Wardrobes

  • Thread starter Thread starter Neil Ogilvie
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Neil Ogilvie

Still Learning.......
I'm not sure if this has been covered, but a search didn't turn anything up, so........
I need to use/build something that won't necessarily keep noise OUT, but will keep noise IN.
I aim to use it to record a relativly loud guitar amp that my parents keep complaining about.
It would be nice if I could use it as a vocal booth too, but not essential.
Would a wardrobe do the job for this? If I was going to use a wardrobe, what sort of things would I need to do to it?
I'm not looking for a brilliant recording product, just not loud!
Any ideas?
 
Keep in mind that sound proofing is NOT a one-way deal. If it does one, it does the other. Mass and totally airtight construction are the only things that work, although design can help a lot.

If you just want the amp quiet while being loud, a small iso-box for the amp would be the least expensive thing to build. If you want to be in the LOUD place with the amp, then the whole room would have to be soundproofed. Not an easy task.

The wardrobe, if it's like the ones I've seen, would be nearly useless. They are usually made of inexpensive, thin veneers with only the frame heavier to support the panels. The only part of the sound this would reduce would be a tiny bit of the treble.

If you're just looking for an iso-box for the amp and you have room for it, see if you can find a used, SMALL chest-type freezer with one of those magnetic door seals. Put the amp and mic/stand into it, drill a hole thru the side just large enough for a mic cable, take the end off a mic cable, feed the cable thru the hole, caulk BOTH sides of the hole after replacing the end (make sure the FEMALE end is INSIDE the freezer -

I once did an experiment along these lines - I turned up a boom-box to 90 dB (sound level meter, 24" away) put the boombox into a refrigerator, then closed the door - dropped the SPL by almost 30 dB - That would be plenty to calm the irritated parents.

Also, if the freezer isn't TOO small, there would be room for some acoustic foam inside to improve the sound quality.

The advantage to this method is it's quicker, doesn't look like an amateur-bult box (forgive me if you're a master cabinet-maker, no offense meant) and it's much easier to get a good airtight seal (very important for sound PROOF)

Most of the freezers with front-type doors are either too large for a bedroom or don't have enough depth for a guitar amp. That's why I suggested the small chest type.

Besides, you KNOW that anything you record this way HASTA be cooooolll... :=) Steve
 
I use a low wattage practice amp for this. So I can really overdrive it without pegging the meters. The old led zeppelin records were done on a ten watt supro. I am currently using a Tech 21 trademark 10, and I made an isolation cabinet for it.
 
real quick cause I gotta go

I built a sandbag surround big enough to hold a marshall cab with 6" on each side, 18" in front and 12" in rear and 6" on top. I used it for awhile and it worked great but the low freq going though the floor were outrageous. I eventually built a floating platform using 4 tires and that pretty much solved the problem. The lid was a plywood/drywall sandwich with a big hunk of sonex that made the seal with the sandbags. I would usually put the head and a few sandbags on top to improve the seal.

It did find it's way into a framed enclosure that made it completely soundproof but for a few low frequencies that would come though. It was unidentafialble as being a guitar.

Here is what it sounded like... http://www.monsterguitars.com

Under Barrett Tagliarino, "Layin Pipe" was a 5150 cranked inside this thing.

Good luck, RD
 
Cheers for all the replies guys.
I'm only using a 10 watt Orange combo, but I've got real picky parents!
I'll give some of your suggestions a try.
Cheers again.
 
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