Today we're back with Music City Acoustics to talk about how they build their acoustic panels 👊 What is your next DIY studio project? Be sure to check out the last video we did with Music City Acoustics all about common questions when it comes to studio acoustics th-cam.com/video/0uq7CJE_gW0/w-d-xo.html
I dont mean to be so off topic but does someone know a method to get back into an Instagram account? I stupidly lost my account password. I would appreciate any tricks you can offer me.
@Royce Johnny i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site on google and Im in the hacking process atm. Takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
You guys come up with amazing videos. I see that the fabric they use is very elastic, which gives great overall look. For not so elastic materials I would not start from the corners when stapling but rather go from mid to sides and go around the panel frame just as you would tighten screws on your wheels. This is what I was given as an advice from a carpenter and with the panels I made it turned out amazing. Keep up the amazing work, love your videos!!
Our standard fabric is quite stretchy but we also commonly use fabric from Guilford of Maine that has little to no stretch. The same wrapping technique works great for those fabrics as well. There is a tone of ways this can be done, so this is definitely just one option.
Nice and very understanding, is there any specific requirment for the backing fabric? like,airflow or somthing,is it pointless if i use Polypropylene material as backing fabric?
No, mineral wool in special textile, special cloth dont missed micro dispersion, it's not going outside box. Most studios have this panels. But if you make like this. Be careful, micro dispersion mineral wool in your lungs, create CANCER in 5 years breathing this.
To be fair I'm not sure much wool would ever be escaping the box. It's not like there will be much air current or disruption in general when indoors that might cause the wool to come out of the box.
Hi RJB, on a small scale yes it would be. However, when making panels on a larger scale there are a couple of reasons making the frames larger is not the best option. 1. When building the frames, we would have a ton of wood waste. With the dimensions of our frames, we have almost zero wood waste. The mineral wool is made of 70% recycled materials, so while it is unfortunate we can not use all of it, the waste doesn't have the same environmental impact. 2. If we were to make the frames larger, they would be 49.5"x25.5" making them significantly harder and more expensive to ship to our customers. Hope this clarifies.
@@MusicCityAcoustics I was wondering about the approach too, and it makes perfect sense. But that creates next question: can't wool offcuts be squished down in some mesh tube (wrapped in cloth again) to make some kind of low cost bass trap? Or would it be to much work for the potential turnup?
Any advice? .... got a small untreated room, having major issues around 140Hz cause of the low ceiling (about 7 feet high). Gonna get some wall panels and clouds made. Should I make 5cm thick panels with 5cm gaps behind them or make them 10cm and hang against the walls? Also, what's the best density I should get? Note, with the clouds I can also make them 10cm and hang them with a 10cm gap, but the walls are an issue.
Good morning! I'm building my own acoustic panels and have a question on fabric. I want to use a embossed velvet finished material, do you think this material will cause any issues with the purpose of panels.
Excellent video! You don't specify the frequency range for the panel you built. All rooms have bass issues. You must start at the low end and solve the problem from 25 Hz to 110 Hz. How thick of a panel like yours would do the trick? Thanks 👍!
This is just too cool! I love DIY videos like this! What would be cool is an in-between. I'd love to just purchase the template used in the video to make the frame! Not fully DIY, but not fully constructed, just a time saver ;)
I´ve always wondered if the fabric is enough to keep the rockwool particles from the room air or should you wrap the inside material in plastic for example? Especially for bedroom studios where you might sleep and spend a lot of time in. Thanks for a great video!
It depends. If it's a bass trap you're building, plastic is fine as bass freqs will pass through the plastic. However, if it's broadband absorption, the plastic will reflect the high-mid and high freqs, which defeats the purpose of it. What you can do, is use several layers of breathable material (like muslin) as your first and maybe even second layer, before you wrap with the finish fabric. Another great material is Dacron (polyester backing). One or two inches of Dacron will ensure very few fibres escape and it also has the benefit of having great acoustical properties for sound absorption.
Hi Ville, most fabrics work quite well to keep the mineral wool in the panels and not in your room. It also helps that once a panel is made there is nothing to disturb the mineral wool (e.g. cutting, ripping, tearing, etc) so very few if any particles would shed from it, even if it were left uncovered. With that said, it is important not to use any fabric that has a very loose fabric weave. Burlap is an example of a fabric commonly used for panels that does not work well for this. As mentioned above, wrapping panels in plastic would not be advisable in most bedroom applications as it will cause the panels to be reflective in the high frequencies.
