Workshop thermal insulation: acoustics opportunity?

technocolour v2 · 3rd September 2011

The workshop I'm converting into a studio will need to be insulated (it gets cold in the winter over here). The company building the workshop suggested I line the interior with 10cm (4") rockwool and then cover it with wood of desired thickness (or words to that effect). Is this an opportunity to get some free treatment in my room? It would be all around the interior walls and possibly the roof. As it's so uniform, would it have the effect of increasing the dimensions of my room for bass frequencies if the wood panelling covering the insulation wasn't too thick? Thanks in advance.

Chris_Nicks · 4th September 2011

covering it with wood will make it reflective to sound.

Jens Eklund · 4th September 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by technocolour v2

Is this an opportunity to get some free treatment in my room?

Absolutely! Read up on pressure base absorbers (perforated or membrane) and if possible, measure your room and trace the most offending modes and tune the construction to these frequencies if possible.

Jens Eklund · 4th September 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris_Nicks

covering it with wood will make it reflective to sound.

... above the modal range, yes ... hopefully.

technocolour v2 · 4th September 2011

Excellent, I'll do some research into pressure-based absorbers

Chris_Nicks · 5th September 2011

hey jens! If your ceiling is made of thin 1/4" plywood, does it mean that you would need less bass trapping?

DanDan · 5th September 2011

tech, wood panelled rooms can be extremely bright and harsh. The LF absorption is welcome, and pretty much a free lunch. However that vast amount of wood, particularly if varnished or painted, will reflect increasingly towards HF. Unfinished wood is slightly softer sounding. Can you leave gaps in the woodwork? As in gaps between Slats? With a decent fabric layer, this would add some needed HF absorption.
A combination of gapped surfaces facing sealed or slightly perforated LF ones would rebalance your spectrum nicely.
DD

Chris_Nicks · 5th September 2011

dandan, do you think putting a space coupler in front of basstraps made from FRK be a good idea?

DanDan · 5th September 2011

Hi Chris, I have no idea. I have seen data on Space Couplers tested in a Lab. LF absorption was increased dramatically. However these were fibre panels only, no FRK, not SuperChunks. I would go Couplers or FRK, not both.
DD

technocolour v2 · 5th September 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanDan

tech, wood panelled rooms can be extremely bright and harsh. The LF absorption is welcome, and pretty much a free lunch. However that vast amount of wood, particularly if varnished or painted, will reflect increasingly towards HF. Unfinished wood is slightly softer sounding. Can you leave gaps in the woodwork? As in gaps between Slats? With a decent fabric layer, this would add some needed HF absorption.
A combination of gapped surfaces facing sealed or slightly perforated LF ones would rebalance your spectrum nicely.
DD

Yeah, gaps are no problem. The rockwool (10cm) would be all around the perimeter of the room so I figure if I play my cards right it could be quite a free lunch. I'm assuming that perforated/slats would be different from a pressure based absorber because with the latter, the housing would be air tight?

technocolour v2 · 5th September 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanDan

Hi Chris, I have no idea. I have seen data on Space Couplers tested in a Lab. LF absorption was increased dramatically. However these were fibre panels only, no FRK, not SuperChunks. I would go Couplers or FRK, not both.
DD

Pardon my ignorance, but what are space couplers?

Chris_Nicks · 5th September 2011

Quote:

Hi Chris, I have no idea. I have seen data on Space Couplers tested in a Lab. LF absorption was increased dramatically. However these were fibre panels only, no FRK, not SuperChunks. I would go Couplers or FRK, not both.

I see.. :D

Chris_Nicks · 5th September 2011

Quote:

Pardon my ignorance, but what are space couplers?

these are grates that are believed to increase absorption in low frequency and diffuser higher frequency :D

DanDan · 5th September 2011

Space Couplers have been renamed Auralex Acoustics - WaveCoupler

The world has lots of grey areas between the absolutes.
e.g. Small gaps cause some helmholtz resonance. Sections or whole walls can be easily sealed from the others.
Thus you could actually tune your trapping to some extent.
Take a look at johnlsayers.com and Whealy's calculator.

Consider changing the depth of the wall/trap at the front and back to hit the low primary mode and its octave.

With some research and planning you could have a free lunch followed by cake which you could both have, and eat it too.

DD

3rd September 2011	#1
technocolour v2 Gear maniac Joined: Nov 2010 Location: United Kingdom (South England) Posts: 236 Thread Starter	Workshop thermal insulation: acoustics opportunity? The workshop I'm converting into a studio will need to be insulated (it gets cold in the winter over here). The company building the workshop suggested I line the interior with 10cm (4") rockwool and then cover it with wood of desired thickness (or words to that effect). Is this an opportunity to get some free treatment in my room? It would be all around the interior walls and possibly the roof. As it's so uniform, would it have the effect of increasing the dimensions of my room for bass frequencies if the wood panelling covering the insulation wasn't too thick? Thanks in advance.

5th September 2011	#6
Chris_Nicks Gear maniac Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 231	hey jens! If your ceiling is made of thin 1/4" plywood, does it mean that you would need less bass trapping? __________________ "Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan"

5th September 2011	#7
DanDan Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Cork Ireland Posts: 6,825 1 Review written	A Lot tech, wood panelled rooms can be extremely bright and harsh. The LF absorption is welcome, and pretty much a free lunch. However that vast amount of wood, particularly if varnished or painted, will reflect increasingly towards HF. Unfinished wood is slightly softer sounding. Can you leave gaps in the woodwork? As in gaps between Slats? With a decent fabric layer, this would add some needed HF absorption. A combination of gapped surfaces facing sealed or slightly perforated LF ones would rebalance your spectrum nicely. DD __________________ www.irishacoustics.com www.soundsound.ie

5th September 2011	#9
DanDan Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Cork Ireland Posts: 6,825 1 Review written	No Idea Hi Chris, I have no idea. I have seen data on Space Couplers tested in a Lab. LF absorption was increased dramatically. However these were fibre panels only, no FRK, not SuperChunks. I would go Couplers or FRK, not both. DD

5th September 2011	#14
DanDan Lives for gear Joined: Aug 2003 Location: Cork Ireland Posts: 6,825 1 Review written	Couplers Space Couplers have been renamed Auralex Acoustics - WaveCoupler The world has lots of grey areas between the absolutes. e.g. Small gaps cause some helmholtz resonance. Sections or whole walls can be easily sealed from the others. Thus you could actually tune your trapping to some extent. Take a look at johnlsayers.com and Whealy's calculator. Consider changing the depth of the wall/trap at the front and back to hit the low primary mode and its octave. With some research and planning you could have a free lunch followed by cake which you could both have, and eat it too. DD

4th September 2011	#2
Chris_Nicks Gear maniac Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 231	covering it with wood will make it reflective to sound.

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