DIY room treatment

[FSPirate]

Okay, so I had a random thought. All these treatment products like Auralex aren't that expensive, and they look nice. I'd like to save some cash, though.

To treat a control room in, say, a 3 bedroom apartment (woo!) there's got to be a good DIY solution. What if I were to go out and grab a bunch of scrap wood, and a piece of board big enough to cover the entire back wall, and made my own diffusor. Cut a bunch of random sized chunks of wood, paint them to my taste, and mount them to that other board, which I would then attach to the back wall. I know this seems a bit excessive, why not just attach them directly to the wall? I don't think a landlord would appreciate that tutt , so I'm trying to work with what I can. I don't know a thing about what materials work, and this whole idea may be bogus. :-\

So, would lumber scrap work for this? Is there a particular type of wood I should look for? Also, is there a particular kind of paint and finish I should use? I'd imagine hard lacquers would be a big no-no.

Besides, it would be something unique and cool. I see all these pictures of room treatments in EQ and MixMagazine that look like an awesome surrealist painting, and I think to myself "I WANT THAT!"

As a side note, I like building things, so this sounds like it would be a really fun project for me, as well as educational. Any input, guys?

[Acoustic Cloud]

I think diffusion is pretty much any hard surfaces. What they are shaped like would probably make the biggest difference. It seems odd that alot of materials like auralex, have cool diffusion shapes to the open cell foam tiles, but they should probably just be consistant in thickness, to do the best job. Like trying to make guitar strings out of wood, to give it a better tone??

I may very well be wrong about that, so,... maybe I am!!!

I have read that diffusion can be more pleasing to the room sound sometimes, than total absorption. Both of them fix the room quite a bit. The whole diffusion method seems like a lot more work though. I have a bud that likes his all brick room for acoustic guitar, the bricks are real uneven and offset. That would maybe be an example of good room diffusion.

I dont have any diffusion in my studio, just a ton of traps!

[norton]

You can totally build your own diffusers. And it sure sounds like you're on the right track. BUT, in a small room diffusion is not going to be your biggest problem. Your biggest problem by far will be the excessive buildup of bass frequencies. Diffusers Can help scatter the more directional frequencies but really won't touch your larger core acoustical problems.

One of the first acoustic treatments I built was a diffuser and I thought it was the most amazing thing (for about a week)... I was hearing certain things more clearly... BUT my mixes weren't translating very well....

It wasn't until i started building bass traps, treating my walls and 90 degree corners... AND moving my speakerrs around a bit that things started really making sense. And that diffuser?? Not really a very big part of the equation any more. I do like it...but more bass trapping would probably be better.

If you're looking for something truly portable that can be used in tracking and mixing check out www.modtrap.com

full disclosure... it's a product i've been a part of developing for quite a while now... but it works great and if it isn't what you're looking for, maybe it'll give you some new ideas?

good luck!

modtrap zack

[FSPirate]

well diffusion wasnt the only treatment i was going to employ, i've been looking for good basstraps for the buck, too. i'll check out the modtraps, thanks for that.
i'm pretty sure when i get the new place, the biggest bedroom with the biggest closet will become the "studio". my future roommate and i have been bro's for a long time, and neither of us require much space for a bedroom. hell, most of the space in my room now is taken up by my computer, guitar stuff, mic stands, and some extra furniture i picked up for free (which is always fun).

anyone know any good analytical software for this sort of thing? i've seen software for it before, but i've forgotten the names. i'll ask around school as well.

[Glenn Kuras]

Nortan is right on the money you want to use 4" rigid fiberglass in as many corners as possible. If you would like check out our FAQ section (see link in my sig) of our website to go over placement and how all this stuff works. It as talks about diffusers.

Glenn

[The dman]

I'm right in the middle of treating my new room and I have a question I'm a little fuzzy on.

I just built some 2' x9'x4" corner traps out of OC 705 should I stuff unfaced Insulation behind the trap or does it work better with airspace?