Use acoustic cotton batts instead; harmless and equally effective. Rockwool is the new asbestos, not meant to be exposed like that. and only plastic can't contain the tiny particles. Plastic negates the material's absorption properties in the mid and hi frequencies.
@@MusicCityAcoustics No acoustically tranparent fabric can't prevent the particles from coming through it. And they'll shed even when ¨undisturbed¨. Stop using mineral insulation in the fucking open where people can breathe it; use recycled cotton batts instead !
Thank you for the video. Please take notice that thr hardest part was glossed over amd not shown.... the corners. I figured it out eventually but that's kinda shady
probably won’t tell you because rather than using youtube to share knowledge, some people want to make money as much as possible, to the point where they won’t tell you something like this, so you’ll by their product.
I’m practically first time building, anything really but, some in my basement right now and realize how much a friggin table comes in handy. My back after finishing one iyiyiyeeeeeee
THanks - Can you tell me why some people hang them like pictures with big gaps between and others cover every inch of their wall with accoustic panels?
I've been building my own panels for years! Good video👍 simple and simple😉 I have optimized it with a perforated wooden plate 3mm thick with hundreds of small holes in between. The diameter of the holes determines the degree of absorption by the panel, the larger the holes, the more broadband is absorbed. Broadband usually means down to about 250h. You can do this if you don't want to process all frequencies so that a part is absorbed and a part is reflected. It can also be rounded off slightly for a slight diffusion so that it is scattered back into the room! 😉 Very simple but effective! It's easy to know that basses cannot be absorbed so too thin! need more material, respectiv thicker panals! this is good for mid to hi absorption !! As shown in the video. About 3.5cm are hi-mid, mid to low 35cm and from 100heart down to 20heart lowend up to 350cm! One would have to insulate This is roughly the formula because a sinus wave up to 12 meters long is generated in the bass wave. depends on the frequency .. Have fun building it yourself! 👍😉
@@seanhayesmusic44 Thermo hemp or mineral wool is both good. With thermal hemp the tightness is better and no harmful substances in it 100% of course up to 90% it consists of hemp barrels and non-flammable! 😉
I checked their website - they have broadband panels that are 4.5" deep, and bass traps at 6.5" deep- but you're absolutely right. Funny story - yesterday one of the dense wool panels I had bought (and hate) fell off the ceiling (they're just attached using 3M stickies right now). I re-measured in that part of the room and found there's a bass issue in that corner at something like 60 hz. What makes it worse is that there's about a 2' chamber between that and a bookshelf that is apparently literally shaking the wall in that one part of the room. I was only using a 1.5" deep high-mid panel there which does nothing for those frequencies for sure!
Wouldn't it be loosing fibers/dust with fabric cover only? Some people recommend one layer of pallet strach/film and then putting into frame to wrap with fabric. I'm onto doing my second set of panels and was wandering about that. Thank you for the video.
Great to see a full build of one of these panels. How do you then mount these on a wall? Just a picture wire across the back, hung up on picture hooks, or is there a better way? Cheers
They can be hung with a single French cleat on the back, in addition to the method you described. The downside to this is that a spacer is necessary to include the necessary air gap. I also have a few hung from the ceiling, connected at the top of the panel with two hooks. If hanging, using small turnbuckles between the hooks and rope/chain allows them to be hang straight with a level. Some folks put them on easel stands as an alternative to hanging.
I have been asked to make some art to 'beautify' panels for restaurant settings. I do paper art. Would adding that to the front of any acoustic absorbing material decrease its effectiveness? The noise absorption they want is for talking from all customers and kitchen type noise. I am open to ideas and instruction - thanks so much.
Why not make the panels to fit the the mineral wool as purchased, getting rid of the step of cutting them down to size? Is that rigid comfort board 80 by chance?
what type of insulation? was trying to figure out thickness of each. I know you mentioned 1x3s, then 3/4 off for backer, leaving 1 3/4". Buy I see 2 layers of insulation and am not familiar with an insulation that' s only 5/8" thick. Great vid though, thank you for the detailed advice!
