Basement Studio Make Over

[WhiskeyJack]

That's kind of what i thought. From what i read that was exactly the impression i was left with and i really can't see setting things up like that as a wonderful use of space. Small-ish space on top of all that. I think maybe i will proceed as planned with the desk with built in monitor stands. Push come to shove i can make a few panels to put in front of them on the wall to try with and with out and see what difference there is.

thanks guys,

[liv_rong]

Yeah, this is America! I mean, CANADA! You put those god damn speakers as close as you want to the wall!

[WhiskeyJack]

Doing some pre shopping tonight and sadly my basstrap plans are botched already. The Rockwool i can get here comes in 3" thick slices.So not really close to 4" I could probably make the frames for them 4" inches but i don't know that 3" IS going to really cut the mustard. It looks like i kind of have to beef these suckers up to 6" thick.

Bummer.

On the bright side, I was rummaging in my garage and i am 99% sure i have everything i need out there to make a pretty kick ass desk. Probably about three of them lol. Definitely one for me and one for the wife at the very least. That was a nice surprise.

[rayc]

Yay, well 6" is better than 3" any day & it made right and hung right you'll be sweet.

[Ausrock]

Hey WJ, are your monitors front or rear ported?

Front ported means you can get away with them closer to the back wall, rear ported requires a much greater distance from the rear wall.

I started off with (rear ported) Tannoy Reveals and at mix down levels I could feel the air move 4' foot from the port, the end result to partially eliminate reflected bass was to build some 4" x 1" frames fitted with acoustic absorption and mount them on the wall in line with the rear ports. I've now added a pair of front ported near fields to help overcome the problem.

Re the corner traps.......the idea with absorption be it corner or elsewhere is to "weaken" the sound going in sufficiently that the residual reflected energy isn't enough to pass back out to any significant degree so the thicker, the better. The same applies to clouds above the mix position.

[WhiskeyJack]

Hey WJ, are your monitors front or rear ported?

Front ported means you can get away with them closer to the back wall, rear ported requires a much greater distance from the rear wall.

I started off with (rear ported) Tannoy Reveals and at mix down levels I could feel the air move 4' foot from the port, the end result to partially eliminate reflected bass was to build some 4" x 1" frames fitted with acoustic absorption and mount them on the wall in line with the rear ports. I've now added a pair of front ported near fields to help overcome the problem.

Re the corner traps.......the idea with absorption be it corner or elsewhere is to "weaken" the sound going in sufficiently that the residual reflected energy isn't enough to pass back out to any significant degree so the thicker, the better. The same applies to clouds above the mix position.

Cheers, Ausrock. I have Krk5's and they are front ported so that is a positive thing i think. Thanks for the clarification. I think i am just going to go with the 6" thick for sure. 3" seems futile. Still looking at ways to build these things i a cost effective way now. I was going to build frames out of 1 by 4 lumber but now that i need two units of the rock woll and 1x6 lumber i think i need to revist a 1x2 kind of frame. All good. A bit of a set back but no big deal.

[Ausrock]

Just a heads up from when I was looking to replace/supplement my Tannoys...........When KRKs first came on to the market they were touted as being the "bee's knees" in the mid range of near fields, unfortunately, as people spent time with them, they came to realise they could be a bit "Hi Fi ish" and not totally accurate as near fields, not a problem if you're aware of it and have different sound sources to trial your mixes out on before locking everything in.

[liv_rong]

FWIW I used 2" thick OC703 with a 2" air space behind on all of my wall and ceiling treatment. For the corners I doubled up on the material to bring my to 4". I wouldn't have any issues going to a 3" with just a 1" airspace behind and then 6" for the corners.

[WhiskeyJack]

FWIW I used 2" thick OC703 with a 2" air space behind on all of my wall and ceiling treatment. For the corners I doubled up on the material to bring my to 4". I wouldn't have any issues going to a 3" with just a 1" airspace behind and then 6" for the corners.

That is interesting liv. And your mixes and sounds typically turn out really great. I am kind of thinking i am going to go with the 6" thick bass traps for in the corners actually. It makes the most sense to me. It will have a pretty nice air gap in behind them and i think that alone will do wonders. I am thinking of maybe doing just a three inch panel for the walls, ceiling-wall corners etc.

How did you construct yours liv? I had it in my head that i was going to frame them in with 1x? dimensional lumber but according to the internet everyone is using little 1x2 pieces of wood and building a skeleton for a lack of better termas and wrapping it all up.

Is having a wooden exo skeleton (like a window frame) counter intuitive to the function of these panels? should the material within whatever it is encaused in be exposed to as much air flow as possible?

Curious also what Ausrock has for input re: the construction as well.

Just a heads up from when I was looking to replace/supplement my Tannoys...........When KRKs first came on to the market they were touted as being the "bee's knees" in the mid range of near fields, unfortunately, as people spent time with them, they came to realise they could be a bit "Hi Fi ish" and not totally accurate as near fields, not a problem if you're aware of it and have different sound sources to trial your mixes out on before locking everything in.

