New room...too much reverb!

[buck78]

I have attached two diagrams of a room that I just built in my basement for my music/recording hobby. Please notice the word hobby I'll try and get some pics posted tonight.

I did my best to soundproof things by using quite a bit og insulation in the walls and ceiling and by using resilient channel. The leakage on the room is acceptable. However, this baby rings like a bell! Even with just casual talking, the room is way too reverberant.

The room dimensions are basically 15.5ft by 13ft, with 7ft ceilings. Looking at the floorplan the blue shaded rectangle is a beam and post that have been framed in. The gray shaded area is a counter top that sits on the cabinets and a half wall.

So far so good. In an effort maintain what sound proofing I did have, I chose to use 1/2" conduit and fixtures for both outlets and lighting. I also installed a wainscot and chair rail simply because it looked good. By looking at the wall-profile diagram, there isn't much space to hang things on the walls. There is about 3'6" between the chair rail and the lighting conduit. Would absorbers in this area make much difference?

Lastly, the ceiling is only 7ft tall. I think this is playing a major role in this situation. The floors are concrete with a very poor excuse for carpet (thin, man made fiber, no padding). Is there anything I can hang from the ceiling that could help? Is this really part of my problem? If something does go up there, it will need to be pretty low profile.

If anyone could offer up some suggestions I would be very gratedful. I am pretty handy and I am willing to build these. I just don't want to spend time ond money on something that isn't going to make much of a difference.

Thanks again. I'll try and post some actually pics.

Buck

 

[buck78]

second diagram that I mentioned.

 

[John Sayers]

Buck - I'd treat the ceiling with rigid fibreglass all over. (Kauff 703 or similar) Those low ceilings in US basements are a problem yet at any point in the room it's your closest wall. The 703 will make the ceiling a nonevent.

BTW if you cover it with Black cloth - yes Black - it will dissappear.

I'd do the absobers in your drawing but on the left wall (directly behing your sitting position) all the way to the kitchen area for a startt and see how it sounds then.

cheers
John

 

[buck78]

John,

Thanks for the reply. I was hoping you would see my posts. When you state cover the ceiling with OwensCorning 703, do you mean start in one corner of the room and completely cover it. Or do you mean make several panels and secure them on the ceiling. How thick should the 703 be? 1 inch? Can I use the same product for the rear wall absorber?

Last question and I promise I'll leave you alone and go fix my room. That space behind the desk is about 8.5ft wide from the wall to the enclosed beam and 15ft long. If I made (3) 4x8 panels and secured them to the ceiling (evenly spaced of course) would that work. Or is complete coverage the only option. This is mostly confidence issue. I know I can make the 4x8 panels and have them look good. I am not so sure about the completely covering the ceiling.

Thanks again.