Isolation Speaker Cabinet Design

[Bongolation]

Has anyone here built or designed an isolation cabinet for the studio for either bass or guitar? Invalid Link Removed?

It would seem to me that these would pose some interesting acoustic challenges to design properly, but would be great if one could get them to work right.

Thanks for any constructive input on this question!

 

[billfitzmaurice]

The usual reason for that is to crank a guitar rig for massive crunch and not have to put the speaker in a separate sound-proof room. You could do the same with a bass, but more often than not direct to the board is done instead. The design is actually quite simple.

 

[Bongolation]

The usual reason for that is to crank a guitar rig for massive crunch and not have to put the speaker in a separate sound-proof room.

That's exactly what I want it for, to plug the head into an isolation cab as I haven't the soundproof room or resources to get one. I do have neighbors and hyperacusis.

You could do the same with a bass, but more often than not direct to the board is done instead.

Oh, I know that. Actually I'm doing this mostly for guitar. Bass goes into the board almost always, though this might also be useful for that as well -- who knows?

The design is actually quite simple.

What? You mean all that "Our computer aided cabinet design has helped us capture a 'neutral' guitar and bass sound environment" is merely a load of marketing puffery???

No! Say it isn't so!

Seriously, I had assumed that something like this would be pretty hard to build right, with odd porting, splayed surfaces, etc., etc., etc. Yes? No?

I was hoping that you would comment on it. I haven't gotten a single bite on this question elsewhere.

Really, this is my only hope for recording live amps around here.

Thanks for any advice or links!

 

[seamonkey]

Finally a bass use for a car woofer!

Sure you just don't want to look at some plugins or effects. They work really well these days.

 

[Bongolation]

Sure you just don't want to look at some plugins or effects. They work really well these days.

And better every week, but that's a different thread.

 

[billfitzmaurice]

.

Thanks for any advice or links!

Build a one cubic foot box, lined with acoustic foam, load it with the driver of your choice. Build another one cubic foot box to serve as the cover, also lined with foam. Put a mic inside the cover.

 

[Bongolation]

Build a one cubic foot box, lined with acoustic foam, load it with the driver of your choice. Build another one cubic foot box to serve as the cover, also lined with foam. Put a mic inside the cover.

I'm not sure if you're dismissively pulling my leg and effectively saying this entire concept is a lost cause from a technical standpoint or simply stating that the only important design issue is equal volumes on both sides of the cone.

If it's the second, and if the speaker half were ported (as I assume it should be for most guitar, at least) ought those port calculations be the same as if there were no cover?

 

[billfitzmaurice]

I'm not sure if you're dismissively pulling my leg and effectively saying this entire concept is a lost cause from a technical standpoint or simply stating that the only important design issue is equal volumes on both sides of the cone.

If it's the second, and if the speaker half were ported (as I assume it should be for most guitar, at least) ought those port calculations be the same as if there were no cover?

A port is not required in a guitar cab. You can use one in a bass version, but I wouldn't bother to unnecessarily complicate the build by using one. Keep in mind that the purpose of this rig is to capture the midrange coloration of a speaker. The best way to use this rig on bass is with one board channel taking the mic feed, for the mids, and another taking a DI feed for the lows.

 

[Bongolation]

OK, thanks for the tips! This looks to be an easier project than it seemed.