some of the mid/upper band with absorption, but I don't especially need that, as currently I have plenty of broad band and also upper band, flutter-echo specific treatment, plus I have some diffusion panels.

The low/sub trapping is needed mostly in two corner-type areas, but I can't really work with any of the corner/wedges type traps (for a few reasons)...so it would have to be one of the 2' x 4' bass traps, and I will need to rig them so that when I use the space for tracking and editing, they will hang in those areas from the ceiling in a cloud-type installation....but when I get to the mixing/mastering stage, I want to drop one end of the traps so they would hang down vertically from the ceilin, to better pick up the lows/subs in each of those corner areas.

So...of your two traps mentioned above and the Range Limiters and what have you....what would you feel would be the best combination of trap and options for me? :)
Oh, I assume that either of the traps have a rigid frame so that I can use a hook + wire cable to hang at the four corners, and then be able to unhook at one and and let them hang vertically at just two corners....IOW, your Cloud Mounting Brackets would not work for me.

Can you get a visual of what I'm after or do you need more info, and I can even draw it out if needed....?

Totally understand what you are getting at. Our panels have four eyehooks in the back - two halfway up towards the top and halfway down towards the bottom. You could easily hang them with chain on each hook and just remove the two on the one side when you want them to drop down. Although you could always hang them in a ceiling corner so you're getting above and to the rear at the same time for either job, which may be a bit easier. If you're only looking to absorb bass, then the range limiters would be excellent to do so (they cut off most absorption above 300 Hz or so, slowly shelving off). You don't necessarily need to have the treatment exactly above whatever you're tracking to absorb bass - it can do that in the corner as well, hence my other suggestion. If you have any specific questions with our products though, don't hesitate to shoot me (Alex) an email... Contact - GIK Acoustics
 
Sounds good.

Was either of the two traps better along with the Range Limiter for my purpose (244 or Monster)?
 
Sounds good.

Was either of the two traps better along with the Range Limiter for my purpose (244 or Monster)?

If they're going to be close to you recording, I'd probably do them without the Range Limiter. The Scatter Plate is actually probably a better bet for those panels so you get a bit of scattering of high frequencies, the panels won't over-absorb the high end, and still does the bass trapping proper.
 
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