Old 08-19-2015, 11:04 AM   #1
metallicaguy1
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Default Thoughts on acoustic foam

I'm getting some foam to treat my room, and am not sure what to buy, in terms of brand/shape, etc. I don't want to spend over a hundred. I'm buying it so that my monitors would be more accurate.
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Old 08-19-2015, 11:26 AM   #2
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I would explore this route:

http://www.pro-tools-expert.com/home...bookcases.html

Something like that will be FAR more effective than some foam. Plus, way more bang for your buck.
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Old 08-19-2015, 11:40 AM   #3
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I'm not trying to be harsh, but you're wasting your money.

The only thing foam will do is cut down on flutter echo and absorb some highs.

You are much better of saving up for fibergalss/rockwool based panels or building your own. I built 8 2'x4'x3" roxul panels for $200 using safe-n-sound insulation from homedepot.
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Old 08-19-2015, 11:56 AM   #4
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The thicker the foam the more it will absorb. Perfectly fine for reflection points but rockwool panels will be better - and better value if you make them yourself ('acoustic' foam can be pretty expensive).
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Old 08-19-2015, 12:09 PM   #5
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Foam will help a bit, but a small bit. The others speak the truth. I went for 8 rockwool panels. I sepnt around $160-$175... I don't remember exactly.

Since then I have installed some foam as well (mostly bass traps). I made the first reflections spots well covered and as you can see in the picture, the front wall well covered. I still haven't decided what to do with the window. I kinda like having a window there, but I think that it will soon be covered with a burlap panel

The foam bass traps helped a lot. The other thinner foam helps, but is not critical like the thicker DIY panels. Do the best you can. There's ALWAYS room to improve, so don't get too worried.
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Old 08-19-2015, 12:35 PM   #6
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Broadband absorbing panels, like rockwool or OC703, will be more effective than foam. I have a couple dozen 2 ft by 4 ft panels. If you make them without using wooden frames, when you're not recording you can stack them up into a great blanket fort. Heh.

But what you need depends on your room. Bookcases are good for diffusion.
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Old 08-19-2015, 12:40 PM   #7
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Well, thanks everybody! You've saved me money, it looks like rockwool... Is that like drywall or something?
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Old 08-19-2015, 01:10 PM   #8
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It's very dense spun fiber, like pink insulation you might find in your house, but made from spun basalt rock rather than silicon glass.

"Density" is the active word when you're looking to treat acoustically, which is why blankets and regular foam products suck at it. Denser materials are much better able to absorb low frequencies.

Along with absorption, don't forget about dispersion materials. Eliminating direct reflections by scattering the sound back into the room can also go a long way to help your acoustics.
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Old 08-19-2015, 02:14 PM   #9
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Here's the cheapest good acoustic insulation thats easily available.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Roxul-Saf...1525/202531875.

Much less irritating than any of the fiberglass products as well. You'll still want to wrap it in fabric.

That one bag of 12 pieces will make 8 2'x4' panels.
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Old 08-19-2015, 02:16 PM   #10
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I'm going to go against what most (probably more well-informed) folks have said. I just installed some acoustic foam in my home studio, and it's really helped cut down some reflections, and what I hear now is a "tighter" sound.

This is the stuff I installed:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...A22SRM5AZO37HA

I'm sure the rockwool is probably more ideal, but on a budget, and given the odd dimensions of my room I opted for the foam.

Just my 2 cents.
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Old 08-19-2015, 06:54 PM   #11
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I've used foam just like linked in the last post, pink insulation, cardboard egg crates, carpet, blankets, limp mass vinyl sheets, and Roxul safe n sound.

Anything helps, but Roxul in homemade panels gave me the most bang for buck. Blankets, carpet, and egg crates were cheap and easy.
Those foam squares were easy and looked cool.
People say egg crates don't work, but they worked well for me at the time. What it really did was pretty much cut out flutter echo and allowed me to hear detail without cranking my monitors. My old monitors were weak on bass and I was corner loading them already, so my concern was more accurate mids and highs.
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Old 08-19-2015, 08:33 PM   #12
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The pink fluffy stuff you get at home depot is only good for bass if very thick, like 6" or more... but is overall much better performing than equal amounts of "foam".

The Ikea traps are great.
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Old 08-20-2015, 05:44 AM   #13
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Have a read up on superchunk bass traps. Very easy to make and if you, your mom, girlfriend or husband/wife/significant other is good with a sewing machine you can usually persuade them to sew up some long triangular tubes out of old sheets to keep the rockwool triangles in one place. Then just attach them to the corners of your room with hooks and eyes.
Mine took 2 packs of Rockwool RW3 and two old bedsheets.
I made triangular formers for the top and bottom from spare pieces of masonite/hardboard I had lying around and the difference is amazing.
And all I have done so far is the four corners floor to ceiling.
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Old 08-20-2015, 07:47 AM   #14
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Or just keep the rolls of insulation in their packaging and stack them vertically in each corner, forming large columns. Can't get cheaper/easier than that! Performs just as well as those triangle "superchunks" according to experts.

Only difference is that the very high frequencies will be diffused back into the room. That's not a problem really and round diffusors are still popular for retaining some "air" to the room, but if you want them dead a normal blanket will do the trick.

For under 100 bucks though, if you don't mind spending some time, I'd unpack them and stuff them in large fabric bags to cover more area. If you need things to look "pro" then of course foam will do that, but those are for highs and looks only.
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Old 08-20-2015, 05:01 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by analogexplosions View Post
I would explore this route:

http://www.pro-tools-expert.com/home...bookcases.html

Something like that will be FAR more effective than some foam. Plus, way more bang for your buck.
This looks like a really good idea for an easy build
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Old 08-21-2015, 12:35 AM   #16
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I'm pretty curious about Rockwool so, what feq does those things cover and tech spec like that, what can I expect? thickness and stuff needed to absorb bas?
Would like to know (learn) because when I move, it's time to smack stuff up on the wall and ceiling almost before the furniture goes in, i'm that! "motivated!
The post TechnoGremlin did about his setup is pretty much what I am aiming for, only home studio after all.
But hey, he seemed happy so.
Anyway..
So only Rockwool and maby some tall bookshelf incl the books and I could be happy? say yes... ..
Ahh yes, thick carpets is good on the floor I guess?
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Old 08-21-2015, 03:45 AM   #17
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A few tech spec in "Scandinavien"
http://www.rockwool.dk/produkter/u/9...flade-tage/lyd
http://www.rockwool.dk/produkter/u/1...orock-lydplade
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Old 08-21-2015, 04:16 AM   #18
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Also - a couch can make a good basstrap. Just stick one in the studio somewhere and you will have somewhere comfy for friends/clients to sit and and a good sound absorber to boot!
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Old 08-21-2015, 04:28 AM   #19
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Tack så mycket Svinpetter for the links.

blade: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/pr...68/#/S69005892
Any comments? almost not kidding actually (sound review on my sofa) heh
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Old 08-21-2015, 03:34 PM   #20
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Looks very nice - lots of thick cushions to help control frequencies bouncing around the room. Pricey though - I got my studio couch for £0.99p on ebay!
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Old 08-21-2015, 10:53 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tomm View Post
Or just keep the rolls of insulation in their packaging and stack them vertically in each corner, forming large columns.
WARNING! DO NOT TRY THIS IF YOU ARE MARRIED!!!!!!!



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Old 08-22-2015, 12:23 AM   #22
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Blade: Sure, just inspect the thing before you sit so you don't get pregnant or something. (JK!)
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