Foam For room

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Faze 2 Studios
Member Since: Aug 15, 2005

ok so heres the deal. Im really wondering if foam is worth the money. I have a room that has some flutter echo's, its a bit on the bassy side, and has a bit of a very high ring sometimes when recording drums. i was wondering if getting some arulex foam or something of that sort would help out my situation.

if foam is what yu guys would suggest should i get that expensive arulex foam? or would stuff from foambymail.com work just as well? reason i ask is cuase foam by mail looks a lot like the same thing just... massivly less expensive. and im really not looking forward to spenidng a lot of money on foam to hear a slight improvement and have my studio look more sexy.

anybody have experience with either product?

thanks a lot

-Melty

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www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Dec 19, 2006 11:48 pm

If you ask the pros they will tell you "foam ain't worth ****" Much more can be accomplished by using bass traps, diffusers and sound absorbers.

With that being said, I have the foambymail stuff and really, I don't think there is much difference between that and Auralux (but I have no way of doing a A/B comparison). The foam definately tamed my room but without a doubt a proper treatment would have been better.

Are you talking about a control room or a live room?

Check out GIKAcoustics.com and RealTraps.com for a bit of insight.

You can also build your own traps using RockWool. Seems pretty easy and you can build them for pretty cheap. If I had to do it again I would go this route. Actually, I will be adding some RockWool to my room soon.... well hopefully :)

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Dec 20, 2006 07:57 am

Hue has used their stuff too, he's liked it.

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Dec 20, 2006 11:16 am

Well, Auralex was designed to do exactly what you want to do: tame flutter, echo, and standing waves. I've heard lots of success stories from using that stuff.

I think that you just have to make sure to place it correctly, and understand what you're trying to accomplish by using that stuff. Auralex's website has a lot of great info about acoustical treatments of rooms.

SM7b the Chuck Noris of Mic's
Contributor
Since: Jun 20, 2002


Dec 20, 2006 01:07 pm

I have both kinds and don't see a bit of difference. the auralex web site has a tone of good info and i've used there custom room thingy and it help out a lot. Using the info and buying less expensive products withga little DIY , i've been able to make a couple of great sounding rooms.

Eat Spam before it eats YOU!!!
Member
Since: May 11, 2002


Dec 20, 2006 05:16 pm

I have an aurelex roominator kit but I'm going non-foam in the new setup... I think it'll actually cost less... The primary difference between the foams is how well they burn. Stapleing egg crate to a wall definatly violates firecode... Foam apparently was the main culplet in the big nightclub fire in Rhode Island that killed 96 back in 2003.
www.cnn.com/2003/US/North...nightclub.fire/

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Dec 20, 2006 05:50 pm

From the Auralex website
[quote]1. Are Auralex acoustical foam products fire retardant?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes. All Auralex acoustical foam products are fire retardant. Auralex acoustical foam is specifically designed to be fire retardant to better meet building and fire codes. This has always been the case with Auralex acoustical foam products since they are designed specifically for use as acoustical treatments. (Note: Auralex fire retardants are chemically added to the foam. They are not sprayed on.)[/quote]

Although Auralex maybe fire retardent, it doesn't mean the others are. It is best to be sure before you endanger yourself and your family. Egg Cartons are a big no no and they don't do squat anyways.

Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004


Dec 20, 2006 07:08 pm

RockWool, eh ?

I never thought of using that stuff for that purpose... great for hydroponics, though .

If you go that route, make sure you handle the stuff damp, or at least while wearing a mask... extruded glass dust is very nasty on the lungs .

That foambymail stuff works exactly the same as Auralex, as far as I can tell... as long as it's the 'double density' stuff, which is what they use to make their acoustic line, but also used in some of their 'sheet' products .

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Dec 20, 2006 07:24 pm

Here's a great link to DIY bass traps
gearslutz.com/board/showthread.php?t=87464

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Dec 20, 2006 08:45 pm

OK, here is the deal. There is a huge differance between the cheap foam and the Auralex and other expensive foams. Its called density. Cheap foam is just that, cheap. Very lightly compressed with not much density. The comparison would be like sheet rocking your wall with a piece of newspaper instead of 1/2" gypsum. Auralex and the other expensive foams use highly compressed foam that will not just baffle but tame the audio waves. That is why there is a differance in their bass traps, and the differant heights of faom wedges and pyramids and such. They all perform slightly differant function's.

I use the Auralex stuff and have used the cheap stuff. I can tell you from experience that there is a huge difference. But as stated above, you need to figure out how much and what exactly you need. And reflective surfaces as well can help tame it, such as bookcases and shelves and the like. you may find that adding the correct amount of foam will eliminate the need for bass traps or that you might only require a couple bass traps and a few strategically placed sheets of 2" wedge. Because of the stuff in here I don't need any bass traps and the reflective surfaces take care of any standing waves. So for me it was just placing the Auralex in the right amount on the walls in the right places.

Oh ya, and by the way. The Auralex foam IS a sound absorber. Just thought I would mention that.

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