Bass traps substitution

[SLy_drums]

After echanging some posts, private messages, and e-mails with some great acoustic knowlegde guys here, it appears clearly that our recording room needs a complete treatment.

The first that comes to mind is the bass problem : we have too much muddy bass/low med frequencies in our recordings, and that seems to be explainable by the fact we track in a small room, with concrete walls (which do not absorb enough), and no treatment at all for the moment (except Auralex pieces on the ceiling). The absolute priority is to buy some bass traps.

We have a recording session next week (starting on april 21 st), and of course, even if we plan to treat the room quickly, we won't be able to do those acoustic treaments until then.

How can I temporarely solve my bass problem ? Can I use another material to put in the corners, easily findable, that will help us out ? (I don't want to replace the bass traps i'll buy, but only to go for something that can help us a lot to kill this muddyness)

Anyone ?

[Glenn Kuras]

Hello,
Here you go!!!

Go to Home Depot or Lowes and get the rolls of fluffy fiber glass. Stack them from floor to ceiling in all corners of the room.. It will look pretty ghetto but will work pretty well until you have time to really get the room done..


Glenn

[matt thomas]

what he said ^^^^, or even just put a couch or two in there, or if you kno any fat chicks get them to stand in the corner (its late, sorry)

then look here:

http://www.musicplayer.com/cgi-bin/u...orum/f/26.html

narco

[Jack Pettit]

A big overstuffed couch is often overlooked as a bass trap
and you can sit on them!

[SLy_drums]

Thanks to you all !

The fiberglass solution seems to work enough, but should I buy FLUFFY fiberglass or RIGID fiberglass ?
How thick should the bass trap be ?
What about mineral fiber ? It's more expensive but I always heard it is more efficient when it comes to sound treatment.

[Switchcraft]

instead of raw fiber do this...
http://www.teresaudio.com/haven/traps/traps.html

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by SLy_drums

Thanks to you all !

The fiberglass solution seems to work enough, but should I buy FLUFFY fiberglass or RIGID fiberglass ?
How thick should the bass trap be ?
What about mineral fiber ? It's more expensive but I always heard it is more efficient when it comes to sound treatment.

Rigid would be better, but I thought you are looking for a "fast getter done" way.. If you do panels then you would want to use 4" and straddle corners.. Take your time on these.. Not hard to make, but trust me I see people make them wrong all day long!!

Glenn

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by Switchcraft

instead of raw fiber do this...
http://www.teresaudio.com/haven/traps/traps.html

I am not going to say that tube traps do not work, but surface area is really what you want and tube traps have to be pretty big for this.. There is no proof that a round piece of fiberglass is going to pick up more bass then a flat piece.. Think about it, how could it!

Glenn

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by myfipie

Rigid would be better, but I thought you are looking for a "fast getter done" way.. If you do panels then you would want to use 4" and straddle corners.. Take your time on these.. Not hard to make, but trust me I see people make them wrong all day long!!

Glenn

Really Glenn? I just don't see how anyone could screw this up... well I guess that is not 100% true but they are really really easy to make right? .... or am I missing something.... oh no... maybe I made mine wrong!!!!



Really other than mounting them too close to the wall, use a fabric you can blow through and trying to not cover the sides there is to much to know is there?

[Youn]

I think he's talking about colour of fabric, too high in saturation is dead wronge, and patterns suggesting tropical themes and/or easily distringuished geometric shapes as well.

really though, you can get some big cheap fabric bags, a bit bigger then the packs of fluffy stuff, throw them in, rip out the plastic covering, then toss it in the corner and it'll be pretty damn effective don't you think? The bag is mainly for aesthetics but it also makes it more broadband.

[Joel DuBay]

Originally Posted by Youn

I think he's talking about colour of fabric, too high in saturation is dead wronge, and patterns suggesting tropical themes and/or easily distringuished geometric shapes as well.

really though, you can get some big cheap fabric bags, a bit bigger then the packs of fluffy stuff, throw them in, rip out the plastic covering, then toss it in the corner and it'll be pretty damn effective don't you think? The bag is mainly for aesthetics but it also makes it more broadband.

