so I just got 400 squared feet of acoustic ceiling tiles

[drummer11]

I work in construction, the current project is in a high school gym. They are removing some acoustic tiles from the high wall and ceiling.

Since they are hung up high, they are in very good shape. 12" x 12"

Instead of throwing them away I am thinking of putting them on the ceiling of my garage.

Anyone got any opinions on this in case you think it may be a bad idea?

 

[RAMI]

What are they made of and how thick are they?

 

[arcadeko]

I think its those drop ceiling acoustic tiles - I believe they are effective for high-frequencies. From what I remember they are similar to foam.

 

[mjbphotos]

Ceiling tiles will absorb some high frequencies, enough to cut down the reflections of sound noticeable to the ears. Are you planning on using this garage as a recording studio? Full time, or still using it for car and storage? The tiles won't hurt anything, by any means.

 

[RAMI]

From what I remember they are similar to foam.

So, in other words, pretty much useless for sound. If all they do is cut high-end, they WILL hurt the sound.

 

[moresound]

You see them in most every high school. A waste of the tax payers money.

 

[drummer11]

Ceiling tiles will absorb some high frequencies, enough to cut down the reflections of sound noticeable to the ears. Are you planning on using this garage as a recording studio? Full time, or still using it for car and storage? The tiles won't hurt anything, by any means.

im doing a lot of recording in the garage.

 

[drummer11]

What are they made of and how thick are they?

about 3/4", no idea what they are made of, but its not a very dense material.

 

[drummer11]

sooo judging by what everyone is saying... it will make the garage sound "dull", and kill the high's

 

[arcadeko]

So, in other words, pretty much useless for sound. If all they do is cut high-end, they WILL hurt the sound.

If they are the only acoustic treatment used, they will hurt the sound as far as getting an accurate mix however, if they are used in conjunction with low-end absorbers they may be helpful! Acoustic treatment is difficult issue to learn about because there is so much information and there is no standard answer. You have to test and treat, test and treat. But your totally correct Rami, just treating the high frequencies will only make matters worse. You have to treat the full spectrum.

And there is so much damn info out there it just gets more and more confusing and difficult to make an effective plan. It drove me crazy trying to wrap my head around it. Finally I just built some damn bass traps and it sounded better. My frequency testing confirmed that i had tamed some of the wacky frequencies so it all worked out. (Of course I still need a few more)

 

[RAMI]

If they are the only acoustic treatment used, they will hurt the sound as far as getting an accurate mix however, if they are used in conjunction with low-end absorbers they may be helpful!

Yes, I agree. Pretty much what I meant, but I was too lazy to type more than one sentence at the time.