Thanks

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by dsd

I'm right in the middle of treating my new room and I have a question I'm a little fuzzy on.

I just built some 2' x9'x4" corner traps out of OC 705 should I stuff unfaced Insulation behind the trap or does it work better with airspace?

Thanks

If I understand your question right then yes filling the whole space will make it more effective. You are straddling the corner right?

Glenn

[The dman]

Quote:
You are straddling the corner right?


Yes I am.
Also the 705 I have is unfaced and I've recently read that you can put a piece of plastic on the 705 before the fabric and this will help the trap not soak up as many highs. Is this correct?

Thank you

[bpape]

Whether or not diffusion will work for your particular case....

If you want to build a knock off of the 3d Diffusion, they are not just random sizes. The blocks are very, very specifically sized in terms of the perimeter dimensions of each block, the height of each block, and how the different sizes are arranged.

The whole point of this exercise is to distribute whatever hits it (within the range that it will function - also determined by the sizes), is scattered relatively evenly all directions.

If you want something that can be, IMO, a bit more functional in a smaller space, try building a polyclyindrical diffusor. While it only functions in 1 dimension (usually width), it can be made to work over a wider frequency range (specifically lower). While this does not offer the true randomness of a 3D diffusor, it will absolutely help minimizing slap between 2 surfaces without over-deadening the highs. If constructed correctly, it can also provide some bass absorbtion.

It's not going to be as effective or as broad in bass control as 4" straddling the corner or certainly a solid corner - but, every bit helps. In a small room, IMO, any time you can get a treatment that offers multiple things to you (broader dispersion, bass control, etc.) it's a definite plus. Small rooms rarely have the luxury of allowing a lot of specialized treatments - there just isn't room for them. Everything has to do multiple things.

Bryan

[RedWallStudio]

Yeah, Im building 705 bass traps too. There is ALOT of good info at www.johnlsayers.com. Most of the experts here state that having air space between the wall and a wall hung bass trap makes the trap more effective..... but they all seem to concur that the corner bass trap is more effective if the space behind it is filled with insulation.... seems slightly contradictory, but they have done all the testing. I'd say try it yourself and let your ears decide.

Also, building diffusors yourself out of random scraps of wood is fine. And I don't think lacquer coating it or not is going to make too much difference at all. The only thing I think though when you say "random scraps of wood" is a real eyesore. If you don't care, fine.. but you may want to consider taking a bit more time and find a design on line for one of the skyline type diffusors. Here is a link to one that I found a while back.

http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/ri...ages/2521.html

Finally, there is the "bookcase diffusor" which requires no construction at all. Just line up 2 or 3 book cases behind your mix position and fill them with random sized books (nick nacks probably don't help much!). This is a good solution if A) You already have book cases somewhere else in your house.. because it won't cost anything and B) you can rearrange the books until you get a pattern that works. I personally have not tried this, but all the threads I have read say that it works.

[NesNeedsGear]

hey...(don't mean to hijack, but it's on-topic)
now that there's an absorption thread going....i was wondering how effective it would be to place those Auralex LENRD bass traps behind an OC 703 or 705 4" or 8" thick bass trap straddled on the corners.

I know one thing's for certain - it's almost impossible to have TOO much bass absorption.

So the question stands. Should I use the Auralex traps behind the 703/705 straddled-corner..or use the "super chunk" style bass traps behind the straddled corners (since i have TONS of 4" 703 and some 2" 705 lying around..i ordered a whole shipment of em since I plan on treating multiple rooms).

Thanks guys.

[6strings]

Originally Posted by NesNeedsGear

Should I use the Auralex traps behind the 703/705 straddled-corner..or use the "super chunk" style bass traps behind the straddled corners (since i have TONS of 4" 703 and some 2" 705 lying around..i ordered a whole shipment of em since I plan on treating multiple rooms).

