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New Post 7/29/2007 7:27 PM
  JimmyC
14 posts
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Bass traps vs. foam 

I'm getting ready to dump more money into my home studio - essentially permanently converting the office into a true "studio" environment.  I'd like opinions on the relative importance of bass traps versus foam absorbers.

I've read in several places (including this site) that if you have the proper bass trapping, then having "liveness" in the room isn't such a bad thing.  Is this the case?

Do you mix in a live or dead space?  What do you prefer?

 
New Post 7/30/2007 6:10 PM
  Rip Rowan
3 posts
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Re: Bass traps vs. foam 
I prefer a room that's semi-live - it should sound "quiet" but not "dead" if that makes sense. To that end the main goal is to put diffusion on the walls where the first reflections are going to originate. The idea is essentially to "diffuse" the first reflections into an absorber, if that makes sense.

I've used RealTraps miniTraps liberally in my studio, and that's been all the absorption I need. Combined with some diffusion in the right spots (esp over your head) I get good results.

YMMV.
 
New Post 8/1/2007 12:59 PM
  Bill Park
13 posts
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Re: Bass traps vs. foam 

Jim,

The problem with foam is that the effective range rolls off way too soon.  So what happens when you use foams?  You kill the highs and mid-highs and mids, while leaving low mids and lows untreated.  Where are the problem areas, acoustically, in most small and home studios?  In the low mids and lows.

 

Foams can be used to augment and assist a well-trapped room, but usually you can get better performance over a wider audio bandwidth by using some rockwool or solidified fiberglas product... we typically talk about OC 703 or 705 as a shortcut, but really all the major insulation manufacturers make similar products, not just Owens Corning.... wrapped in an attractive cloth or architectural fabric.

My last studio was lined in bass traps based upon Ethan Winer's designs, and I used various thicknesses of 703 to control flutter echoes between parallel surfaces, wrapped in unbleached muslin, glued into small wooden trays, and mounted from the ceilings and walls at various angles.  My home writing room was tricked out in a Real Traps room kit.

You can get boatloads of information from Ethan's personal site, and from his company website.  (ethanwiner.com and realtraps.com)

 

  Bill

 
New Post 9/4/2007 11:09 AM
  apl
25 posts
No Ranking


Re: Bass traps vs. foam 

The best $150 I spent on anything recording related was a box of 703 and some $1/yd clearance fabric from Wal-Mart.  I wrapped them like a Christmas present and hot glued the fabric to the 703.  I put them up using push pins.  I was stunned by how much better the room sounds.

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v509/arvopl/?action=view&current=1172516286.pbw

 
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