Acoustic Foam Panel Placement & Positioning (Do’s & Dont’s)

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Proper audio processing is essential for any environment where critical listening is desired. Home theaters, recording studios, music rooms and even communal spaces can benefit from varying degrees of sound processing. For example, I’ve seen a lot of beginner sound engineers use foam padding on every wall in their creative spaces to emulate what’s seen in professional recording spaces.Treating the room in this way is thankfully unnecessary and may result in poorer sound quality. Which begs the question – does acoustic foam really work?To properly answer this question, we must first understand the physical properties of sound.

First, a summary of what the audio is…

Contents

Sound is simply our perception of vibrations in the air. When a guitarist strums a string, the back-and-forth motion of the string creates micro-vibrations in the air that spread out like ripples in a pond. We were enamored with the sound of music as those back-and-forth ripples entered our ears.Sound becomes very complex in rooms because it bounces and reflects off walls, floors, ceilings, and any other surface (including you). There are also strong resonances forming in all the rooms based on their length, width and height. These reflections and resonances create the sound in your room. For example, consider how your voice in the bathroom compares to your bedroom. Read more: Where is clay found? | It is important to understand that these room colors can be very beneficial or very detrimental to our work as sound engineers. In the case of a home studio, a single bedroom often functions as both a mixing room and a recording environment. Therefore, colors less than star room will likely negatively affect the following:

  • Instrument selection, tuning and preparation
  • Microphone selection
  • Microphone placement
  • Balance level
  • Digital signal processing in a digital audio workstation

Sound absorption and foam

So what can we do with bad room colors? Cue handles acoustics. Acoustic processing, such as foam, is a great way to combat unwanted room coloration and restore precision to our listening spaces. Here are some examples of acoustic treatments and methods of creating room sound.

  • Absorption
  • Diffusive
  • Resize room or wall
  • Location of the device in the room
  • Location of the listener in the room
  • Computer Programs

Acoustic foam, i.e. absorption, is a very popular method of sound treatment because it is both readily available and relatively inexpensive. This is great news! Acoustic foam works by reducing the amount of acoustic energy in the room. Sound energy does not disappear, instead, it is converted into other forms of energy. Recall that sound is microscopic vibrations in the air. As those vibrations travel through the foam, the material membranes vibrate as well. The result of these oscillations is friction and heat. Viola… the sound energy is dissipated as heat. With this understanding of acoustic foam, it is essential to understand that any porous material or fabric absorbs sound. This means that blankets, couches, pillows, window blinds, laundry and clothes you’re wearing now function as sound absorbers. So finally to answer the question, there’s the sound foam that doesn’t work.

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Consider the type of acoustic foam

Professional audio companies, such as Auralex and GIK Acoustics, use specific materials for their absorbing properties. This means that there is a difference between the membranous structure of the foam pad and the structure used to process the sound. Furthermore, many professional companies will only use time-tested and durable materials to build fire codes. It is important to consider whether your treatment is acoustic foam or just foam. Another important factor for absorption is the thickness of each sheet. As a general rule, thin audio processing pieces aim for higher frequencies. Much thicker material is needed to effectively absorb the lower frequencies. Therefore, using only thin acoustic foam will disproportionately absorb high frequencies with no benefit in the lower frequency regions. The result is an unnatural sounding and music-free room. This leads us to a simple tip to improve your audio processing without spending extra money.Advice on soundproof foam panel placementAs a general rule, thin audio processing pieces aim for higher frequencies. Much thicker material is needed to effectively absorb the lower frequencies.

Prepare your mount

Let’s say you already have some sonic foam in your hand. Most people tend to mount their foam panels directly on the wall. This greatly limits its effectiveness because thinner absorbers mainly deal with higher frequencies (this is the result of interactions between the particle velocity and the acoustic boundary with the surfaces). However, polyfoam is more effective at absorbing a wider frequency range. Therefore, mounting your thin acoustic foam board even a few inches from the wall can greatly improve its benefits. It’s doubly effective in that:

  • You will improve the lower frequency ranges affected by your treatment
  • You will further improve how well it absorbs high frequencies.
  • sound foam typeTo attach the foam board to the wall, you only need to use simple household items like strips of cardboard. Personally, I like to use wooden trim strips like this, however, the material is not as important as the distance from the wall and the location in the room.

