which diffuser...why?

[acousmatic]

Hi Audio Friends!

here are two diffuser prototypes (semi finished)
1:


2:


which one would be most effective if at all?

the first one is alot cheaper to make!
any help is apprieciated.

tell me if im going about this the wrong way

thanks

[shangoe]

dont know, but the first one would be more bloody. it looks like a vietkong spear trap...

[djui5]

I'd say the second one. There is more surface area for the sound to bounce off of. The purpose of a diffuser is to reflect and break up the sound. The first one is going to trap a lot of sound, and do who knows what with it. The second one has surface area for the sound to bounce off of.

I build some similar to the second one, and can attest to the PITA work it takes to make something like that.

Would be interesting to see a before and after report of a 2'x4' pair of the first one behind a set of speakers...might work better than you think it would

[acousmatic]

Hey Thanks

what about for the first one (the vietkong speartrap) if i placed them closer together and maybe shorter?

(i was trying to replicate wedges like in an anechoic chamber)

so it didnt trap the sound so much.

the only way to know is to try i guess....

Thanks

[djui5]

If you were gonna do the first one, I'd do it just like you are doing it. They are close enough together IMO.

The "big deal" is the amount of surface area on the end of the stick.

[A27Hull]

Hey there,

What dimensions are the blocks on the second one, 2"?

I'm thinking of DIYing a few for a new mix room, so far, I've come across this: http://www.decware.com/p1312.htm

BTW, what type of wood are you using? Is pine ok to do this sort of thing?

All responses appreciated,

Andrew

[djui5]

Not trying to hyjack this thread, but I used some 2"x2"x8' "sticks" that I picked up at home depot for mine. I used pine for one set, and redwood for another. The redwood is expensive ($5 a stick), but smells good and sure looks pretty.

[A27Hull]

thanks though

I saw a similar item at Lowes, yet for the amount of those I would need, it'd almost be cheaper to plane (sp?) my own.

I'm going to try to make 3 2'x6' floor standing gobos. One side diffuser, one side 4" 703.

Still, other than the look (mine will probably be pine and painted) I imagine different woods have different absorbative/reflective characteristics?

For a semi-pro home studio/mix room, would pine suffice?

[djui5]

Originally Posted by A27Hull

thanks though

I saw a similar item at Lowes, yet for the amount of those I would need, it'd almost be cheaper to plane (sp?) my own.

I'm going to try to make 3 2'x6' floor standing gobos. One side diffuser, one side 4" 703.

Still, other than the look (mine will probably be pine and painted) I imagine different woods have different absorbative/reflective characteristics?

For a semi-pro home studio/mix room, would pine suffice?

Pine would do just fine for any studio IMO.

You could always buy some 2x6's and slice them into your own "sticks" if you have a table saw. I bought the 2x2's because I didn't have a table saw to cut them with. I cut my sticks into "pegs" with a skill saw.

You can get pine 2x6's at 12' lengths for cheap. Even get 2x10's if you got a truck to haul them.

Another option is the GML method. Buying sheets of 1" MDF and cutting it into "pegs".

Whatever works.

[peeceebee]

I would think that with the first one you would lose some highs with the raggedey end surfaces, shorter wavelengths would be absorbed- I would also (intuitively) expect that design to be more absorbtive overall with the deeper, uniform depths slots between the slats (?)

[KurtR]

What pattern are you using for the second one? You might want to see this if you haven't already. http://www.mhsoft.nl/DiffusorCalculator.html

[ISedlacek]

This is what I have in my studio and I am quite satisfied with the sound ... (except corner bass traps, there is no absorption at all ...)

[acousmatic]

those look great .

im afraid i dont nearly have as much wood-working skills.

in terms of the type of wood i just got what i could find.
New Zealand seems to be lacking a heck of a lot of materials that this forum has easy access to.

im gonna make a bigger version of the first one and see if i can notice a difference when it sits behind a monitor.

cheers

[ISedlacek]

Originally Posted by acousmatic

those look great .

im afraid i dont nearly have as much wood-working skills.

Neither have I ... Fortunately there are people who are quite skillful. If they receive proper instructions, the result can be pleasing ...

[A27Hull]

Originally Posted by djui5

Another option is the GML method. Buying sheets of 1" MDF and cutting it into "pegs".

Having been inside that room, I can say it is breath-taking for sure. I think that the pegs are actually 3/4" size, all cut at random lengths. Serious $.

GM really blew my mind with that one.

[ddageek]

second one more surface area and buy large stock and rip it less warp !

[djui5]

Originally Posted by A27Hull

Having been inside that room, I can say it is breath-taking for sure. I think that the pegs are actually 3/4" size, all cut at random lengths. Serious $.

GM really blew my mind with that one.

1" wood is never really 1" :) 2" is actually more like 1 and 1/2"

[A27Hull]

ahh.