Studio Acoustics: The organic natural way...

[DHMcC]

So I've read a lot about the crazy chemicals in the foam/bass traps etc and having spent around 12hrs a day if not more in my studio I'm not looking to emmerce myself in them.

Formeldahyde cotton fibreglass rockwool etc..

The whole idea of gases creeping around my house is really off putting and I'm sure everyones personal health is of top prioritory.

For me anyway, so I am personally looking for alternative no chemical methods to create/use bass traps and acoustic panels.

Are they are any natural things that could be used as bass traps?

Difuzers can easily be made out of various materials.

What about materials that obsurb sound? For bass traps/panels etc...

Interesting to hear your thoughts.

I plan on building a full studio based on any products we find.

Natural non chemical based products....

[wesarvin]

I hate to be the grouchy search guy, and this thread would be useful as to organizing the options into one thread, but have you ever heard of Ultratouch? It's a few threads down in this sub-forum.

[avare]

Originally Posted by guitarwes

have you ever heard of Ultratouch?

Ultratouch contains boric acid.

Ultratouch MSDS

Chemically speaking,
Andre

[wesarvin]

Ahh... forgive my error...at least you won't have bugs!

Since the bonded logic stuff is made of recycled denim, why not put some old jeans into a shredder, then pack them into some sort of trap?

I think somewhere that somebody used hemp insulation once...maybe the THC would be bad however...

[Octavian]

Long term exposure to boric acid may be of more concern. Although it does not appear to be carcinogenic, studies in dogs have attributed testicular atrophy after exposure to 32 mg/kg bw/day for 90 days. This level is far lower than the LD50.[

A wasting away of your testicles... Vs... Cancer....

.....
...

Tough Call...

[Octavian]

Looking for updates from the vendors, safety/chemical information regarding their products if possible..


Thank you

[DHMcC]

Haha.. yeah I'd prefer it if my balls didnt drop off mid mixdown lol!

Does Polyurethane open cell foam contain any of the above?

Boric acid/flomadahyde etc..

[Tomer1]

Its not space or cost effective and does not absorb that well but it is totally natural since you are mostly using "air" as an absorber,
They are called Micro-perforated Panels (MPPs).

[benevis66]

i've seen compressed lambs wool been used as insulation in a ecological home build, maybe you could stuff that into a few panels.

[Weasel9992]

The thing is, if you live in a major metro area...Atlanta, New York, L.A., or most other major cities in the world...the air you breath contains many more potent toxins in much greater concentrations that the boric acid in Ultratouch, for example. Stray fibers from OC703 pose a much smaller threat than smog or the chemicals that are emitted in a variety of ways by most factories. I won't even start on water purity.

Please understand that I'm not trying to sell anybody on any certain kind of treatment, nor am I making a non-green statement. I'm just trying to keep the discussion balanced.

Frank

[lordnielson]

Hemp

[donsimpson]

I wouldn't be too concerned about boric acid. It's very commonly used in many products (like borax). In the pest control industry, it is considered "green" to use borates instead of the organo-phosphates.

[networkresearch]

I do not meant this to be taken seriously at all, but:

snow. Ever listen how dead it sounds outside after a snow fall!

Just came to me when reading this thread.

Jonathan

[DHMcC]

lol if only it didnt come with the natural menting properties lol

I was thinking of some things...

I heard about the recycled denim... and compressed...

I've got loads of goose feathered pillows or well some kind of feather lol

maybe that?

You think open cell polyurethene foam is the safest bet?

on that note. I plan on colour coding whatever I use with fabric.

On reading it looks like the sound is obsurbed into the cells of the foam.

If I cover them with fabric will it render them useless?

D

[falafel]

ultratouch has boric acid? where does it say that? according to their site they use borates. there are many borates, boric acid is just one type...


if it does contain boric acid, here's the next question:

how would one come into contact with the boric acid in this product, if "off-gassing or VOC's are not a concern" (according to their site)


Something not raised in this discussion yet is the use of SPRAY ADHESIVES. the off-gassing from these products was even worse than the 703. unless you like sniffing glue i highly reccomend staples, nails, or thread if you need to bind yr traps.