What's your stance on using a thin plastic back to wrap the wool? The idea is to make sure the fibers don't get into the air but mainly: If you use a thinner plate but dense material that'll have difficulties dampening lower frequencies but is excellent for higher frequencies, some of the higher frequencies will get reflected by the plastic making for an overall flatter response. Of course at the expense of some performance but I'd rather have weaker dapening on the highs than the room majorly lacking in highs because now the lows can overpower the lacking highs.
If you find you are losing too much the very high end wrapping with the thinnest plastic you can find is great. Think the thickness of a dry cleaning bag; that way it only bounces back the very high end but absorbs most everything else. I have seen people doing this in panel building. In fact in my studio I made frames on my concrete wall to fit these very mineral wool boards and then covered with Burlap fabric and then added VG Douglas fir 3/4" boards with about 4" gaps in between(can be adjusted depending on dampening required) so it looks nice but also reflects back some higher end. On softer woods I use minimal varnish wiped on tight just enough so I can clean the boards and not overcoat the wood and make it sound too harsh. You can hear the difference in sound before and after 3 coats of varnish on a wood floor in a room so I would assume the same applies to wood in studios depending on the density of the wood used.
@@inmemoryofin good question. You know when you walk into a new house and it echos and there is a lot of reverb? but then you move furniture into the room and things dampen up? Kind of like that but maybe more subtle but noticeable. I am talking 100 year old Douglas fir floors, a really soft wood that absorbs quite a bit of sound without a hard as heck protective varnish.
I’m making my own right now for music production! I use wood fibre with 50.2 kg per square meter. Is 45mm enough in thickness? 122cm x 55cm in dimensions
I watched it though. Haven't learned all that much new here. Making these panels is a true DIY job -- just get some foam board or mineral wool piece with a a hard backing, and staple some fabric onto it. Putting them in a wood frame makes the result fancier.
Great suggestion! If you want a bunch of mineral wool fibers floating around in your studio that you will enviably end up breathing in. I think the the frame helps contain everything better.
You need an open cell foam, can't use closed cell for sound absorbing panels. And you can't have any hard backing either, that's why you need the wood frame.
One of the Best Ideas of SoundProofing is "SoundProof Curtains" That Stops Outside Noise by 80% (25 Db) Tested. Check Here: livesoundproof.com/best-soundproof-curtains/
@@LauraBrown-hg2ry if you want soundproof curtains, get the PVC overlapping strip curtains in the biggest thickness you can handle. You'll drop way more than 25db, but they will be fixed (rather than sliding), you get a decent air seal if you set them up right and it keeps the heat in.
For anyone wondering about the nail-gun, you don't need one. If you want to make an uber good looking one that offers slightly better performance in the low end, here's what I've done: Get a $20 pocket-hole jig and some Tight Bond II wood glue. Pocket hole screws aren't strong but they'll hold it together for the glue to dry. That particular glue is stronger than wood itself, also join the short pieces to the face of the long ones. The benefit of this method is it lets you keep the joinery on the inside with no visible screws or nails on the outside, and you can apply wood finish to the outside frame which looks really nice. The other caveat is if you use plywood you have exposed edges which require iron-on laminate strips ("edge banding") before finishing, and the whole process can take days instead of hours. The edge banding doesn't take very long and makes the cheap plywood look solid wood, you just gotta be patient cutting it off with a utlity knife. I also use a 3" hole-saw that attaches to a drill and spaced out 8 holes in the long sides and 4 in the short. When you factor in the *hole-cutting + sanding, + laminate + wood conditioner + wood stain and clear, coats* .... it's a. lot of work. The next issue is you need to fasten the fabric to the inside of the frame in order to keep the outside stained wood visible. This requires cutting some thin wood slightly shorter than the outer frame and using it to pinch the fabric up against the inside edges, flush with the outer face of the panel. This was by far the most confusing part for me at first, but when you see a white fabric pop through the holes of a dark wood stained wood on the outside -- it seems worth it. Especially that moment you hang 10 ten of them. They'll be night and day prettier than the bare minimum with slightly better bass absorption because of the holes.
Does anyone know what kind/brand of backing fabric is recommended? Something to keep the minerals inside the panel while still being acoustically transparent and inexpensive.
