bass traps... to seal or not to seal?

[cyberman]

Good day...

I've built a small vocal booth for voice overs only.

It's 4x4x7.6 and a little boomy, especially at one particular low frequency... I don't have testing software so I don't know what that freq is.

I am building acoustic panels... including 4"/8 lb Roxul bass traps and was planning to hang a couple of 2" panels as well. Most of the booth is already treated with 2" wedge style foam for absorption including the ceiling.

I am planning to remove the wedge foam from the ceiling and install a pair of bass traps there. Because of the small size of the booth, angling the traps at the ceiling/wall "corners" is not really practical unless I made the traps a great deal smaller than 2'x4'.

The only traps that will be flush against a surface will be the two 4 inchers on the ceiling.

My main question is, should any of these traps be sealed... i.e. should I put a solid backer (I have some 1/8" masonite) on the back side of the frame?

I was also thinking of building some "miniature" super chunk style traps... 10"x 24" front surface... to install in vertical corners where I can but was wondering if those would be too small to do any good.

Thanks for any advice

[Glenn Kuras]

My main question is, should any of these traps be sealed... i.e. should I put a solid backer (I have some 1/8" masonite) on the back side of the frame?

No you do not want a solid backer on them. In fact it is best to keep them open and put a few inches of space between the panel and the wall/ceiling if possible.

I was also thinking of building some "miniature" super chunk style traps... 10"x 24" front surface... to install in vertical corners where I can but was wondering if those would be too small to do any good.

Really to small to do much, but it would not hurt anything.

[cyberman]

o.k. thanks Glenn... I'll do the traps first... and see how well they control the boomy/boxey factor before trying the mini chunks idea.

Thanks again... and just so you know... I posted my original questions just before seeing the preceding post that answered some of my questions