Too right mate.

It could NOT be easier...

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by not_so_new

Really Glenn? I just don't see how anyone could screw this up... well I guess that is not 100% true but they are really really easy to make right? .... or am I missing something.... oh no... maybe I made mine wrong!!!!



Really other than mounting them too close to the wall, use a fabric you can blow through and trying to not cover the sides there is to much to know is there?

Don't get me wrong if you are just making a bag full of rigid fiberglass then yes just wrap and go.. Now if you want to make it with a limp membrane on the front or wood sides then it takes a little more planning..
Just yesterday I went out to a studio to give them a quote on treating there room.. They had built all these panels, which looked nice but where totally built wrong.. First they had wood frame sides (no holes) on all of them, second they where not spaced and 3rd they had the foil to the back of the panel.. That is the kind of thing I am talking about.. You don't know how many panels I see with plywood covering the backs also...
It all seems really easy if you know what you are doing..
I guess the big thing is the person on this thread made it sound like he had a project and needed a quick fix.. The bags stacked just seemed like a better way to go, for the short term..

Glenn

[mtstudios@charter]

You can buy Rigid Fiberglass #703 at CWCI in the City of Industry in California. (626)369-4424.

www.bluethumbproductions.com

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by myfipie

Don't get me wrong if you are just making a bag full of rigid fiberglass then yes just wrap and go.. Now if you want to make it with a limp membrane on the front or wood sides then it takes a little more planning..
Just yesterday I went out to a studio to give them a quote on treating there room.. They had built all these panels, which looked nice but where totally built wrong.. First they had wood frame sides (no holes) on all of them, second they where not spaced and 3rd they had the foil to the back of the panel.. That is the kind of thing I am talking about.. You don't know how many panels I see with plywood covering the backs also...
It all seems really easy if you know what you are doing..
I guess the big thing is the person on this thread made it sound like he had a project and needed a quick fix.. The bags stacked just seemed like a better way to go, for the short term..

Glenn

Cool Glenn.... good points.

thumbsup

[Youn]

anyone remember back when ethan started selling his 'bass traps', I nearly bought some of those clunky ol' boxes, I was so ready and eager, almost built them myself (per ethans instructions). Glad I waited until the broadband absorber idea came to my attention, seemed like a couple years later. it probably saved me alot of time and headaches, and is portable/non-permenant. throw em in a truck and take to a friends tuperware party kinda vibe, gosh I'm so nerdy today

[bluesman714]

Tell me what you think of this idea......I am collecting cardboard boxes from bicycle shops, (approximately 5' X 3' X 8"), stuffing them with freshly laundered old clothes & then covering the boxes with carpet, gluing the carpet to the box. These things are freestanding, stackable, usefull as gobos & cost almost nothing to make....you can buy garbage bags full of freshly laundered old clothes that no one wants from Goodwill or the Salvatioin Army for a couple of bucks. Its my theory that in great numbers, they will make acceptable low frequency absorbers. The cost is so low, I can make 20 or so for less than $50.00.............so, wadda ya think?

[Youn]

Where on earth did you get this idea from? wow I can't imagine it doing anything to low freqs, but hey don't let me stop you from trying, it might be better then 2 in aurelex foam...

[BradD]

Well, I made a bunch of these last week and they have wood sides with no holes. Is this fatal?

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by BradD

Well, I made a bunch of these last week and they have wood sides with no holes. Is this fatal?

No not at all. The only thing you have done there is cut down on the efficiency of the trap. The sides of the 703 705 or what have you increase the surface area of the trap and help to attenuate more low end.

Basically it will work better with side absorption but it will still work without.

[BradD]

That's good to hear. Thanks. All of the DIY panels I had seen on Ethan's site were in wood frames, so I based mine on those.

[Glenn Kuras]

As not so new said yes it will work but remember that on a 4" panel the sides are 50% of the surface area.. I tell people to put holes in the sides to let sound in..

