Small mix room advice.

[davidwilson]

Hi all.

I am moving my studio to a new location shortly and am wondering how best to treat my mix room which is 41/2 meters long and 3 1/2 meters wide with a budget of around 2K dollars Australia. That's around $10 US (;-) kidding) ok more like $1600US.

Taking up this space will be the control room window, an existing window about 800cm wide on the opposing wall and another window 1by 1and half meters at the end of the room.

I already have a foam kit from a previous place consisting of 4 bass traps two 800/800mm angled foam structures and some smaller pieces designer to diffuse the sound.

I was considering foaming up the lot except the windows and back wall with this.
Factory Sound : General : Acoustic Treatment :

By the way the roof is arounf 3 meters height and planning in hanging some acoustic panels as well as carpeting the concrete floor.

I realize this is not the best but budget is the main factor for this approach.

Any advice or different ideas??

[Old Cane]

Well, that's seems like a good budget to me. I'm guessing it's probably about 16 times more than most spend on treatments. Not on this forum, of course.

To DIY that should be a lot money. Even buying the panels should be do-able for that amount.

[Rev. Robb]

Plenty of options, but for your budget I would suggest:

Ready Traps™

[Glenn Kuras]

I was considering foaming up the lot except the windows and back wall with this.
Factory Sound : General : Acoustic Treatment :

I would be very careful using any foam that does not have lab numbers. There are a lot of scams with foam. As far as treatment that amount is doable if done right. Look for bass trapping and treatment that is made from rigid fiberglass or mineral wool.

[davidwilson]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Unfortunatly the shop (Factory Sound) has no specs on the material or absorbtion charts. I was redirected to the manufacturing company
Joyce Foam Products - Products

Couldn't find any acoustic foam there. I did look at the foam in the shop though and was quite dense and very thick. Probably better than any other product I've seen.

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by davidwilson

Thanks for the advice guys.

Unfortunatly the shop (Factory Sound) has no specs on the material or absorbtion charts. I was redirected to the manufacturing company
Joyce Foam Products - Products

Couldn't find any acoustic foam there. I did look at the foam in the shop though and was quite dense and very thick. Probably better than any other product I've seen.

Well the way I see it, if the company really is a acoustic company they would spend a bit of money to have testing done. Not just direct you to a cushion shop.

[Weasel9992]

Originally Posted by davidwilson

Couldn't find any acoustic foam there. I did look at the foam in the shop though and was quite dense and very thick. Probably better than any other product I've seen.

The problem is that it has to be a very specific kind of foam. Just any ol' foam wont' do, even if it's thick. As a matter of fact, it'll do much more harm than good. Even the right kind of foam is only good for higher frequency stuff; 4" or 6" panels made from rigid fiberglass or mineral wool, 48-60kg/m3 density (or somewhat higher) works much better for bass trapping.

Frank

[davidwilson]

Originally Posted by Weasel9992

Even the right kind of foam is only good for higher frequency stuff; 4" or 6" panels made from rigid fiberglass or mineral wool, 48-60kg/m3 density (or somewhat higher) works much better for bass trapping.

Frank

What would be a good suggestion for taming the Mid frequencies in my room size (3 by 4 meters) if foam is only effective for the higher ones?

[Weasel9992]

Originally Posted by davidwilson

What would be a good suggestion for taming the Mid frequencies in my room size (3 by 4 meters) if foam is only effective for the higher ones?

4" panels made from rigid fiberglass or mineral wool like I said above. They'll be tons more effective below 250Hz than foam will, and they'll be at least as effective above that.

Frank

[davidwilson]

Ok found out the foam is open cell.
Description: Polyester-Urethane Combustion Modified Grade S32/70CM

or would I just be better off making some DIY rockwool panels.

[Weasel9992]

Originally Posted by davidwilson

Ok found out the foam is open cell.
Description: Polyester-Urethane Combustion Modified Grade S32/70CM

or would I just be better off making some DIY rockwool panels.

You'd be much better off, yes.

Frank

[los marbles]

Your room isn't that far off mine. I made some traps simply by stapling 4 pieces of 1 x 6 wood together to make 2' x 4' frames, and then dropping in 2 pieces of 2' x 4' rockwool. The product I used is a Canadian brand called Roxul safe & sound.

Then I wrapped them in some burlap, stapled them, and then hung them in the corners (top to bottom), over my head, and angled on the ceiling where the walls meet.

I also use some office dividers made from board, mineral wool, and a decent fabric in the early reflection spots to my right and left (on the walls)

You can use diffusers at those points as well instead of absorbers.

Treating your room DIY is easy and inexpensive. If you had some money to spend, the commercial guys here on this site can walk you through your needs and provide you with some slick panels that will suit your room.

If your doing any critical listening/mixing in this room, treat it right. It's small already and needs help. Mine benefited from it.

The guys on this board helped me loads.

[Glenn Kuras]

Got pictures you can post??

[los marbles]

Originally Posted by Glenn Kuras

Got pictures you can post??

I don't have any great pics of building them, but here are a few around the drum area. The black ones have gardening fabric covering them and the brown are burlap. The black ones over the drums are 6" thick (2 roxul slabs). the others are 3" thick. The corner panels are 6" thick as well.

These are in my control room too. 47 panels cost me around $400CAN.

[Weasel9992]

Well there you go. Nice job man!

Frank

[los marbles]

Originally Posted by Weasel9992

Well there you go. Nice job man!

Frank

Thanks. These are not as attractive as most others I've seen but fully functional and do make a big difference.

In my small mix room, the traps have made a night and day difference. I stood in there without them and marvelled at the countless destructive echoes and flutters in the room. Installing them tightened up the room so much, and not like hanging blankets would. That just makes a room "cloudy/dark" sounding IMO. I mean in all frequencies.

I did some work in there before I treated the early reflection points on the walls to my right and left, and really noticed a diffrence when I hit those spots with some absorbtion. I think those spots are key in a small room, as well as the back wall.

[Glenn Kuras]

I did some work in there before I treated the early reflection points on the walls to my right and left, and really noticed a diffrence when I hit those spots with some absorbtion. I think those spots are key in a small room, as well as the back wall.

Absolutely, the early reflection points are VERY IMPORTANT.thumbsup

[Weasel9992]

Originally Posted by los marbles

Installing them tightened up the room so much, and not like hanging blankets would. That just makes a room "cloudy/dark" sounding IMO. I mean in all frequencies.

That's because the traps are working in a balanced way across a wide band width, while blankets absorb only high frequencies and leave the low end untouched.

Frank

[Wiz_Oz]

To the original OP

I used to live in Melbourne, and now live in Bundaberg...

I have just been through the process of DIY'ing traps for my new studio, well almost finished...


But, the reason I post is thus...I got my Tontine Acoustisorb 3, through a business in melbourne......

ATT Audio Controls will sell you the stuff...and also they would make the panels if you wanted....its really worth giving this guy a call....

Travers Falkiner 03 9379 1511

I have no affiliation with the company , and wont make a penny no matter how much you buy....

Acoustisorb 3 has great specs, and you can handle it...without irritation, but be worned its a right mother to cut...I had to purchase an angle grinder with a metal cutting disc...

If you are gonna DIY, get ATT to cut it into 1200 by 600 pieces for you...
but get a price on them building them for you....I couldnt do that...the shipping to Bundy was criminal..

good luck and hope the info finds you soon enough...

cheers

Wiz