• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass DIY Sound Absorption Panels for Home Recording

rickwolff

rickwolff

‘Leave the clams in, let ’em know we're human,'
Supporting Member
Dec 24, 2012
3,609
5,770
Hudson Wisconsin (15 miles from St. Paul/Mpls
#1
I've been doing some casual home recording - Piano, Vocal, Bass - for demos and auditions and such. I'm looking to get some isolation between instruments so we can do a better mix.

I'm thinking of building some frames and using rockwool insulation ( ROCKWOOL Safe 'n' Sound 3 in. x 15-1/4 in. x 47 in. Soundproofing Stone Wool Insulation (1-Bag)-RXSS31525 - The Home Depot ) maybe building frames 32 w x 48 high and hinging several together.

I found this on youtube and it seems to demonstrate the effectiveness of treating a whole room this way - but I'm just looking to make some small panels to put in front of my bass (and maybe behind the piano)

Any thoughts? Has anyone done this? I'm looking for just a simple inexpensive way to create a little bit of isolation. I'm pretty happy with the recorded sound I'm getting straight from my bass into the onboard mics on the Zoom Q8 placed about a foot in front of my bass. Here are a couple examples recorded in my home practice room which is fairly live with no sound treatment other than a 5x8 rug on the floor under the bass.
 

Attachments

#3
Typically, those types of panels are used against walls or in corners to reduce reflections and/or absorb certain frequencies. I’m not sure they will be effective as isolation between instruments.

I’m sure you could find a discussion forum focused on recording practices that could provide advice.
 
#7
I installed floor to ceiling rock wool panels in the corners of my 15x16' music room, and also made framed rock wool inserts for the windows when want to record. There's also an array of panels hanging from the ceiling. In my experience, the 2" thick sheets are fine and not too visually intrusive. Finding the sweet spot of each room is the tough part, getting it to be "controlled but not dead". One bit of advice, though: be careful when cutting this stuff and fitting it into the panels, and get it covered ASAP - the tiny fibers in this stuff will make you itch for days, and be sure to wear a mask so you don't inhale the nearly invisible particulate stuff that floats around when you cut it.
 
#8
don't forget to leave some space between the rockwool and the wall you are attaching it to; you expand the frequencies that are being "absorbed"

Their effectiveness in isolating instruments is that it limits the frequencies generated by other instruments leaking into your well placed mic (that is, sound bouncing off bare walls.).

Bookcases can indeed be very useful behind a mic (i.e. face the bookcase when you play, the back of the mic is pointing to the bookcase). I have done this successfully a few times.
 
#10
My room is covered in VPR type 1 and 2 on walls and corners plus rpg BAD panels in the ceiling. With thin rockwool, sub 150hz remains untreated while reverb time is greatly reduced above this. Not optimal for recording IMO.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back