[donsimpson]

Originally Posted by falafel

ultratouch has boric acid? where does it say that? according to their site they use borates. there are many borates, boric acid is just one type...

For all intents and purposes, boric acid is just the liquid (aqueous) form of the borate ion.

[DHMcC]

What about Goose Feathers?

My pillows are packed with Goose Feathers and they compact very well..

Think they'd work?

I want to be the first "Green" music studio lol

[Tomer1]

Think of the pure gees.

[DHMcC]

I think I'm going to go with compressed sheeps wool.

Simliar in feel to the cotton and a bit more pricey..

Will post pics when building etc...

[DHMcC]

To the post about living in a commerical city with smog chemicals in the air etc..

Well I live in a rural village in the UK with local farms and stuff..

No smog of any kind lol but well every house does have a car parked there.. so its not excluded from the emmisions problem we are all facing.

[DHMcC]

Sheeps wool..

[Royer121]

This is what I'm intending to buy for my traps...

Thermo-Hanf - der natürliche Dämmstoff für ökologisches Bauen

(the 40mm thickness is probably the most effective for absorbtion purposes after what I read)

...

[GorillaToast]

What about Cellulose? I've used loose fill recycled newspaper (cellulose insulation) in plastic bags as corner bass traps, and stuffed it in wooden boxes I built for speaker stands. It's not as handy to work with as rigid fiberglas panels or foam, but a heck of a lot more environmentally friendly.

Cellulose insulation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Now I'm trying to figure out an efficient way to use it for soffit absorbers in the wall/ceiling join.

[avare]

Originally Posted by GorillaToast

What about Cellulose? I've used loose fill recycled newspaper (cellulose insulation) in plastic bags as corner bass traps, and stuffed it in wooden boxes I built for speaker stands. It's not as handy to work with as rigid fiberglas panels or foam, but a heck of a lot more environmentally friendly.

Cellulose insulation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Now I'm trying to figure out an efficient way to use it for soffit absorbers in the wall/ceiling join.

What about it? Show test data so its absorbent properties can be studied. That means links to test results. Otherwise the best that can be written is "yes it will do something, but there no idea what that something is."

Andre

[Aaron W]

Does anyone have any more information on sheep wool?

I found a place in Alberta that sells wool insulation in 22 pound bags am I allowed to link to them?). I was thinking of building some bass traps but I'd like some feedback on wool as an acoustic material.

Thanks,

Aaron

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by Aaron W

I found a place in Alberta that sells wool insulation in 22 pound bags am I allowed to link to them?

Sure.

[hisbluness]

Originally Posted by Victor_Stoian

one more alternative: Thermoflex from GUTEX Dämmplatten aus Schwarzwaldholz

We used that for our studio and it worked real good. Might not be as efficient as 703 and others (I didnt compare them but I heard about that fact) but it should be pretty much riskfree.

[Aaron W]

Hello Ethan & others,

I've read quite a few of your posts here and elsewhere. They have been extremely helpful.

The link is to the wool insulation is: From Hoof to Roof the production process

I've read the various debates over the safety of DIY Bass Traps made with Rockwool, 703 and Ultratouch. I also see that this wool is treated (unless I had my own sheep I don't know where I could get untreated nicely pre cut 24" wide wool batts in Canada).

My main concern is: Would this be a suitable material? Considering my room is WELL under 2500 cubic ft and I'm looking for absorbtion (correct?).

Many thanks,

Aaron

[Aaron W]

Hi Hisbluness,

My home is tiny so I have a choice of front living space 13' x 10' (with front door opening into my recordings - lost a few that way!) or treating an even smaller bedroom 10' x 7'. So we'll be living and breathing in this all the time.

If you used it I guess it would be good enough for me to create a small space for vocals, acoustic guitar (classical and steel strung) and steel and nylon strung banjos.