#1647789 - 04/19/04 07:55 PM
Multipurpose panels for Art/Recording Studio
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collinstore
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Registered: 04/19/04
Posts: 11
Loc: Portland, OR
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Hello everyone.
I have a rather large recording space (25X17X12) that's occasionally going to be used for small art shows. I'm working on constructing corner bass traps ala Ethan's, "Build a Better Bass Trap" article. However, I am also building some other, "multipurpose" 4'X6'X4" panels. I want to be able to suspend these from the ceiling in order to hang art. I also want to be able to use them as moveable divider walls for the purpose of separation in a recording situation.
One side is solid 1/4in. plywood so that I can hang art on it. I assume that makes that side more reflective. Inside the box is 3in. thick OC 703.
If my goal is to create panels that can isolate sound, should I stretch cloth across the other side to create both reflecting & absorbing sides? Or should both sides be plywood? If both sides were solid and I caulked the box so that it was air-tight, what effect would that have?
Thanks in Advance,
Collin
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#1647790 - 04/20/04 02:08 PM
Re: Multipurpose panels for Art/Recording Studio
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Ethan Winer
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Registered: 06/12/00
Posts: 5406
Loc: New Milford, CT, USA
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Collin,
> If my goal is to create panels that can isolate sound <
You won't get much isolation from a single piece of 1/4 inch plywood hanging in the air. It's not particularly thick, plus a lot of sound will go right around it.
> should I stretch cloth across the other side to create both reflecting & absorbing sides? <
Yes, this is a pretty common way to make dividers.
> If both sides were solid and I caulked the box so that it was air-tight, what effect would that have? <
Not much.
--Ethan
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#1647791 - 04/20/04 07:15 PM
Re: Multipurpose panels for Art/Recording Studio
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collinstore
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Registered: 04/19/04
Posts: 11
Loc: Portland, OR
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OK. Let me clarify a little bit maybe. These boxes will only be hung in the air part of the time (when displaying art) and in that situation their acoustic properties are not important. The rest of the time they will be on the ground and probably separating drums from guitar amps, etc.
I decided to use 1/4in plywood containing enclosing rigid fiberglass because that's what is used in your design for the low bass traps. Was this a bad idea?
Are you saying that if I made these boxes with two plywood sides sandwiching rigid fiberglass that most of the sound would simply go around them instead of being absorbed and that it would be better to leave one side more pourous so that the sound could enter the box and be absorbed?
Thanks so much for any advice. I've been trying to figure all this stuff out on my own and its been a really fun yet confusing learning process. This forum is a godsend.
-Collin 
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#1647792 - 04/21/04 01:09 PM
Re: Multipurpose panels for Art/Recording Studio
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Ethan Winer
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Registered: 06/12/00
Posts: 5406
Loc: New Milford, CT, USA
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Collin,
> I decided to use 1/4in plywood containing enclosing rigid fiberglass because that's what is used in your design for the low bass traps. <
But those are two entirely different things! The plywood in a panel trap has to resonate. That is exactly what you don't want in a divider.
> Are you saying that if I made these boxes with two plywood sides sandwiching rigid fiberglass that most of the sound would simply go around them instead of being absorbed <
Yes, at low frequncies anyway.
> it would be better to leave one side more pourous so that the sound could enter the box and be absorbed? <
As you described it, that box won't absorb anything. So any absorption you do get will be from the absorbing material.
--Ethan
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#1647793 - 04/21/04 05:25 PM
Re: Multipurpose panels for Art/Recording Studio
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collinstore
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Registered: 04/19/04
Posts: 11
Loc: Portland, OR
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Yeah, OK, I see what you mean. After re-reviewing the available info that makes a lot of sense. Does anyone know a DIY plan for a better moveable divider/broadband absorber?
Cheers,
Collin
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#1647794 - 04/21/04 06:31 PM
Re: Multipurpose panels for Art/Recording Studio
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Ethan Winer
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 06/12/00
Posts: 5406
Loc: New Milford, CT, USA
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Collin,
> Does anyone know a DIY plan for a better moveable divider/broadband absorber? <
Make it massive for isolation by using one or two layers of 3/4-inch MDF. Then make one or both sides absorbent by applying at least one thick rigid fiberglass.
--Ethan
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