Auralex

[SFM-Ptgal]

Watching this video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LISLe3fOY4U (@8'45'')

In my opinion, although the work isn't finished... My common sense (perhaps wrong) tells me that the use of that kind of foam will result in a reduced improvement. That room will be an AV studio. 60 bucks per sheet... waste, in my opinion...

What's your opinion?

 

[TomT]

I've used the Acoustics First products, they cost less than the Auralex.

For a large room like the one shown I would be inclined to use these:

http://bswusa.com/Acoustic-Treatment-Acoustics-First-AFR124-P64.aspx

with the conventional foam wedges in the area where mikes would be located (I gathered this was to be a video studio). Be aware that none of the foam products meet fire codes for many public places. The Respond panels do--they consist of a treated wood frame with fiberglass on one side & fire retardant fabric on the front. I like them because they can be hung just like a big picture--no need to glue them to the wall.

At 2 ft by 4 ft. & around $70 per panel, they cover a lot of area economically. Also, they can be ordered in a variety of different colors--much more appealing then dull looking black or grey panels.

We bought our third station 3 years ago, had to move and build new studios almost overnight. Ended up in a 3 bedroom split level. Used a couple of Respond panels & 2 boxes of the 2" foam in the master bedroom (which became the control room), and several different foam products besides the foam in a smaller bedroom which became the production studio. That room had particular problems because of road noise from the busy highway 50' away.

The counter top in the control room ended up being "chocolate chip" (mixed tan and brown color on an off white base-best we could get on short notice), so we used light green panels and tan acoustic foam. The production studio was done in charcoal foam with burgundy panels.

 

[rrsounds]

I've used the Acoustics First products, they cost less than the Auralex.

For a large room like the one shown I would be inclined to use these:

http://bswusa.com/Acoustic-Treatment-Acoustics-First-AFR124-P64.aspx

with the conventional foam wedges in the area where mikes would be located (I gathered this was to be a video studio). Be aware that none of the foam products meet fire codes for many public places. The Respond panels do--they consist of a treated wood frame with fiberglass on one side & fire retardant fabric on the front. I like them because they can be hung just like a big picture--no need to glue them to the wall.

At 2 ft by 4 ft. & around $70 per panel, they cover a lot of area economically. Also, they can be ordered in a variety of different colors--much more appealing then dull looking black or grey panels.

We bought our third station 3 years ago, had to move and build new studios almost overnight. Ended up in a 3 bedroom split level. Used a couple of Respond panels & 2 boxes of the 2" foam in the master bedroom (which became the control room), and several different foam products besides the foam in a smaller bedroom which became the production studio. That room had particular problems because of road noise from the busy highway 50' away.

I would be careful not to confuse sound isolation versus sound absorption. All the sound absorption in the world won't quiet a room that leaks sound from outside sources.
Take care of isolation first.

Years ago I did a studio installation with Armstrong's relatively cheap, basic SoundSoak cloth-covered fiberglas sheets full-height on the walls. By itself, glued to a wall using liquid nails, SoundSoak works pretty well, and has a canvas-like surface that is much less prone to damage than the foam rubber solutions, though it does need some kind of edge protection. Also, if mounted off the wall using two-by-fours on edge as studs, it will perform as a relatively simple bass trap, absorbing on a somewhat broader bandwidth than when directly attached to the wall.

David Reaves
Recklinghausen, Germany

 

[Kmagrill]

For decades radio stations have been hanging carpet (the higher the pile, the better) on the walls. Not as fancy as acoustic foam, but often "free" since it can be traded out. Does it work? Well, you get what you pay for, especially at bass frequencies. Still, carpet can be fairly effective at deadening reflections for general studio work, though certainly not as good as purpose-made sound absorbtion materials.

Dave's comment about sound isolation is well taken. Sound isolation is built into the structure of the room. If the room is not designed and constructed to prevent sound from entering the room, then you're not going to be able to solve the issue later by hanging some sound treatment on the walls. Isolation can involve floating rooms, rubber coated nails, offset studs, neoprene gaskets, double or triple pane isolated glass, solid or cork-filled doors and much more. Unfortunately, many stations inhabit old office space that can't be easily retrofitted.

 

[TomT]

With a two month deadline to move studios (purchase agreement signed October 15, house bought October 31, we had to be out of the old studios by 12/31); we weren't rebuilding what was a typical 80's bedroom. Then again, for radio--where everyone is close to the mike, just cutting down the reflections off the sheet rock walls made a big difference. Besides, the main studio was on the back of the house away from the road.

Our production studio would have benefited from some kind of sound isolation--if nothing else, closing in the windows. However, putting up foam on 3 sides pretty much eliminated the road noise & kept some natural light into the room.

Back to the TV studio: they will probably be using lavaliers for the most part, so they may get away with just cutting down the echos.

 

[SFM-Ptgal]

Yeap, they most use lavaliers for the serious stuff. (disclaimer: I'm not part of the GeekGroup organization). David's concern with the fire rating of the absorvers was big. Those rooms used to be gyms. One of them had glasswool frames hanged on the walls with were destroyed on the refiting.
The height that those tiles are hanged don't suggest me to be fire hazardous if a simple method like the old rockwoll frame and cloth was applied... and more cheaper... and more efective...

 

[TomT]

There are fire resistant cloth wall hangings available; the hanging fiberglass panels are fire resistant. Most all of the foams would not be acceptable if fire resistance is a criteria.