#1868049 - 01/07/08 09:21 AM
Using mattresses for sound absorption / room deadening
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hamishanderson
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Registered: 01/07/08
Posts: 13
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I've recently built a studio - approx 18 feet x 18 feet, brick on the back wall (which the speakers are in front of: they have to stay on that wall) and drywall on the other three
walls. The ceiling is tin, 11 feet high. The room is VERY live, and I need to absorb and reflect some sound, however I currently have no budget for this - I will hopefully be able to spend some money in a few months, but I need to try to do something right
now, as the room is very difficult to work in, and I certainly can't mix in there. I'm wondering if mattresses (which i can get for free from Craigslist) will be any help in absorbing some sound and helping to deaden the room, especially if i put some behind the speakers. Could you please let me know if you think they'd be any help, and also whether you think futon
mattresses (which I think may be denser) would be more or less effective than regular mattresses?
Thanks,
Hamish
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#1868059 - 01/07/08 09:47 AM
Re: Using mattresses for sound absorption / room deadening
[Re: hamishanderson]
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Rod Gervais
Senior Member
Registered: 10/08/03
Posts: 495
Loc: Central Village, CT
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The answer is that they all will be pretty much garbage -
They will help to deaden high mid and high frequencies - but they will not do a single thing with low frequencies - and you're going to end up with a room that is not bright and very muddy - with mixes that will never translate well in the real world.
Understand that the only thing that could be worse than what you have now (dimensionally) would be if the ceiling height were 18' too =-
the square room is a modal nightmare - with mode building up on modes because of the same WxL dimensions.
BTW - if you decide to do this - be concerned with the flamability of the products you are using - you can create a death trap pretty quickly using the wrong materials.
Sincerely,
Rod
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#1868179 - 01/07/08 12:52 PM
Re: Using mattresses for sound absorption / room deadening
[Re: Rod Gervais]
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autoSteve
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Registered: 01/02/08
Posts: 8
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Are there any stories of square rooms actually working??? I'm having to set up in a squareish room too and I'd like to know any tips on getting going with it. From what I gather its better to go 'deader' in a room like this. Would that be correct?
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#1868239 - 01/07/08 02:54 PM
Re: Using mattresses for sound absorption / room deadening
[Re: autoSteve]
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Rod Gervais
Senior Member
Registered: 10/08/03
Posts: 495
Loc: Central Village, CT
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Steve,
It isn't a matter of being "better" to go deader - it's a matter of having to go deader to acheive the same results as far as modal activity goes - so in the end the room ends up deader than one would want going into it.
Yes there have been successful working rooms made out fo square rooms - but it takes more treatments than for rectangles.
Rod
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#1868284 - 01/07/08 03:56 PM
Re: Using mattresses for sound absorption / room deadening
[Re: Rod Gervais]
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autoSteve
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Registered: 01/02/08
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Thanks Rod, is there anywhere you can point me to find more out about treating a square room???
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#1868366 - 01/07/08 05:41 PM
Re: Using mattresses for sound absorption / room deadening
[Re: Rod Gervais]
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hamishanderson
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Registered: 01/07/08
Posts: 13
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Well, that was profoundly depressing, but thanks for the info. A couple of questions - if I made soem 703 corning bass traps to go with the mattresses, might that provide a more balanced approahc to deadening? Due to the size of the room, I think there's little danger of it ending up totally dead. Also, if I put some angled ply wood against the walls, will this diminish the evil effects of the room's square shape?
Thanks,
h
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#1869551 - 01/09/08 11:44 AM
Re: Using mattresses for sound absorption / room deadening
[Re: Ethan Winer]
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bigearededdie
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Registered: 01/11/06
Posts: 92
Loc: Spain
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Just to add a different opinion, mattresses are better than nothing, and if you can get them for free that makes them terrific, specially if your on a small budget. I'd go with the most dense ones though. I totally disagree with them being garbage.
I do agree about the flamability issue being a potential risk.
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#1870011 - 01/10/08 07:38 AM
Re: Using mattresses for sound absorption / room deadening
[Re: bigearededdie]
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Nolan Chiat
Senior Member
Registered: 06/06/07
Posts: 34
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Hamish, I tend to agree with Bigeareddie.
I'm no expert, but me thinks that scoring a bunch of futon mattresses for free is pretty cool if you got no money at the mo'. A foam matress will do nothing to absorb bass, BUT
A genuine futon (filled with cotton) is BLOODY heavy.
I'm pretty sure I've seen ,online, commercially available cotton batts that have high absorption coefficients for low freqs....point being:cotton does do something if it's dense enough.
A big couch can absorb some bass, so why not roll up 4 queen size futons and stand them on there sides in room corners ?!
Especially if it's free!
Also, take Ethan's advice about the Sticky thread.
Once you get the bigger picture about the acoustic problems you are faced with (bass being the big thorn in your side), you'll be able to make more meaningful decisions...even if your absorption is free.
There are a bunch of basic concepts that need you to crack their nuts.
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