Grex Music Conference

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Grex Music Item 31: Room treatment?
Entered by easlern on Mon Oct 23 20:52:18 UTC 2006:

Has anybody got experience in acoustic treatment for a room? I'm assembling
a home "studio" in a room about 8'x10'x8' (rough guess) with a bad echo that's
affecting recordings. For the time being, I've hung some old blankets on the
walls, which helps but is not very aesthetically pleasing. (My guests think
I'm a little weird.  ;)  ) Is there a more effective solution that can be had
for less than a couple hundred dollars? I got some opinions from Googling but
thought I'd get suggestions from some of the people here. I figure a little
activity couldn't hurt the music conference either.  :)

12 responses total.

#1 of 12 by mary on Tue Oct 24 00:01:24 2006:

I've been in a room where a number of the walls were completely covered
with sheets of egg packing material.  It seemed to work and looked very
cool.  I assume you get them from restaurants with a big breakfast 
business.

#2 of 12 by rcurl on Tue Oct 24 06:11:32 2006:

I would think that something like fibrous insulation would be more effective.
Even layers of moderately open weave cloth.

#3 of 12 by easlern on Tue Oct 24 13:09:04 2006:

The egg packing material sounds pretty creative but it would probably take
a lot more time than I'd be able to spend. Insulation might work but I don't
know enough about the sound-absorbing qualities of materials to know where
to start. There are commercially-available panels of different kinds that I
was planning on using. I just have no idea what kind of panels I should use
or how to place them in the room to be effective.

#4 of 12 by cyklone on Tue Oct 24 13:37:33 2006:

In high school my band did a whole room in carpet foam (underpadding). There
was virtually no echo after that. It was kind of otherworldly, actually.

#5 of 12 by mcnally on Tue Oct 24 16:50:51 2006:

 Plus you get that fabulous 70's "look, I put shag carpeting on
 the walls" look..

#6 of 12 by easlern on Tue Oct 24 16:53:21 2006:

That sounds like a kick-ass idea actually.

#7 of 12 by rcurl on Tue Oct 24 17:02:15 2006:

Re #4: excellent. I tried to think of an inexpensive but effective material
and carpet underpadding is certainly one. It also is treated to not release
dust when manipulated (by treading). The commerical panels would be less
effective, but then they are designed as much to look OK as to absorb sound.

#8 of 12 by easlern on Tue Oct 24 17:40:22 2006:

I'm not sure about carpet being technically more effective but it sure would
look damn cool.

#9 of 12 by mcnally on Tue Oct 24 17:57:04 2006:

 Before you proceed, try to find a copy of the book "Interior Desecrations"
 by James Lileks so you know what you may be getting into..

 Samples of the book's take on 70s decor can be found at:

   http://www.lileks.com/institute/interiors/index.html

#10 of 12 by easlern on Tue Oct 24 18:10:32 2006:

That thing on the wall would actually be pretty cool if you put a QBert
hopping down the side.

#11 of 12 by mcnally on Tue Oct 24 18:48:31 2006:

 Try some of the other rooms (I think you click on "Next" at the bottom to
 see the other examples.  Some of them are, well, just wow.. )

#12 of 12 by remmers on Tue Oct 24 20:45:01 2006:

Ah, the 70s - "The decade that taste forgot."

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