Acoustic treatment products - Ethan, what do you think?

Gomez · 21st October 2005

Hello guys!

I was surfing on Ebay (U.K.) and found this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=7355537535

Very cheap! but there's no info on frequency absorbtion etc.

Too good to be true? Anyone there who has tried them? heard of them?

Oh, and check the sellers other items, there are some really cheap bass traps (corner) too.

"Market research shows that consumers prefer low prices" so they say

Ethan Winer · 22nd October 2005

Gomez,

> but there's no info on frequency absorbtion etc. <

Ay, there's the rub. If that stuff were any good the company would have taken it to a real acoustics lab and measured it.

> Anyone there who has tried them? <

Even this is no guarantee of quality. All the time I see people post that they bought foam from Foam by Mail (known fraud) and it works well and they're happy. But FMB foam absorbs only 1/3 what they claim, which tells me that those making the testimonials don't know good acoustic treatment from bad. Sure, they heard a difference, but they don't know enough to properly assess what they heard. Even a bunch of egg crates will seemingly change the sound of a room for the better if your only test is hand claps.

If low cost matters most to you, get some 4-inch thick mineral wool and make your own panels.

--Ethan

Glenn Kuras · 23rd October 2005

From there ad:
"Tim From www.timgmusic.co.uk of mtv fame used our foam in his new studio bunker7 www.bunker7.co.uk and gave us this feedback : the foams done a really good job at making the room dead. I've found its particularly good for vocals and brass as it seems to soak up loads of mid and high frequencies. and absorbs fairly low frequencies (at a guess i'd say down to about 4000hz) overall its ideal for use in a vocal isolation booth / instumental booth where you want no room reflections. I was amazed at how good a sax sounded when miced from the other side of the room when recorded! really soaked it all up!"

Ok first up you don't want the room to be dead and second I can tell you that when recording sax you need much more below 4000hz to really get a good sound.
I will say that the ad does put the part in it about guessing "(at a guess i'd say down to about 4000hz)" and I am sure thats what the guy did!
For your room you really need bass trapping. As Ethan said if you are short on money then build them.

Ethan Winer · 23rd October 2005

> the foams done a really good job at ... <

Yep, clearly this is a guy who knows what he's talking about.

Gomez · 25th October 2005

Thank you very much Ethan, you are very helpful as usual.

All I have to say is that for that price, I might just buy a few and try them out myself.

I just moved to a new house where I got a bigger studio and the flutter is driving me mad. Given the dimensions of the room, Ethans' Real Traps would be PERFECT, but at the moment i'm far to be able to afford them.

Any ideas where can I look for information on building "effective" mineral wood absorbers?

Thanks a lot!

Gomez

krs · 25th October 2005

Yo it's really easy, I'm not handy at all and mine are turning out really nice. (I'm on the 3rd trap right now).

1. Just go to Home Depot buy the lengths of 1"x6" you need, and some Roxul Safe n' Sound, or whatever.
2. Nail the frame together. If you are paranoid like me, you can also buy little corner braces and screw them in.
3. Slap a couple of slats (baseboard, whatever) across the back to provide some support/stability. Fill the frame with Roxul.
4. Go to Fabricland buy some nice acoustically transparent fabric.
5. Wrap and staple.

You're done. My cost on the units is about $30 a pop, plus my time. It was worth it for me not to spend for Ethan's room kit, because I have time to build.

Good luck!

Glenn Kuras · 25th October 2005

I think I might buy some of that foam too. Have been looking for a foam that I can wrap around our panels so they don't get damaged in shipping!!!!

I think you would be better off building panels.

Gomez · 25th October 2005

Super! thanks for the info.

I think I'll give it a go! I love DIY anyway, just need some free time.

What is "Roxul Safe n' Sound" I don't think I have heard of this product here in England. Is it perhaps what here is called "Rockwool"?

Ta!

