Bass Traps by Ikea

[Joost]

I have read everything I could find online about bass traps and other acoustic treatment by Ethan Winer and Jon Risch. First of all, they are the s*** when it comes to awareness of the importance of acoustics. I had spent thousands of dollars on equipment before becoming aware of this problem and always wondering why nothing I tried improved my sound. (aside from being a recording dummy )

I have already built diffusor panels for high and mid frequencies. However, the bass traps are a different thing, because I need to be able to move them to and from my recording space, which doubles as an office. Now I found this link:
http://geekwithfamily.com/2006/09/05...ikea/#more-157

Don't you just love Ikea. First of all, this is finally a product that is also available in Europe and it's portable and really quick and dirty. What if I stuff these polyester bags full of rock wool to the breaking point and just zip it up? Would that be sufficient? According to the sizes on the Ikea site, they should suffice.

Width: 13 3/4 "
Depth: 21 5/8 "
Height: 47 1/4 "

Width: 35 cm
Depth: 55 cm
Height: 120 cm

What do you guys think? Also, what kind of effect would they have on mid frequencies? I mainly record solo acoustic guitar, so I am not even sure that requires bass traps but it's the low-mid frequencies that often bother me (750-1000Hz). I hate that honking nasal sound.

I'd love to hear what you guys think.

[fross]

Those "skubbs" don't appear to be too acoustically transparent. I could be wrong. If they aren't, he's wasting his time.

Oterwise, I can dig what he's trying to do.

[Cojo]

Very nice idea! I think they work for the bass but not for the other freqs.

[Joost]

Originally Posted by fross

Those "skubbs" don't appear to be too acoustically transparent. I could be wrong. If they aren't, he's wasting his time.

Oterwise, I can dig what he's trying to do.

Well that's the kicker, because I always thought acoustic treatment needed acoustically transparent housing and from what I understand for high (and some mid) frequencies that's important, but that's what my other panels are for. Bass frequencies go through just about everything so it wouldn't matter. The Jon Risch recipe actually suggests using polyester to cover the bass traps, but I coud be wrong.

Can anyone with more knowledge chime in?

[tvanderbrook]

Since any product that has the word 'audio' or 'recording' is marked up 500%, there is great incentive for creativity and improvisation.

I love the idea, but my impression is that these bags are far too small to have any percievable effect in the bass. If anything, they look like they work in the 200-500Hz range, maybe higher.

Bass waves are long, so your trap has to be big enough in order to catch them. I'm sure some simple math could get you thinking in the right dimensions...

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by Joost

What do you guys think? Also, what kind of effect would they have on mid frequencies?

That'd be fine for bass trapping, but not for higher frequencies.

--Ethan

[Joost]

Thank you so much. It's cool go hear from mr. Winer himself. I assume I would need 4? One for every corner?

BTW, what would be the acoustic effect of the polyester bag? And would it keep in the little glass fibers?

[Torwald]

Oohh, I can't get the link to work and I'm SO curious!

[amishsixstringe]

They're just big gym/hockey bags filled with dense miner wool or something. You could make them so cheap. They probably won't do much under 80Hz. You need membranes for kinda stuff. Most real bass traps don't have an acousticaly transparent membrane on it's face. In what i call "pro studios" you don't even notice it standing in a room, but bass traps are everywhere behind walls even. I'd still just make them.

4 would be a good start, I suppose. Depending on the size/shape of your room, and how bad it is to start with, but I would venture to guess that you could probably put so many in your room that's uncomfortable to work in and you could still use a few more.

Good luck

Neil

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by Joost

I assume I would need 4? One for every corner?

At the minimum. Don't forget most rooms have 12 corners including where the walls meet the floor and the ceiling. The more total corner surface you treat, the flatter and tighter the low end will be. It's really that simple.

--Ethan

[Joost]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

At the minimum. Don't forget most rooms have 12 corners including where the walls meet the floor and the ceiling. The more total corner surface you treat, the flatter and tighter the low end will be. It's really that simple.

--Ethan

Right! I guess I'm still quite new to this. I hadn't thought of that.... and one last question. If I get Rockwool, do I look for a particular density and can I overstuff or understuff a bag?

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by Joost

Right! I guess I'm still quite new to this. I hadn't thought of that.... and one last question. If I get Rockwool, do I look for a particular density and can I overstuff or understuff a bag?

The 4 pound should be fine for you.. How many inches is 55cm? If over 4 inches then like I said 4 pound.

Glenn

PS Sorry I don't know the metric system..

[Cojo]

Originally Posted by myfipie

The 4 pound should be fine for you.. How many inches is 55cm? If over 4 inches then like I said 4 pound.

Glenn

PS Sorry I don't know the metric system..

55cm is almost 2'

[backtothemusic]

Anyone tried this out?

[rectifier]

I did - once when I ate too much cold ice cream too fast

[sedohr]

Originally Posted by rectifier

I did - once when I ate too much cold ice cream too fast

hahahahaha, I get it! You tried this:
hahahahaha, brainfreeze!

Seriously though, he was talking about the IKEA bass traps.
Oh, you knew that, didn't you ?

Sorry

Kalli

[rectifier]

was just kidding around, I knew what he meant..

sorry to have take thread in bad direction..

bump!

[pkautzsch]

Airmate has done some Billy Broadband Absorbers:
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-mu...es-posted.html

[Implicit]

Here's my stab at some Ikea Bass Traps:

DIY Ultratouch Cotton Bass Traps / Broadband Absorbers