Hi Big Zul, the panels come with french cleats for wall mounting. We have a video on our channel showing how to install them. If you'd like a little more info email us through our website and I can send you install guides as well. Cheers!
I might have missed something. Is there a reason why the frames aren't just made to perfectly fit a piece of insulation? That would save a step for every panel.
Anybody else having a hell of time tracking down single packs of rockwool? Any suggestions for best places to order a pack of 8 batts? I'm shooting for 3x48x24.
I get them at Home Creepo in 1.5 inch and double up if needed. I believe brand is Rockwool(formerly Roxul) Comfort board 60 and there is a 2 inch version as well. *Note: not all Home Depots carry this but it can certainly be ordered. Usually $50-60 for a pack of them. 6 or 8 depending on thickness.
When hanging vertical, Is it better to have the horizontal pieces longer or the vertical pieces longer for structural stability of the frame? In this video he does vertical pieces longer overlapping the horizontal pieces. Is there a reason for this?
I plan to build some corner bass traps. Commercial corner bass traps are often triangular or round; is it OK to make them Square? Say, 40 by 40 by 120 cm?
Hey! It depends on whether they are being installed on a wall, corner, or ceiling and whether they will be flush mounted or with an air gap but for the most part on walls, we use French Cleats. We have a video on our channel showing how to install panels with the included hardware. If you'd like an install guide, I can also email ours. Reach out to us through our website!
Hi Carlito! There are several ways the panels can be installed. We have install guides on our website as well as hardware kits. Check out the install guides here. www.musiccityacoustics.com We also have a video on our website showing how to install them with french cleats. Cheers!
Hi Allen and thanks! Our standard fabric is FR-DMD Acoustic Fabric. Creating a smooth look can be accomplished with just about any fabric as long it is pulled tightly and straightly during the wrapping process. Avoid, cheaper fabrics though as over time the stitching will loosen and the fabric will start to wrinkle and sag.
The important thing about fabric is that it is transparent to sound. To be sure you can do the following, take the fabric to your mouth and blow, if the air flows freely that fabric is optimal. Flannel or "Jersey" fabrics can work well.
Hoping you can help me , can we use non-rigid insulation. Here in NZ we can get fiberglass insulation,but its not in rigid boards. I can stuff it as compact as possible though, would that work?
Hi Chantelle, you can absolutely use nonrigid insulation. For acoustic panels that are 2" to 6" deep, the performance won't be quite as effective but they will still work really well! For really deep bass traps this can actually be beneficial just make sure not to compact it down! Whatever product you end up using, it should be in its original state. Compressing fluffy insulation actually makes its performance worse.
Hi, Thank you for the great video. Can I ask what thickness of plywood you are using for the main part of the frame. I know that the bracing piece is 1/2 inch but the thickness of the main elements looks to be bigger what is it? Thank you
This is awesome. No glue = No fumes. I've tried putting my own together and they didn't turn out nearly this well. What really kills me is that these will likely do a much better job than the craptastic panels I got from Amazon for about the same price. I just checked - the broadband panels are way better. I'll be calling (or stopping by if possible) soon I think since they're right here in Nashville. Thanks for this run-thru!
We use OC 6lb. 4lb and 8lb work well too depending on the application, just be careful not to make your panels too thick when using 8lb. The depth of your panels will have a much greater effect on how they work than the density of the material.
Hi Rob, we have a few panels in there but yes you're right, we could probably use a few more. Check out the other video we did with Adam Audio and you'll see where it all goes! Cheers!
Amazing video! Especially love your tempalte table. However.... I am to improve the nursery for my son and i wanted to hang a few panels in there to improve the reverb. As many people are mentioning there could potentially be some health issues with wrapping mineral wool in nothing but a thin peace of cloth.? Also giving this is for my son, the panels are tp be hung fairly low in order to catch the direct reflections of his mouth and toys and therefore it is to be expected that these panels will be hit, tapped, get in contact with toys or in other way be handled a tad rough. In general theres 2 questions. - Is it safe with mineral wool or other insulation alike, or what other material would you recommend (considering the panels will not be left in peace) - How/What can you do to improve the sustainability of the panel with minimal cost of effect?