Gomez

midigod · 25th October 2005

Here are some more detailed plans:

http://www.pmerecords.com/Broadband.cfm thumbsup

lubaloo · 25th October 2005

this guy bought some of those ebay ones to test:

Summary - avoid them, unless you want some expensive cushions : )

http://www.soundonsound.com/forum/sh...rue#Post184183

21st October 2005	#1
Gomez Gear addict Joined: Mar 2005 Location: London U.K. Posts: 323 Thread Starter	Acoustic treatment products - Ethan, what do you think? Hello guys! I was surfing on Ebay (U.K.) and found this: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...tem=7355537535 Very cheap! but there's no info on frequency absorbtion etc. Too good to be true? Anyone there who has tried them? heard of them? Oh, and check the sellers other items, there are some really cheap bass traps (corner) too. "Market research shows that consumers prefer low prices" so they say

22nd October 2005	#2
Ethan Winer Gear Guru Joined: Oct 2002 Location: New Milford, CT, USA Posts: 12,334	Gomez, > but there's no info on frequency absorbtion etc. < Ay, there's the rub. If that stuff were any good the company would have taken it to a real acoustics lab and measured it. > Anyone there who has tried them? < Even this is no guarantee of quality. All the time I see people post that they bought foam from Foam by Mail (known fraud) and it works well and they're happy. But FMB foam absorbs only 1/3 what they claim, which tells me that those making the testimonials don't know good acoustic treatment from bad. Sure, they heard a difference, but they don't know enough to properly assess what they heard. Even a bunch of egg crates will seemingly change the sound of a room for the better if your only test is hand claps. If low cost matters most to you, get some 4-inch thick mineral wool and make your own panels. --Ethan __________________ Ethan's audio book is now available!

23rd October 2005	#3
Glenn Kuras Gear Guru Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 11,995	From there ad: "Tim From www.timgmusic.co.uk of mtv fame used our foam in his new studio bunker7 www.bunker7.co.uk and gave us this feedback : the foams done a really good job at making the room dead. I've found its particularly good for vocals and brass as it seems to soak up loads of mid and high frequencies. and absorbs fairly low frequencies (at a guess i'd say down to about 4000hz) overall its ideal for use in a vocal isolation booth / instumental booth where you want no room reflections. I was amazed at how good a sax sounded when miced from the other side of the room when recorded! really soaked it all up!" Ok first up you don't want the room to be dead and second I can tell you that when recording sax you need much more below 4000hz to really get a good sound. I will say that the ad does put the part in it about guessing "(at a guess i'd say down to about 4000hz)" and I am sure thats what the guy did! For your room you really need bass trapping. As Ethan said if you are short on money then build them. __________________ Glenn Kuras GIK Acoustics USA GIK Acoustics Europe 770 986 2789 (USA) +44 (0) 20 7558 8976 (UK) See the NEW Scopus Tuned Trap

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25th October 2005	#5
Gomez Gear addict Joined: Mar 2005 Location: London U.K. Posts: 323 Thread Starter	Thank you very much Ethan, you are very helpful as usual. All I have to say is that for that price, I might just buy a few and try them out myself. I just moved to a new house where I got a bigger studio and the flutter is driving me mad. Given the dimensions of the room, Ethans' Real Traps would be PERFECT, but at the moment i'm far to be able to afford them. Any ideas where can I look for information on building "effective" mineral wood absorbers? Thanks a lot! Gomez

25th October 2005	#6
krs Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 882	Yo it's really easy, I'm not handy at all and mine are turning out really nice. (I'm on the 3rd trap right now). 1. Just go to Home Depot buy the lengths of 1"x6" you need, and some Roxul Safe n' Sound, or whatever. 2. Nail the frame together. If you are paranoid like me, you can also buy little corner braces and screw them in. 3. Slap a couple of slats (baseboard, whatever) across the back to provide some support/stability. Fill the frame with Roxul. 4. Go to Fabricland buy some nice acoustically transparent fabric. 5. Wrap and staple. You're done. My cost on the units is about $30 a pop, plus my time. It was worth it for me not to spend for Ethan's room kit, because I have time to build. Good luck!

25th October 2005	#9
midigod Gear maniac Joined: Oct 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 175	Here are some more detailed plans: http://www.pmerecords.com/Broadband.cfm thumbsup

25th October 2005	#10
lubaloo Gear nut Joined: Jul 2005 Location: London UK Posts: 120	this guy bought some of those ebay ones to test: Summary - avoid them, unless you want some expensive cushions : ) http://www.soundonsound.com/forum/sh...rue#Post184183