VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

JJ Wright · Joined: 18 Oct 2011 Posts: 16 Location: Boston

Hey Gang,

I've been lurking and just hanging out here for awhile. Lots of good help, tips, advice and support here. Thank you.
Now I've a question and seeking solutions. First of all, I'm on a budget and want to utilizes my existing 'stuff.'
I was lucky enough to acquire a Whisper Room, the standard 3.5x3.5 (MDL4242S) for really short money. The booth is excellent shape. I want to treat and deaden it with the stuff I already have. The booth came with it's existing 3 Auralex panels - the 2x4 2" gray pyramids. I already have 10 Auralex 2x4 2" studiofoam wedge panels that I was using in my walk-in closet space that I had to give up. Any suggestions? I have no problem cutting and slicing the wedges and such. My mic is a Rode NT1-A with an SE Reflexion filter going into a DBX 286S - mixer - computer - Audition 3.0, etc. I figure any processing can come post recording.

Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

I have a 4X4 Whisper Room. My recommendation:

OC 703 panels on the walls and ceiling, and OC 705 in the corners. ATS Acoustics will sell you either
the materials to make the panels yourself, or pre-made panels.

You can make them yourself (I did) and I also bought some pre-made and combined the two.

Keep in mind making them yourself is doable, but will take a decent chunk of your time and energy.

JJ Wright · Joined: 18 Oct 2011 Posts: 16 Location: Boston

Thanks Rob, but like I said: "using my existing stuff"
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Rob Ellis · M&M Joined: 01 Aug 2006 Posts: 2385 Location: Detroit

oops, sorry I only skimmed over the post, my bad.

Jason Huggins · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 6:54 pm Post subject:

If you don't want to get anything else, I'd say start by putting panels on three walls in front if you and to the left and right, and put wedges in the corners in front of you (really left and right of you) at the same height as your head. I'd tape em and try some recording, see how it sounds (maybe even post a sound sample). Duct tape will hold for a few hours, and won't jack up the foam.

Dan-O · The Gates of Troy Joined: 17 Jan 2005 Posts: 1638

todd ellis · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 8:45 pm Post subject:

holy crow! that ends up bring quite the coffin, doesn't it?
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Bruce · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 7:42 am Post subject:

If you're trying to do it for free/cheap try raiding the linen closet. Hang up the thickest, fuzziest blankets or quilts you have on the walls. The fuzz will scatter some sound waves and the weave will trap sound as it goes through to the walls and again when it bounces back.

B
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Jason Huggins · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 7:57 am Post subject:

You could always just whisper. Then there would be less sound in the booth, and therefore, less to deaden! Ok...I'm not helping...

Monk · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 11:20 am Post subject:

The reason the "Stuff you have" won't work, is the Auralux stuff is good for some reflection issues, it's just not up to the task for absorption of sound.

A 3.5 by 3.5 box is going to have a serious standing wave issue, and for me it was right in my voices wheelhouse. I was in Amy Taylor's booth a week or so ago and I could find that resonant frequency in half a second of script reading.

If OC 703 is out of your price range for a few panels of it, Roxul60 is a good substitute and easy to order from any good contractor center. You can wrap a 2'x4' panel in fabric, (you have to be able to breath through the fabric, so an open weave) and place it on the first refection point in front of you. Then another on the second and if you have room another panel on the third with one placed on the ceiling as well.

So 4 sheets, if you're thrifty, (I'm not cheap, I'm thrifty!) and you'll be a lot further down the road.

Shipping blankets are ok, but don't have the same bang for the buck that the Roxul60 has.

It's do-able, but by doing it wrong, you'll end up sounding worse.
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Jason Huggins · Posted: Thu Nov 08, 2012 12:14 pm Post subject:

The Rockwool (Delta cool

is definitely not expensive either. I found the 4" 8# sheets for $13 a pop. It is definitely FAR superior to Auralex foam. Auralex does nothing for the bass in the room (which is a definite issue in smaller rooms...well any room really) and the 4" 8# will absorb the bass very well.

Bottom line is, if you want clean sound, you can't really skimp. You need density, and 1" thick foam doesn't have it. Even a few panels now, a few panels later will be better than the Auralex. BUT the Auralex will be better than nothing...just not enough to call it good.

georgethetech · Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 12:04 am Post subject:

You could take the foam you have and stack it three or four pieces deep then shove it in the corners floor to ceiling, making home made "LENRD" traps of sorts.
That might help a bit. You need thick and/or dense materials.
Other than that, I concur with the use of Roxul60, ordered from ATSAcoustics.com or a local supplier (if you are lucky enough to find it).
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SkinnyJohnny · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 5:01 pm Post subject:

The only way I could get rid of the bass buldup and boxy sound was with the panels (OC 703). I have all the walls covered with 2" panels and the ceiling with three 4" clouds. Mine's a 5x7 model. I stuffed everything you can imagine in those corners and nothing seemed to help at all.
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captain54 · Lucky 700 Joined: 30 Jan 2006 Posts: 744 Location: chicago

markt · Been Here Awhile Joined: 14 Aug 2009 Posts: 217

Hey JJ,

If you're in Boston, and want to save even more money than getting them from ATS, check out United Builders Supply in Framingham for the Roxul rockboard 60. It's not something that they normally stock, but they special ordered a six pack of 2 x 4 x 2" panels for me. Only $38.60! Ask for Nyron, he's the guy that hooked me up.

I used what's called 10 pound burlap and some spray adhesive to cover each panel. And, the Rotofast fasteners from ATS worked great for getting them up on the wall. This stuff really does the job!

All of us know that acoustics can be a real pain in the butt. But, after wrestling around with foam and blankets, I found this stuff finally did the job for me.

Best of luck,
Mark
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