Bass trapping / sound dampening on the cheap
At a little under $50/trap, this is one of the most economical ways to treat a home studio. Compare to $200 for a similarly sized and similarly performing panel from RealTraps, or $135 from ReadyAcoustics fully assembled with a frame.


What do I need?

I would recommend starting with treating corners closest to your monitors and first reflection points on walls (6 traps), e.g.,:
http://www.readyacoustics.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=26

If your budget and space allows, treating rear corners and the next closest reflection points (ceiling and/or back wall) would be recommended as well (8+ traps) - along the lines of:
http://www.readyacoustics.com/index.php?main_page=popup_image&pID=27


Supplies:

- Ready acoustics 'ready bags - broadband bass trap' bags. These are fabric bags which will enclose the insulation so you don't have to worry about handling traps or having ugly insulation around uncovered. Buy one for each trap.

readyacoustics.com
http://www.readyacoustics.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=26_11_2&products_id=4

I would recommend ordering these first - the supplier has been known to have significant delays in fulfillment. You probably want to call to find out whether a particular item is in stock - the website isn't kept up to date very well. Note I've been quoted wildly inaccurate estimates for when an item not in stock might be available to ship (off by 2-3 months, in some cases), so if you need something soon, make sure it's in stock when you order.

Note the dye used for darker/more brightly colored bags is likely to rub off on walls - "magic erasers" work ok to take marks off on matte finish paints, but I had to repaint a room where I used these which had been painted with semi-gloss. Stick with lighter colors (white, sand, grey, tan) if you don't want to worry about cleaning up walls.

Cost is about $30/bag.


- johns manville 'spin-glas 814' sheets, 24" x 48" x 2" - two for each trap. These come in bundles of 9 sheets - they're less messy to handle in bundles, but they're quite bulky - only one fit in my car at a time. The supplier said they sell them in individual sheets if need be, last I checked (mid-2009).

Keep in mind these are fiberglass and may irritate the skin if you touch them without gloves; they'll also "shed" fibers until you get them into the bags. It wouldn't be a bad idea to wear one of those dust masks while handling them either, particularly during assembly.

Available from MacArthur Co. in St. Paul, near 280 and University.
2400 Wycliff Street
St Paul, MN 55114-1268
(651) 646-2773

(Johns Manville is distributed outside the mpls/stpl area, but you're on you own for finding a supplier. Check the dealer locator on their website - you're looking for 'mechanical insulation', and make sure the HVAC box is checked when you search.)

Cost should be around $8 per sheet (price checked mid-2009). I wouldn't buy the insulation until you have confirmation the bags have been shipped (unless you have a place to store it).


Assembly notes:

The bags are designed to fit tightly around the insulation, so it can be a bit tricky to get them in. I used cardboard on either side of the insulation to help slide it into the bags.

Assembly will get some insulation fibers on the outside of bags, which can be cleaned up pretty easily with packing tape.
- posted by vcmc @  1/09/2010 01:15:00 PM