Room Dampening

D

Devlin Malcolm

New member
So for someone on a budget like myself (I'm saving up for more and better studio equipment and accessories) could i tack up a whole bunch of moving/packing blankets on my wall? I already have heavy carpets, and a matrees (because my studio is in my room) and for a small room, for a studio, I still hear a little echo whenever I clap (it's not like bathroom echo, but it is still very noticeable echoes)

Thanks
Devlin
 
Well, moving blankets are definitely not ideal, but in a low budget, small room, as many of us have it may be just the trick in the short term. Why not give it a try, the worst that can happen is, it does nothing for you. Best case, it works. Pro studios did not get to what they are today without trying different things over the years. I in fact have a rubber backed area rug hanging in the middle of one of the concrete walls in my studio, again not ideal but it helped a smidge.
 
Thanks for replying.
But that's all it is, for short term only until I get the money for acoustics and bass traps, just thought I'd ask to see if it is okay to use till i get the acoustics I need.
 
If I am not mistaken(maybe someone else could enlighten us both), if you give it a try you may want to try to hang them in zig zag pattern,(similar to window drapes) to dampen some reflection. Again, I could be wrong on this. If anyone else could pipe in, it would be appreciated.
 
By 'zigzag' do you mean ruched, as curtains are? I doubt it would make any difference without some sort of absorptive volume mass behind. I found some some soft foam and was advised (on here) it would only affect higher frequencies, possibly making the recordings seem muffled. I generally gather blankets seem to be regarded as ineffective.

I have seen acoustic blankets advertised but they seem to be multi-layered and made of specialist materials. They don't seem to be just ordinary blankets at any rate. Some of them claim to be effective sound proofing. I'm no expert on this matter but I find that very hard to believe. I would tend to treat it with the same sort of suspicion I would have about 'sound proof paint'.

It is possible to make bass traps and other worthwhile treatments on a low budget using basic DIY skills. I would be more inclined to say Google this first and see what the possibilities are. You might find it's not as difficult or expensive as you think.

Some people recommend carpet remnants but again, I imagine this only tackles high frequencies. I get that the idea is to focus and control the sound to bring the room alive. It seems possible to kill a room if you get it wrong.

Regards

Dr. V
 
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