Would there be any downside using wood glue on the parts you used the nail gun on? I make more of a triple triangle but with the mounting and spacing from apart it looks like artsy rectangle with a little wall showing through. I’ve found no difference between using full rectangles vs the triangular rectangle. Only product I found to work better are the thick blankets
Wood glue works great! and no toxic fumes. Sometimes finish nails can back out, but usually don't since the fabric is holding them. I use small headed deck screws predrilled or countersink screws. Turns out wood glue is just as strong on end grain as face grain joints (as strong as the wood). I always thought the opposite.
I was thinking the same thing, even a few drops per joint would be better than nothing, it's basically held together by the fabric wrap more than the nails.
I’m making an acoustic insulated dog crate and I want to use a velvet fabric lining. Would it work or is there a specific type of fabric that has the best result?
Hi Jeroen, for a dog crate I think you can use any fabric that is tough enough to withstand the demands of a dog and obviously safe for them to be around. This is outside of our area of expertise so I can't make any specific recommendations.
I was looking for a direct reference from someone who's livelihood was making sound panels rather than amateur tutorials who might not know the intricacies of the construction. Biggest thing I see is that there's an airgap between the insulation and the front fabric, which I didn't hear mentioned in any of the videos. There's also some dead space on the back from the way the frame is constructed, which may help trap some extra sound, Everything else seems fairly straightforward - light wood frame with insulation and a fabric cover. Now if I can find a professional bass trap construction video...
If anyone has ever taught you how to make a bed properly, the folds are essentially the same as when you tuck your flat sheet under the end of your mattress. Or, like gift-wrapping the ends on a square box.
Hi there, may I ask how thick is the insulation material and does it matter how thick it is. It seems like you stacked 2 x 2" together, so just wanna clarify on that :)
@@Hermiel you actually weren't really wrong. We use 1" 8lb mineral wool in our Low Profile Panels and 2" 6lb mineral wool in the rest of our panels. To get the extra depth for Broadband and Bass Trap panels we stack 2" pieces.
I'm not sure what they used, but a general rule of thumb is: the thicker your insulation the lower the frequencies will be that it can absorb, denser insulation also does a better job to a certain extent, at some point it will start reflecting high frequencies though. What I've seen and read online so far people tend to use insulation that weighs about 40-45kg/m3 (sorry if you're using imperial units idk those)
@@danoontjeh123 Thanks, that's useful. A construction store nearby has 5cm thick and 60kg/m3 for sale. Now my next worry is whether it's carcinogenic or not (different articles say different things...)
Today we're back with Music City Acoustics to talk about how they build their acoustic panels 👊 What is your next DIY studio project? Be sure to check out the last video we did with Music City Acoustics all about common questions when it comes to studio acoustics th-cam.com/video/0uq7CJE_gW0/w-d-xo.html
I dont mean to be so off topic but does someone know a method to get back into an Instagram account?
I stupidly lost my account password. I would appreciate any tricks you can offer me.
@Kyler Benedict Instablaster :)
@Royce Johnny i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site on google and Im in the hacking process atm.
Takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
@Royce Johnny It did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. I am so happy:D
Thanks so much, you saved my ass :D
@Kyler Benedict Glad I could help :)
wow, so this PRO is much more simple than most of the DIY home videos :D
Looks very similar to the DIY videos I’ve seen
The template is the game changer.
Thanks for uploading this video, I've made some great panels thanks to these instructions!
There is just something about a woodwork studio. Great job!
Great video, thank you! Just a quick question: is Recycled Denim a good/equal option?
Thank you
What gauge and length of brad nails are you using?
Nice video. Concise and to the point. Great work.
Thank you for watching! Glad you liked it.
Which insulation is better? Mineral wool or fiberglass? Thank you.
Whats that white fabric called?
You guys come up with amazing videos. I see that the fabric they use is very elastic, which gives great overall look. For not so elastic materials I would not start from the corners when stapling but rather go from mid to sides and go around the panel frame just as you would tighten screws on your wheels. This is what I was given as an advice from a carpenter and with the panels I made it turned out amazing. Keep up the amazing work, love your videos!!