I am aware i didn't really buy a reliable workhorse for a monitor system but at the time that is what the budget dictated. Anything i make always get's listened to in different systems in different environments all the time. I know the Rokkit5 has some weird frequency dial in the back, but i don't really touch that much at all. Actually i don't know that i ever changed it from whatever the factory set it to? Maybe after i finish this mission of the do over i'll see what it does.

Anyways, some materials bought to start experimenting. OC703 is an abominable snowman it seems so i went with this. It seems to be the closest thing we in Narnia have readily available.

[liv_rong]

I do not think having wood sides makes any real difference, at least not at our level. I just used 1"x4" stock. I can take some pics later if you'd like, otherwise I have pics floating around in in some thread somewhere. I had thought having an air gap behind your panels was a good thing wherever they were placed. I dont remember the details, its been a few years since Ive thought about it lol.

[WhiskeyJack]

I do not think having wood sides makes any real difference, at least not at our level. I just used 1"x4" stock. I can take some pics later if you'd like, otherwise I have pics floating around in in some thread somewhere. I had thought having an air gap behind your panels was a good thing wherever they were placed. I dont remember the details, its been a few years since Ive thought about it lol.

Yes i would be curious to see yours actually.

I suspect i am simply overthinking / second guessing my every decision. Not a good quality i own. I think ill stick with the framed method. Maybe ill put spme grooves up the middle of the boards as an excuse to use my router

[liv_rong]

So the corner stuff I built like this, just 2x4's for quick support (old pictures from the OG version of this room)then added the insulation, stapled the fabric to the walls and covered it up with wood strips as pictured further down(old pictures from the OG version of this room):







The other stuff is just simple construction 1x4 material I screwed together and painted. I put the fabric sown, stuff the insulation in, then pulled tight and stapled it to the inside. Sorry no pics of the inside. But this is how it all looks now installed:

[WhiskeyJack]

That is slick.

That is identical to what i had in mind liv. So glad i am not crazy. They look really good. I like how you did the corners too. Totally simple approach i would have never even thought to do that. Dont think ill go that route for corners, but still very clever.

I think i may go for the 4 inch on the walls. I held a 6 inch board against the wall and that is alot of real estate to use up on the walls. It only two inches (thatswhatshesaid) but it males a difference imho

I have likely said it before but that room is very cool in general man. Nice space. Thanks for sharing man. Its help.

[Ausrock]

Curious also what Ausrock has for input re: the construction as well.

Just a heads up from when I was looking to replace/supplement my Tannoys...........When KRKs first came on to the market they were touted as being the "bee's knees" in the mid range of near fields, unfortunately, as people spent time with them, they came to realise they could be a bit "Hi Fi ish" and not totally accurate as near fields, not a problem if you're aware of it and have different sound sources to trial your mixes out on before locking everything in.

WJ,

Way back I'd made some roll around gobos that allowed me to create a degree of isolation on drums, amps, etc. They were approx., 1200 x 700mm (H x W), I actually took two of those and using "L" brackets mounted them on the wall. The frames were made from 4" x 1" pine and I designed them to have an absorptive side and a reflective side.............think as if you're looking side on........within the frame there's a 50mm semi rigid acoustic panel, then a 50mm air gap and then a 12mm MDF back. They were then covered in a black plastic sheet which was overlaid with coloured hessian (burlap) cloth.

I've since changed things but you can see one of the panels still on the wall in the attached old pic.

[JD01]

Liv, your room is fucking awesome.

[WhiskeyJack]

Liv, your room is fucking awesome.

Right?! Like what a nice spot to hide away in.


I got the frames for two bass traps sized and cut yesterday. We had massive high winds on saturday and not a lick of wind sunday so yesterday was largely spent blowing and mulching leaves while the temps were up and there was no wind.

I am going to leve lthat fucking lilac bush the next time my wife isn't looking though. trying to get leaves out of the base of that is like picking fly shit out of pepper.

[Tadpui]

Damn Liv, that's a great looking room! And I bet that it sounds just as good.

WJ, I'm very excited for you and your basement room. Sorry I haven't piped up before now, but that's an awesome project that you're undertaking.

[WhiskeyJack]

Damn Liv, that's a great looking room! And I bet that it sounds just as good.

WJ, I'm very excited for you and your basement room. Sorry I haven't piped up before now, but that's an awesome project that you're undertaking.

Thanks tad. As usual i am far behind schedule, but it is coming together. I should have the two panels for the corners put together tonight after work and then i am going to make shelves / stands for under them just to make a bit better use of the space / storage issues.

[WhiskeyJack]

Thanks tad. As usual i am far behind schedule, but it is coming together. I should have the two panels for the corners put together tonight after work and then i am going to make shelves / stands for under them just to make a bit better use of the space / storage issues.

You must be just about due to shoot yourself in the hand with a nail gun or something, yes?

HAHAH!!! I'll let you tomorrow. I am slapping the frame together for the corner units tonight and i got a new nailer i am gonna play with. SHould be interesting. These are headless 23 guage pins so in the event i shoot myself they should just go right through?

Right?

[JD01]

WJ, I'll be almost disappointed if you don't end up posting a Spinal Tap style story of painful injury at some point during this process.