Sound dampening recording box, we should make one (or more)!

[Paul Bonser]

So, this kickstarter didn't get enough pledges, but it got me thinking that we should make one of these for the space! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/snaprecorder/snaprecorder-portable-recording-studio

Basically we just need a few square feet of a couple different types of accoustic foam, and an adapter to hold a microphone, which we can make ourselves as well.

Does anyone happen to have or know of a source of a small amount of accoustic foam? Since it's such a small amount, I think it would make sense to use higher-quality stuff, rather than looking for a cheap option.

This stuff looks good for the inner layer: http://www.amazon.com/Wedge-Foam-Acoustic-Panels-Charcoal/dp/B00759D22C/

For the outer layer I'm assuming something with some stiffness to it is needed to keep the whole thing structurally sound.

Also, how would these be attached? Rubber cement or something like that?

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Paul Bonser | http://probablyprogramming.com | @pib

[Jon Kelly]

I'll ask an old high school friend if she knows of a good resource for acoustic panels, and installation techniques. I'm not sure what all she's involved in, last I heard was mostly movie work, but as an audio tech she might be able to give some direction.

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[Jon Kelly]

Actually, I just clicked on the links - are you referring to building an over engineered equivalent to putting a blanket around the back and sides of a microphone?

A slightly larger and modular recording booth would be a better use of time, the potential for picking up rear projection makes that box mostly useless. At best it gives you directional input for recording, but it does not account for the acoustics of the rest of the room. If you really wanted to, adding a padded shroud to drape over your head would resolve the issue, but then it would be difficult for a natural projection from the speaker.

[Paul Bonser]

I wouldn't call it over-engineered, and I'm pretty sure it would be a fair amount better than just a blanket at keeping out echos and environmental noise. Also, what do you mean by rear projection? There is a back on the box, so you won't get any sound from that direction.

Putting the microphone in a box like this greatly reduces the area from which noise can be picked up by the microphone. Most of the echos from your own voice would be hitting the back or sides of the box, since you would be projecting your voice toward it, and then there's a much narrower window for outside sounds to get in, a good portion of which you would be blocking with your own body.

It's not as good as a full-blown recording booth, but it's a lot smaller, a lot more portable, and a lot cheaper to build. To make a phone-booth-sized booth (assuming a 32*32*80 inner size), you'd need 78 square feet of accoustic foam. For the box I am proposing you need 6 or 7 square feet of accoustic foam (ok, sure, two different types of foam, but still cheaper than covering the inside of a phone booth). Also, a phone-booth-sized area is almost too small for a recording booth, so you'd probably want to make it more like picture-booth sized which is about double the area.

[Hans L]

I'm gonna guess that the outer foam is just extruded polystyrene that was spray painted black, the stuff they make the blue(dow) or pink(corning) wall insulation panels out of.

Also check these guys for the wedge foam, might be cheaper, depending on the amount you want to order.

Hans

[Hans L]

woops, forgot the link http://www.foambymail.com/acoustical-wedge-foam.html

[Chris Burton]

I've built a few vocal booths before for pro vocal recording. Ditto on what Paul said regarding the booth. 

For acoustical tile used to cancel echos... I've seen people achieve the same results with really cheap foam mattress toppers. The kind with peaks and valleys...not the flat memory foam type. They almost look like acoustic tiles.

I can see how the kick starter product might work for echo cancellation in a booth that was already safe from external noise. 

-Chris B

[Jon Kelly]

Rear projection, as in behind the vocalist or audio source. Like I said, it creates directional recording, as in all audio from the open side of the box, but the acoustics of the room will still be picked up - ambient sounds, any reverberations including audio projected from the vocalist against any non padded surface behind the box. The effect will reduced due to the restricted angle of possible reverberations but that is still a decent gap, which is why I suggested a padded shroud attached to the box.

In my opinion since even after you construct such a device the location in the room as well as the room itself has to be taken into account, makes it over engineered when you can accomplish the same (if not better) effect with a well structured pillow fort for zero dollars.

[Hans L]

Another material to consider would be rockwool aka mineral wool

64 sq ft for $60

http://www.lowes.com/pd_465053-1278-RXSS323_0__?productId=4382951&Ntt=roxul&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNtt%3Droxul&facetInfo=

Has really good sound absorbtion qualities and cheaper per sq ft than "acoustic foam"
http://www.roxul.com/files/RX-NA_EN/pdf/SafenSound.pdf

Hans

[Hans L]

A nice demo of rockwool acoustic insulation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKk8h05GjYw

[Steve Meyer]

Guitar Center used to sell the high quality 2 lb ester waffle foam by the square foot.  The really good stuff used to be Sonex, but I don't know if they are still making 2 foot squares.  It was kind of pricey.

Most suppliers have a favorite bonder like Super 77 spray.  

Steve Meyer

On Fri, May 24, 2013 at 3:37 PM, Paul Bonser <mist...@gmail.com> wrote:

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