The Auralex route would be throwing money away if you already have the rigid insulation on hand for the corners. The LENRDs aren't nearly as effective on low end (but much more $$$)

-I also am in the process of building some 4" 2X4 corner panels/traps for my small room, but will be using some LENRDs in other areas where space is extremely limited...

[nathanvacha]

Maybe this helps if you decide to still go that route? They are quite buildable if you like making things, and they always look nice to someone who comes in to record. Also, you can try making them with a back and sides, or at least a base so you can move them around. You can make gobo's for your live room that are diffusive on one side and absorptive on the other... or use bookcases and make vertical Q.R. diffusers by running boards from side to side... you could even fill the back with fiberglass if you wanted for a little bit of extra bass trapping... or drill holes in the sides, too. There are as many options as you have ideas for. but don't ever ignore what ethan and glenn say.

Skyline Diffuser

Quadratic Residue Diffuser

Quadratic Residue Diffuser 2

[FSPirate]

i think i might go the bookcase route, i can probably find some neat old bookcases at salvage/thrift stores or goodwill. my roomy has a SHIT TON of books, and they're all pretty interesting in appearance (and content, but thats not the point right now).

i find myself glad that i CAN'T do this for another 2 months at least, with projects like this i have a tendency to get excited and rush into it. then i look at the finished product and say to myself "well that wasn't what i had in mind at all....." this forced planning period is good for me.

[Ethan Winer]

Bryan,

I have nothing at all to offer in this thread. But seeing your sig reminded me, I meant to tell you my wife bought the two-DVD set of Airplane movies. They call the first DVD the "Don't call me Shirley edition." We watched both DVDs the other night, and they're every bit as funny as I remembered. Once you start, you can't stop watching until the movie finishes.

--Ethan

[RedWallStudio]

Thanks Ethan.... now my head is flooded with Airplane Humor.

"Striker, listen.. and you listen close: flying a plane is no different than riding a bicycle, just a lot harder to put baseball cards in the spokes."

[FSPirate]

We have to get these people to a hospital, and soon.

What is it?

It's a big building full of doctors, but that's not important right now.

[Glenn Kuras]

"I picked a fine time to stop sniffing glue"

Glenn

[FSPirate]

I can't find any images of cylindrical diffusors, I know the name sounds pretty straightforward, but could someone explain to me what they look like, are generally made of, etc. ?

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by FSPirate

I can't find any images of cylindrical diffusors, I know the name sounds pretty straightforward, but could someone explain to me what they look like, are generally made of, etc. ?

Do you mean Polycylindrical?

Glenn

[FSPirate]

Hehe, yeah, that one. Sorry, brain fart

[Quantumphysics]

Grey matter back - locka former down I tcben

[bpape]

This is a different kind of poly but you get the idea. Imagine the ends being solid instead.

http://www.bobgolds.com/TrapTodd/home.htm

As for the previous comments about filling behind a 4" panel and that being contradictory to spacing them off the wall....

It's not the air behind it - it's the space from the leading edge to the wall boundary. What you're in effect doing is instead of 4" 4" off the wall, you're doing 8" ON the wall.

Remember that the things that allow an absorber to be effective deeper are:

- Density (to a point and based on thickness - thicker can be less dense)
- Thickness
- Distance to the boundary - 2" spaced 2" off the wall will be better than 2" on the wall.

Bryan

[Acoustic Cloud]

I saw an ad at work today from "jfiudhjbs" whatever, with the vertical cylinders trap transportable thing. Like 4 or 5 of them, on stands...(The exact stands that Manhasset music stands use for their bottoms), and the set was like 3 grand.... tubes and 3 dollar molten metal black stands,...

cmon folks, actually have an appeal to a market, ANY market....I just cant see people dropping that fundage on these....I dont personally know how the containment works, not having used them, but the 900% markup isnt turning any DIY peoples heads, I wouldnt think.

[RobR]

Why would an owner of a studio built into a castle built into a cave buy a Lex 480?

Tax write off.