John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum

Hello,

I have a somewhat small space (10.5' x 14.5') that I am using as both a mixing and tracking room. So with this in mind I am trying to maximize my space. I notice that there is a lot of empty space behind bass traps in the corners, where a standard 2x4 DIY bass trap would go in a corner. So I was wondering if anyone has made a corner (triangle) shelving unit and then placed a 2x4 (or a floor to ceiling 2x8) bass trap over the shelves, hinged them to the frame of the corner shelf unit and then had the bass trap act as a door to the corner shelves?

I'm thinking even if I don't put in the corner/triangle shelves, if i made a 8 ft x 2 ft bass trap for the corner (floor to ceiling) and gave it a handle and hinges I could store mic stands in that corner or possibly guitar cases or maybe even just put in a bunch of hooks on the wall and store my cables back there. If I did this in all four corners of my room it could really add a lot of storage potential.

This poster on GearSlutz seems to have had a similar idea but it looks like a dead thread:
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much-gear-so-little-time/145846-corner-storage-closet-bass-trap.html

This webpage shows one that leaves an empty space for a shelf in the middle of a floor-to-ceiling bass trap:
http://www.kymatasound.com/Bass_traps.htm (scroll about half way down to where it says "Traps as Furniture")

I tried searching on this forum but couldn't find any info on this idea.
What are your thoughts? Thank you!

Interesting concept.... Putting a couple of mic stands in there probably wouldn't do any harm, but I reckon a guitar case might have a pretty large effect! I just wouldn't have a clue what that effect would be, After all, a guitar case is basically a resonant cavity all by itself, so its hard to say how things would work out if you put it inside a bass trap. I wouldn't do that, if I were you. But like I said, a mic stand or two right in the corner, or a couple of cables hanging on hooks, probably wouldn't do too much harm.

But you'd be on your own as far as measuring and testing go. I doubt there's any published literature on the effects of mic stands and cables on bass trapping!

- Stuart -

I agree with Stuart that small thin objects are fine, but large things will reduce the size of the air cavity. Still, just having thick rigid fiberglass across the corners will help a lot, even with a guitar case behind. Another possibility is to have twice as many traps, flat on the walls as shown below. You lose the advantage of having the traps out from the corner, but gain by having twice as much surface area. And in your case you gain by having the traps impinge less into the room.

--Ethan

Great advice. I didn't even think about just lining the corners instead of placing across the corner. i think I might do the corner lining in the tracking part of my room (to maximize floor space) and then I'll do my corner storage idea with a bass trap door for the mixing portion of my room.

Thank you so much for the great feedback.

-Doyle

Ethan,

To be sure I understand, are you talking about panel traps, positioned in the corner (as in your picture) or simple rigid fiberglass?

Scott

Any type of bass trap works well when mounted like that, but in this case I meant 4-inch thick rigid fiberglass. If you can go six or even eight inches thick, all the better.

--Ethan

Thanks Ethan for the clarification.

I have a bit of 1 - 1 1/2 inch ductboard around here that I could much easier stack to 4-6 inches thick and mount in a corner like that than straddle in the usual way.

It may not be as easy to work with as a single sheet across a corner, but it's free since I already have it.

S