question about treatment in a basment

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Hi_Flyer

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I'm planning on doing some tracking in my basement so I want it to be reasonably decent sounding, it has low ceilings, its small space, typical basement acoustic problems...

I have some Roxul panels on the side (parallel) walls and the back wall, I'm planning on setting up more in the future when $$ is available...

anyway, my question is about the ceiling. It is not finished, just joists, exposed wiring, and above that the living room floor boards, carpet padding and then the living room carpet... how much low end reflection is probably coming off of that ceiling? I wanted to put up some cheap diffusion treatment on the ceiling jus to cut down on some reflections... since there is not alot of mass directly above, is probably mostly mid and high frequencies that I need to worry about?
 
Hi_Flyer said:
how much low end reflection is probably coming off of that ceiling?
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A lot.

I wanted to put up some cheap diffusion treatment on the ceiling
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You'll do better with absorption. Just pack the space between the joists with fluffy fiberglass 12 inches thick, no paper facing. Then cover the exposed fiberglass with soft fabric.

--Ethan
 
12 inches?! wow. this place is a rental so I'm not too into spending a ton of cash on stuff that I can't take with me when I leave... can you give an example of the manufacturer of the stuff you are talking about? or perhaps a budget conscious option? should I just concentrate on certain areas in the room, for example above the drums?
 
Hi_Flyer said:
I'm not too into spending a ton of cash on stuff that I can't take with me when I leave.
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You want a home recording studio and you're worried about dropping $80 on fiberglass that you can't take with you? :rolleyes:

can you give an example of the manufacturer of the stuff you are talking about?
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Fiberglass - you know, the pink (or yellow) stuff at the hardware store. :D

--Ethan
 
Hey Flyer, we're talking about rolls of pink R-36 insulation as found at Home Depot. I don't think it is even 35$ a roll...... nothing fancy, just the minimum thing you can do to make your space a little happier with recording.
How long are you renting for? a year?
C.
 
yeah, I'll probably be here for at least a year. I didn't price that stuff, although I did buy some Roxul for some bass traps (although these I can take with me when I move). I didn't realize the fluffy fiberglass was so cheap, I guess I thought you guys meant the dense/fancy stuff.
 
so what is the deal with the "R" value? is it simply the thickness? are all the "R" insulation types the same density? I found some R19 local on craigslaist that may be cheap...
 
The R value has to do with the heat insulation properties (i believe), the higher the number, the greater, and the larger.

I'm not sure if R-19 is enough, but remember to get unfaced
 
you might be able to go with R-19 (typically 5 1/2" thick) unfaced and cover that fire retardent cloth. if you used the faced insulation, you will likely need to enclose it in drywall or ceiling tiles.

check the fire safety rating on the material. generally an "A" rated ASTM C 665 insulation means it could be used for some exposed applications (uncovered by drywall) where permitted by the local building code. (but Rod G is the expert here).

nothing ruins your day like getting burned to death in your basement home studio...
 
acoustic transparency & Fireproof

Any tips on the best fabric to accomplish this to allow maximum apsorption, but still be fireproof? Also I assume the fabric needs to be a bit sturdy to support the insulation from falling on my head. :eek:
 
wire mesh or a wire strung side-to-side between joists will support the insulation. the fabric just needs to be breathable - muslin, burlap, etc can work.
 
Super, thanks for the tip! Wire makes sense!

then maybe I could treat the fabric with something like flameseal for fireproofing? That won't cause any issues, right?

--------newbie, no url allowed------

Thanks much for the tips, this forum is incredible!
 
flame retardent can be purchased or made. its fairly inexpensive and shouldn't impede the performance of the cloth.
 
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