reducing the echo in practice room

therex · #1 01-06-2009, 08:36 AM

not sure if this belongs here but i hope if not some mod moves it to the right forum
the practice room for my band is a small room with lots and lost of echo, what can i do to reduce it? i am going to put lots of sponge in the walls to see what happens. i heard thats a cheap solution, but other ideas? i dont have much money for this, in fact i dont have any money right now
EDIT: i did not get to buy the sponge yet, i'll do more research

Bassamatic · #2 01-06-2009, 08:54 AM

You need to out some kind of sound absorbing material at least on 2 walls that touch each other - probably behind the drummer. It can be carpeting, heavy drapes or foam rubber. The floor should also be treated with a heavy carpet if it is hard as there can be a lot of refection between floor and ceiling. Also - if the room has a lot of echo, don't play too loud.

Timbo · #3 01-06-2009, 08:55 AM

eggcarton glued to particle board.

Beyer160 · #4 01-06-2009, 08:59 AM

Dumpster-diving behind carpet stores is a rock band rite of passage- you shouldn't have to look hard to find a dumpster overflowing with scrap rolls of old carpet. The trick is not to deaden the room too much- you need some reflections, or everything will sound muddy and indistinct. I wouldn't cover more than 50% of your wall surface.

debassr · #5 01-06-2009, 09:00 AM

Just don't use the soundproofing they used here!

megadan · #6 01-06-2009, 09:03 AM

Blankets, mattresses, egg cartons, whatever you can put in for mass and non parallel surfaces.

Purists might decry you for non proper sound absorbing methods, but what can you do? It's a jam room and you have no money. Blankets on all the walls worked fine for us when we used to jam in the basement.

therex · #7 01-06-2009, 12:14 PM

thanks for the advice guys
i`ll try with some blankets in the next practice

MindSpark · #8 01-08-2009, 04:57 AM

Watch this video:
http://www.artistshousemusic.org/vid...ts+on+a+budget

therex · #9 01-08-2009, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MindSpark

Watch this video:
http://www.artistshousemusic.org/vid...ts+on+a+budget

anyone tried this?

projectMalamute · #10 01-08-2009, 06:27 PM

A lot of these suggestions are a really bad idea.

The problem with mattresses, foam, egg cartons, carpet, etc. is that it will absorb high frequencies and do nothing at all for low frequencies. This gives you an unnaturally muted sounding room, sucking out all of the cues that our brains use to differentiate and localize sounds without doing much of anything to the frequencies where most of the power in the sound actually lies. Net result: muddy, crappy sounding room and you end up turning up all the amps to hear yourself better, resulting in a muddier, crappier sound etc. Bad news.

Good information on how to deal with acoustics in a more systematic and effective manner here:

http://ethanwiner.com/acoustics.html

chjohnst · #11 01-08-2009, 06:30 PM

The doors recorded their first album with moving blankets on the walls.. the album is a classic now.. go figure.

megadan · #12 01-08-2009, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by projectMalamute

A lot of these suggestions are a really bad idea.

The problem with mattresses, foam, egg cartons, carpet, etc. is that it will absorb high frequencies and do nothing at all for low frequencies. This gives you an unnaturally muted sounding room, sucking out all of the cues that our brains use to differentiate and localize sounds without doing much of anything to the frequencies where most of the power in the sound actually lies. Net result: muddy, crappy sounding room and you end up turning up all the amps to hear yourself better, resulting in a muddier, crappier sound etc. Bad news.

Good information on how to deal with acoustics in a more systematic and effective manner here:

http://ethanwiner.com/acoustics.html

I think most of us realize this, but the fact is that you can't convince people into having a budget. He has no money, we've all been there, so we're just trying to advise on what kinda works for cheap.

Carpet and blankets are better than nothing, you just have to be careful with your bass frequencies.

therex · #13 01-08-2009, 08:07 PM

woah, you guys really can be helpfull
what do you think of 2" thick sponges in 2 walls? i heard it should work but any feedback is great
also the main problem is that the sound inside the studio is damn muddy, nothing is clear
the drumset sound twice as loud in this room because of the echo and reverb
the guitar sounds like you put lots and lots of reverbs pedals in the chain pedal, and bass is pure mud, i am really annoyed at this, this is really ruining band rehearsals

amistybleu · #14 01-08-2009, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by therex

woah, you guys really can be helpfull
what do you think of 2" thick sponges in 2 walls? i heard it should work but any feedback is great
also the main problem is that the sound inside the studio is damn muddy, nothing is clear
the drumset sound twice as loud in this room because of the echo and reverb
the guitar sounds like you put lots and lots of reverbs pedals in the chain pedal, and bass is pure mud, i am really annoyed at this, this is really ruining band rehearsals

Carpet under the drums will help, hang a blanket over the drums, drums tend to overpower and the blanket although very minimally will give you the sense of a higher ceiling. deadening sound at first point of reflection will help on walls, add a couch in the room if you have one and pack corners of the room to deal with bass frequencies.

In my Studio/jamspace we have done all of these principals using OC 703 which has excellent sound conditioning properties, work with what you have until you can afford better.

derrico1 · #15 01-09-2009, 01:30 AM

If your room's a sonic mess and money's tight, you could monitor via a headphone amp at rehearsals.

BillyIVbass · #16 01-09-2009, 01:35 AM

Blankets are great. Covering a wall helps. Those carpet cubicles are great and can also be made cheap. Just also take note, most makeshift sound-proofing increases fire hazards, so also make sure gear is turned off, unplugged and be careful with smoking etc.

nemo · #17 01-09-2009, 01:48 AM

For cheap - heavy drapes, carpet, and mostly - some old sofa or two.
Besides other uses, it is a great bass freq. (boom) absorber.

Egg cartons are useless. Skip that.

sonic assassin · #18 01-09-2009, 02:09 AM

couches make good bass traps. parallel walls cause a lot of reflections. try to pad the corners of the walls the most, as a mess can hang out in there.

there are many sites for building DIY bass traps.

ive heard that plants make great high frequency sound defusers. apparently sound bounces around the leaves and then dissipates.

therex · #19 01-09-2009, 01:29 PM

fiiting a sofa in my practice room? yeah right, this room is tiny for that so saddly it cant be done, but i`try with 4 heavy blankets i have in no use

hbarcat · #20 01-09-2009, 02:18 PM

If you have no budget, then scrap carpeting works the best at absorbing mid to high frequencies. (get shag carpet if you can).

The only way to absorb bass frequencies it with properly constructed bass traps set in the corners of the room. If you have no budget, then you need to search for DIY bass traps.

This book includes information on sound treatment for many types of rooms including a small project room with a live band.
Sound Studio Construction on a Budget - F. Alton Everest