Sound Panel Help

[BeniRose]

I'm about to get ready to build a buttload of sound panels and clouds, mostly to help shape the sound of my room for recording, and maybe a few for mixing, but I'll get into bass traps later. I just wanted to make sure that using 6 1/2 inch R-19 would be sufficient to get the job done. I have a giant concrete wall that I plan on hanging 4 over, as well as two ceiling clouds and one angled cloud over my desk, which will be up against a wall soon. I was thinking also putting two small ones behind my monitors, but I'm not sure if R-19 is good enough for that. Am I on the right track here? Is there a specific panel I should think about using a different material for (the cloud over my desk or the ones behind my monitors?)

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

I just wanted to make sure that using 6 1/2 inch R-19

First off, R-19 is a rating of the thermo properties given by testing. In reality R-19 is an anacronym for batt insulation designed to fit in stud cavities 3 1/2" deep. For deeper assemblys, like framing made from 2x6(5 1/2") the insulation usually used is R-38...ie...the thicker the insulation the better its thermo rating. However, when it comes to sound absorption, batt insulation will NOT perform nearly as well as rigid fiberglass, even when thicker batts are used..mainly because of its DENSITY. Batt insulation is used in studio wall assemblys to dampen the drywall and somewhat absorb sound in a limited range of frequencies and absorption coeffecients within the cavity. Read this
http://forum.studiotips.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=48

Is there a specific panel I should think about using a different material for (the cloud over my desk or the ones behind my monitors?)

Yes, 4" thick Owens Corning 703. Use 2" thick 703 in your other locations(for broadband absorption)
Read this.
http://forum.studiotips.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=536
and this:
http://www.realtraps.com/info.htm

However, 703 is NOT cheap nor easily available usually. I purchased another brand(Knauf) which I was able to get in 3" and 4" thick 4'x10' panels, which I cut as required. (2)3" and (4)4" thick panels cost me $600. ouch.
fitZ

 

[BeniRose]

I'm a bit confused, I'm not sure I can save up that much for 703, especially considering how many panels I was thinking of making. But is this not R-19 even though the package says so? It also says it's 6-1/4" thick, so I'm not sure what the deal is: http://www.homedepot.com/

Will R-19 do any sort of help to my basement or is it a waste of money? I'm looking for the cheapest alternative to getting some sort of sound absorbtion, as I have concrete walls and a low plaster ceiling, but if you say save up for 703, I'll take your word on it, since you've been very helpful and know your stuff. Could you maybe let me know what I should use (or rather can get away with) for each of these panels I'm trying to build? Here's the pic again for reference

4 thin wall panels running on the long 18" wall
2 small wall panels behind my monitors
Angled cloud above my desk on the left side of the 14" wall
BIG cloud above main area
Cloud above drums (in 8x10 area by the stairs)

For those thin wall panels, I was looking at this thread and making something similar (which is why I thought I'd be ok with using R-19)
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=282263

I was also thinking of making some gobos similar to these:
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=280889
Would R-19 be ok for that, I know he uses mineral wool in that thread, but I thought they were supposed to be pretty similar.

Anyways, thanks for all your help so far, whatever information you can give me is always appreciated! Oh, and I plan on doing these things over the next few weeks, where the wall probably won't happen till around September. Thanks again!

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

OOOOOOOOPPS! Sorry Benirose. I seemed to have got my numbers mixed up. What a dunce. Its been over two years since I delt with this stuff. Ok, heres the deal as far as I can tell from Owens Corning.
R-13 is the one that is for 3 1/2" deep stud cavities.
R-19 IS actually 6 1/4" thick. It looks like this is for attics.
R-21 is 5 1/5" thick. This looks like the one for 2x6 studs.
R-38 is 9 1/2" thick.

Well, it looks like I've done it again. Ok, again, sorry Beni. At least I've corrected it and learned another lesson myself.

Heres the site with the correct info.
http://insulation.owenscorning.com/professionals/insulation-products/all-products.aspx

Will R-19 do any sort of help to my basement or is it a waste of money? I'm looking for the cheapest alternative to getting some sort of sound absorbtion, as I have concrete walls and a low plaster ceiling, but if you say save up for 703, I'll take your word on it, since you've been very helpful and know your stuff.

Beni, I will stick my neck out again and say this. First off, I'm certainly no exper so I try to rely on what info I can find on the net. What I've found is the difference in cost between FIBERGLASS batt insulation and RIGID Fiberglass is substantial. However, you might want to consider those ULTRATOUCH COTTON batt insulation. I checked the absorption coeffiecients and for the price I don't think you can beat it.

125hz 250hz 500hz 1000hz 2000hz 4000hz NRC
R-13 3.5" (mm) A 0.95 1.30 1.19 1.08 1.02 1.00 1.15
R-19 5.5" (mm) A 0.97 1.37 1.23 1.05 1.00 1.01 1.15
Pretty damn impressive.. I'm surprised more people aren't talking about it.
I found it here
http://www.bobgolds.com/AbsorptionCoefficients.htm

and heres more on it.
http://products.construction.com/Ma...044/products/Ultratouch-Insulation-NST14666-P

http://www.soundaway.com/R19_24_UltraTouch_acoustic_insulation_p/22004.htm

For FOUR Ultra touch COTTON batts..5 1/2" thick, 24" wide and 94" long the quote is $85 for 63 square feet. Thats the physical size equivilent of TWO 4'x8' sheets of rigid fiberglass...or...enough to make EIGHT panels 5 1/2"x24"x47" . Considering you have concrete walls and plaster cieling, and the absorption coefficient I don't think you can go wrong with this product...if you can get this specific model:

http://www.soundaway.com/R19_24_UltraTouch_acoustic_insulation_p/22004.htm

I looked here but didn't find it. Maybe you can call home depot. And then, maybe again, the 3/12" thick stuff wouldn't be too bad either. Looks like homedespot might be a bit more expensive but I don't know considering availability vs shipping. You have to do the rest of the homework yourself cause only you know whats available around your area.
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...3&productId=100656746&N=10000003+90401+527407

Anyway, I'm outta time. Sorry for the misinformation. I hope this makes up for it.
fitZ

 

[Supercreep]

You can also compress the fluffy stuff to make panels that perform a little better.