bass trap question

[Hans Hitmachine]

I built my own basstraps today, using Ethan's DIY method. Here's the thing.
Is it of any use to hang basstraps from the ceiling, or would you have to take mid/high absorbers for this? The cleiling is 4 meters high. This may be really stupid, but I have this feeling that low frequencies don't go that high.....they're called "low frequencies" for a reason, right?
I can't place basstraps in all the corners (to make a long story short: historical room, don't want to ruin it) but I have trouble with the bassfrequencies.
I only built 4 small ones so far, but I'm planning on more. Just need to know if it's of any use to hang basstraps from the ceiling.


Cheers,

Hans

[kwilliams]

Bass traps should be placed where you can...including the ceiling. They are not called low frequencies because they don't go high in terms of actual height!!! but because of the fact that they are situated in the lower end of the spectrum...lower cycles...hence low frequencies...so placement of bass traps in elevated positions in your room should be determined based on other factors.

[DeeDrive]

Originally Posted by Hans Hitmachine

I have this feeling that low frequencies don't go that high.....they're called "low frequencies" for a reason, right?

I'm really hoping this is a joke.

[Chris Parsons]

What if your standing on your hands? Then where do the low frequencies go?

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by Hans Hitmachine

This may be really stupid, but I have this feeling that low frequencies don't go that high.....they're called "low frequencies" for a reason, right?

Well, the light in the room is a much higher frequency, but it goes all over the place!

[username]

you can put bass traps anywhere... but they will loose alot of their effectiveness if they're not in the corners

[Hans Hitmachine]

Don't worry, that was a joke.

Anyway, I will try to make it work in the corners. And just place basstraps everywhere...

[Ethan Winer]

> What if your standing on your hands? <

Then you get ... standing waves!

Groan.

[Hans Hitmachine]

lol.

What about sticking accoustic foam to the front of the basstrap? You will have a basstrap and mid-high absorber in one, right?

[Bob Ross]

Originally Posted by Hans Hitmachine

What about sticking accoustic foam to the front of the basstrap? You will have a basstrap and mid-high absorber in one, right?

The most effective use for that combination I've found is to have acoustic foam on the front and back of the basstrap, as well as wrapped around all sides. This protects the basstrap nicely from the rigors of UPS shipping. When the trap arrives at its final destination, discard the acoustic foam.

[pan60]

to funny

[Hans Hitmachine]

and now for some useful info.....

[Hans Hitmachine]

I put the basstraps up today. AMAZING!!!! It's incredible how much more focus you get with only three basstraps so far. My grand piano recordings are starting to sound exactly like I want them. Detailed, close and warm.
I placed rockwool on top of the basstraps to kill reflections coming from the ceiling. Fairplay to you, Ethan!

About the "standing on your head" thing.
Isn't it weird how many proffesional studios have every piece of basstrapping/diffuser hanging from the ceiling while having a perfectly polished, flat wooden floor? The Excact opposite from what I believe. Pro's obviously think that frequencies will only go to the ceiling and not to the floor.
I know how outrageously rock 'n roll it is from me to think it's the other way around

Anyway, build these basstraps if you have the time. It's worth more than any piece of equipment!

[Hulk]

Originally Posted by Hans Hitmachine

About the "standing on your head" thing.
Isn't it weird how many proffesional studios have every piece of basstrapping/diffuser hanging from the ceiling while having a perfectly polished, flat wooden floor? The Excact opposite from what I believe. Pro's obviously think that frequencies will only go to the ceiling and not to the floor.
I know how outrageously rock 'n roll it is from me to think it's the other way around

There are several reasons why pro studios use hard floors and not carpets. One important reason is that a hard floor adds a nice ambience to the room that gives the instruments a more natural or authentic sound!!

The lower frequencies are the frequencies that creates problems in studios and that's the reason you have build "Bass" traps to try to solve some of your acoustic problems. The lower frequencies contain more energi relatively to higher frequencies thus making it harder to absorb them - that's why you need "heavy armour" like bass traps to contain (some of) them!!

Higher frequencies are easily absorbed so when tracking instruments in a room full of carpets there's a good chance that the recording will sound dull and boomy because the carpets have absorbed the higher frequencies but they have done nothing to the lower frequencies so the room sounds dull and boomy. Actually a room like that can make great gear (great converters, pres and mics) sound "cheaper" because a lot of the natual ambience and transparency has been rolled off by the carpets.
When you have a hard reflective floor you can allway bring in a small carpets to control/adjust the higher frequencies in a particular recording - gives you more control!!

[Hans Hitmachine]

Thanks! I actually have a wooden floor in the studio. Somebody put carpets there to protect the floor (where's the sense in that?) I took the carpets off today. Does sound a lot better!

[Waylon]

Originally Posted by Hans Hitmachine

lol.

What about sticking accoustic foam to the front of the basstrap? You will have a basstrap and mid-high absorber in one, right?

If it is a panel-trap that you are taling about, just make sure ntohing touches the front of the trap..

[Hans Hitmachine]

Thanks! I only put foam on the back of the trap, to illiminate reflections from the ceiling. Not the front.