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    Acoustic Foam Location & Location Tips

    Handling the first reflection points

    Start by dealing with the first reflection points on the horizontal axis. If you’re not sure where this is, take a listening position and imagine where the sound from the speakers hits the side wall and bounces back to you. It is important to put audio processing here as it will improve your stereo width and clarify your image.

    Pay attention to weak areas

    You should consider placing some audio processing equipment between the speakers and your front wall. Applying audio processing here helps reduce reflections coming from the back of your speakers. This is a complex area because boundary interactions can cause a significant drop in your low-mid frequencies; However, for most home studios, it’s best to place the speakers close to the wall as recommended by the manufacturer. If there is a gap between the wall and the speaker, put sound-absorbing foam in it.

    Don’t forget the corners

    If possible, install some soundproof foam panels all over the corners of your room. This can be done between two horizontal walls or even the ceiling and side walls. This will inherently create a large air gap behind the foam. This can be your starting point for absorbing the low frequency resonances mentioned above. As your studio grows, you’ll need to add larger and thicker absorbers in your corners to further handle bass resonances.DSC01633 minutesIf possible, install some soundproof foam panels all over the corners of your room.

    Build a Sound Cloud

    Read more: How to spot fake Ferragamo Gancini Belts (Fake vs. Real) This next recommendation is easiest if you have a drop-hanging ceiling. Your goal is to create a sound “cloud” that hangs a few inches from the ceiling above your listening position or instrument. This is the same as the first recommendation that you are applying an acoustic treatment to the first reflection point above you.

    Use furniture

    Sound processing can also be placed directly behind you on the back wall of your room. Placing a couch in this position can also be extremely helpful – remember that any soft foam material will absorb sound. What’s more, you may not need as much sonic foam as you’ve enhanced the effect of what you already have. This is truly a win-win situation.DSC01620 minutesCreate a sound “cloud” that hangs a few inches from the ceiling above your listening position or instrument.

    Don’t abuse it

    Acoustic foam can be a great first step in improving the acoustics of a room; However, if used too much it can make the room lifeless, unbalanced and unnatural. There is a very common trap that I myself fell into as a beginner. First, people buy cheap packing foam or mattress pads and then put them on the wall on their own. It is then brought to the extreme, whereby almost all surfaces are covered with foam. Unfortunately, this is all too common and it doesn’t lead to the best sounding room for recording or music production.

    • Your room feels uncomfortable.
    • The music quality seems lifeless and unnatural.
    • Your recordings always sound nasty and or muddy.
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    Recommendations for soundproof foam

    While it may be tempting to buy unbranded items due to the cost, you’re not doing yourself any favors. Many of these products are not tested and therefore have poor performance. What’s more, I’ve personally seen some of these cheaper alternatives start to degrade over time. There are many large and start-up audio processing companies out there. Therefore, I strongly recommend that you do your own research and see what suits your needs. Fortunately, many of these groups offer free audio consultations. This is a shortlist of some excellent manufacturers.

    • Auralex Acoustics
    • GIK Acoustics
    • ATS . Acoustics
    • Acoustics ready
    • RealTraps
    • John Hunter Acoustics

    Epilogue

    It can easily cost thousands of dollars to properly treat a room. This is largely due to lower frequency resonances, which tend to require more advanced and calibrated forms of treatment. However, that’s not to say that the acoustics of a room can’t be dramatically improved with minimal treatment applied properly. Hopefully these tips will get you in the right mindset that you don’t need to spend ridiculous amounts of money to get the job done. Remember – there are many musicians and producers who release professional work in very modest home studios – thought Billie Eilish. Don’t get discouraged by the glamor of commercial settings, start experimenting with what sounds best in your space and always remember to stay positive, push your musical boundaries and have fun. ! Read more: Sun & Moon Pokemon Guide: Where to Find & Catch Rockruff, Pichu, Ditto, Mudbray & Other Useful Pokemon

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