Glenn

[mtstudios@charter]

Originally Posted by myfipie

As not so new said yes it will work but remember that on a 4" panel the sides are 50% of the surface area.. I tell people to put holes in the sides to let sound in..

Glenn

If you have a 48"X24"X4" panel with 1" rigid insulation, how many holes and how big of holes should there be on sides? What is the downfall of plywood backs? What should back be , Open? Or can one do something to rectify this mistake?

Thanks in advance

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by mtstudi@pacbell

If you have a 48"X24"X4" panel with 1" rigid insulation, how many holes and how big of holes should there be on sides? What is the downfall of plywood backs? What should back be , Open? Or can one do something to rectify this mistake?

Thanks in advance

If you are making a 4" panel then why are you using 1" rigid fiberglass?? I am talking about broadband absorbers not tuned wood panel traps.. You do understand that I hope.
The down fall of wood backs is sound needs to pass through the back of the panel to hit the wall and come back again.. That is part of the reason why we always recommend spacing the panel off the wall (other things also)..
As far as how many holes, well the more you can let sound in the better you are off..

Glenn

[bluesman714]

I came up with the idea of stuffing boxes full of clothes & carpeting them because no one in my area has the OC rigid insulation......only one dealer offered to bring it in for me......at $5.00 per square foot & I had to commit to buying two pallets worth......so I am looking for other options........any ideas or comments would be appreciated.
thanks

[Cojo]

Originally Posted by narco

...or if you kno any fat chicks get them to stand in the corner (its late, sorry)

Actually, humans are great basstraps. If you can put a coupple of your friends in each corner and a four against your back wall you're allmost there. If you have some friends over, use the "mirror test" and put them against the sidewalls as early reflections absorbers or put them against the front wall for extra basstrapping!

This would work as good as any rockwool absorber and they doesn't itch!

/Cojo

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by Cojo

Actually, humans are great basstraps. If you can put a coupple of your friends in each corner and a four against your back wall you're allmost there. If you have some friends over, use the "mirror test" and put them against the sidewalls as early reflections absorbers or put them against the front wall for extra basstrapping!

This would work as good as any rockwool absorber and they doesn't itch!

/Cojo

I am pretty sure this is how Jeffery Domer (not sure if this is spelled right) did his room..

Glenn

[Joel DuBay]

Come and get 'em FREE


http://gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php3?t=65879


12 FREE BASS TRAPS!!


Contest ends April 25th. There is a link to upload your room images (if any) and read what pros are saying about these panels.


Good luck!






Joel

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by Joel DuBay

Come and get 'em FREE


http://gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php3?t=65879


12 FREE BASS TRAPS!!


Contest ends April 25th. There is a link to upload your room images (if any) and read what pros are saying about these panels.


Good luck!






Joel

Give it a rest Joel, we all understand you are giving away your product..

[RoundBadge]

Originally Posted by mtstudi@pacbell

You can buy Rigid Fiberglass #703 at CWCI in the City of Industry in California. (626)369-4424.

Thats what i did ...
they're the only joint in LA that sells real O.C. 703/705 to non contractors as far as I know .. super helpful and friendly folks.. and they got the real stuff.. I grabbed a bunch of 705 ...
....Then bought some of Joel's Readybags..couldn't have been easier/faster and turned out to be very cost effective.
the fabric is very clean looking and seems very neutural sounding[no Hi freq loss] the sides are completely unobstructed,just fabric..no frame,etc
They work as good or better than lots of other fiberglass type traps i've tried ..
they look great too..
..very pleased

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by bluesman714

I came up with the idea of stuffing boxes full of clothes & carpeting them because no one in my area has the OC rigid insulation......only one dealer offered to bring it in for me......at $5.00 per square foot & I had to commit to buying two pallets worth......so I am looking for other options........any ideas or comments would be appreciated.
thanks

Just to help out take a read at
http://www.gikacoustics.com/faq.htm
it may explain a few things about what you are looking for..

Glenn