We're so happy you've found these videos helpful... thanks for watching! Great input as well from your experience building your panels 👍
Our standard fabric is quite stretchy but we also commonly use fabric from Guilford of Maine that has little to no stretch. The same wrapping technique works great for those fabrics as well. There is a tone of ways this can be done, so this is definitely just one option.
@@MusicCityAcoustics Thanks, that's good to know! You guys do an amazing job ;)
@@laurabrown5527 cringe
@@MusicCityAcoustics what fabrics do you use/recommend? I'm considering making some panels and getting the fabric custom printed.
Which type of wood is that... Or can u say best wood for acoustic pannels frame
Nice and very understanding,
is there any specific requirment for the backing fabric? like,airflow or somthing,is it pointless if i use Polypropylene material as backing fabric?
Acoustic Panels controls echo's but there is another role of acoustic curtains in same way.
Soundproof-Curtains.me
great job ! but how do you hang it and let a space with the wall ? french cleat ?
Hi Adam Audio ! Isn't mineral wool dangerous for the health of the person breathing inside the studio ?
Thanks.
Thats also my question 😕
No, mineral wool in special textile, special cloth dont missed micro dispersion, it's not going outside box. Most studios have this panels. But if you make like this. Be careful, micro dispersion mineral wool in your lungs, create CANCER in 5 years breathing this.
Cellulose Fibre manufactured from recycled newspapers and also sheepswool is good natural options.
To be fair I'm not sure much wool would ever be escaping the box. It's not like there will be much air current or disruption in general when indoors that might cause the wool to come out of the box.
Do you use two different densities of rockwool ?
Great video!
Wouldn't it be simpler to make the frame slightly larger so the insulation would not have to be cut at all?
Hi RJB, on a small scale yes it would be. However, when making panels on a larger scale there are a couple of reasons making the frames larger is not the best option. 1. When building the frames, we would have a ton of wood waste. With the dimensions of our frames, we have almost zero wood waste. The mineral wool is made of 70% recycled materials, so while it is unfortunate we can not use all of it, the waste doesn't have the same environmental impact. 2. If we were to make the frames larger, they would be 49.5"x25.5" making them significantly harder and more expensive to ship to our customers. Hope this clarifies.
@@MusicCityAcoustics cool man good to know
@@MusicCityAcoustics
Makes sense.
I have been enlightened!
@@MusicCityAcoustics where do you guys get the fabric? Here in Portugal I cant find a neutral sound fabric =\
@@MusicCityAcoustics I was wondering about the approach too, and it makes perfect sense.
But that creates next question: can't wool offcuts be squished down in some mesh tube (wrapped in cloth again) to make some kind of low cost bass trap? Or would it be to much work for the potential turnup?
How do you intall them w/o fasteners showing?
Any advice? .... got a small untreated room, having major issues around 140Hz cause of the low ceiling (about 7 feet high). Gonna get some wall panels and clouds made. Should I make 5cm thick panels with 5cm gaps behind them or make them 10cm and hang against the walls? Also, what's the best density I should get? Note, with the clouds I can also make them 10cm and hang them with a 10cm gap, but the walls are an issue.
Good morning! I'm building my own acoustic panels and have a question on fabric. I want to use a embossed velvet finished material, do you think this material will cause any issues with the purpose of panels.
I was thinking the same thing. Also figure out an optimum size to cut the fabric so it doesn't require additional trimming as well
What insulation material is that?
Excellent video! You don't specify the frequency range for the panel you built. All rooms have bass issues. You must start at the low end and solve the problem from 25 Hz to 110 Hz. How thick of a panel like yours would do the trick? Thanks 👍!
This is just too cool! I love DIY videos like this! What would be cool is an in-between. I'd love to just purchase the template used in the video to make the frame! Not fully DIY, but not fully constructed, just a time saver ;)
insulation made of?
where to buy it or how to made that?
I´ve always wondered if the fabric is enough to keep the rockwool particles from the room air or should you wrap the inside material in plastic for example? Especially for bedroom studios where you might sleep and spend a lot of time in. Thanks for a great video!
It depends. If it's a bass trap you're building, plastic is fine as bass freqs will pass through the plastic. However, if it's broadband absorption, the plastic will reflect the high-mid and high freqs, which defeats the purpose of it.
What you can do, is use several layers of breathable material (like muslin) as your first and maybe even second layer, before you wrap with the finish fabric. Another great material is Dacron (polyester backing). One or two inches of Dacron will ensure very few fibres escape and it also has the benefit of having great acoustical properties for sound absorption.
Hi Ville, most fabrics work quite well to keep the mineral wool in the panels and not in your room. It also helps that once a panel is made there is nothing to disturb the mineral wool (e.g. cutting, ripping, tearing, etc) so very few if any particles would shed from it, even if it were left uncovered. With that said, it is important not to use any fabric that has a very loose fabric weave. Burlap is an example of a fabric commonly used for panels that does not work well for this.
As mentioned above, wrapping panels in plastic would not be advisable in most bedroom applications as it will cause the panels to be reflective in the high frequencies.
Use acoustic cotton batts instead; harmless and equally effective. Rockwool is the new asbestos, not meant to be exposed like that. and only plastic can't contain the tiny particles. Plastic negates the material's absorption properties in the mid and hi frequencies.
@@MusicCityAcoustics No acoustically tranparent fabric can't prevent the particles from coming through it. And they'll shed even when ¨undisturbed¨. Stop using mineral insulation in the fucking open where people can breathe it; use recycled cotton batts instead !
spraying the mineral-wool slabs with a diluted PVA glue helps to keep fibre shedding down
I make the frame 3 inches thick and put a Sonopan panel at the back for to treat another level of frequencies. It works really well.
LOVING the template !!!!
Very cool
Informative!
Thank you so much for watching!
Thank you for the video. Please take notice that thr hardest part was glossed over amd not shown.... the corners. I figured it out eventually but that's kinda shady
How thick is the rockwool you use?
neat job! thanks for this video
Thank you for watching, Lucas! 😍🔥
what is the name of the installation being used for the sound panel
Wish you would have showed us more detain on folding the corners
What is the white fabric called? Where can I buy?
What fabric did you use? Are some better than others at maintaining the fibres from escaping?
Would like to know too
Looks like poly poplin. You can install a thin layer of dacron in front of fiberglass or mineral wool insulation if you want to be safe
Guilford of Maine is what most companies use. Expensive but doesn't stretch and droop over time. Duckcloth is also popular and roughly half the price
probably won’t tell you because rather than using youtube to share knowledge, some people want to make money as much as possible, to the point where they won’t tell you something like this, so you’ll by their product.
I’m practically first time building, anything really but, some in my basement right now and realize how much a friggin table comes in handy. My back after finishing one iyiyiyeeeeeee
In a commercial room, roughly 30 by 50 feet square, and a 10 feet ceiling, would these work as well? And how far apart would we hang them?
Fantastic video! I am wondering what kind of staples you are using. Is that a crown stapler?
how are u adam what is the name of fabric u use in those panels
are they cotton 100%?
THanks - Can you tell me why some people hang them like pictures with big gaps between and others cover every inch of their wall with accoustic panels?
I've been building my own panels for years!
Good video👍
simple and simple😉
I have optimized it with a perforated wooden plate 3mm thick with hundreds of small holes in between. The diameter of the holes determines the degree of absorption by the panel, the larger the holes, the more broadband is absorbed. Broadband usually means down to about 250h.
You can do this if you don't want to process all frequencies so that a part is absorbed and a part is reflected. It can also be rounded off slightly for a slight diffusion so that it is scattered back into the room! 😉 Very simple but effective!
It's easy to know that basses cannot be absorbed so too thin! need more material, respectiv thicker panals! this is good for mid to hi absorption !! As shown in the video. About 3.5cm are hi-mid, mid to low 35cm and from 100heart down to 20heart lowend up to 350cm! One would have to insulate
This is roughly the formula because a sinus wave up to 12 meters long is generated in the bass wave. depends on the frequency ..
Have fun building it yourself! 👍😉
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! :)
What insulation do you use?
@@seanhayesmusic44 Thermo hemp or mineral wool is both good. With thermal hemp the tightness is better and no harmful substances in it 100% of course up to 90% it consists of hemp barrels and non-flammable! 😉
I checked their website - they have broadband panels that are 4.5" deep, and bass traps at 6.5" deep- but you're absolutely right.
Funny story - yesterday one of the dense wool panels I had bought (and hate) fell off the ceiling (they're just attached using 3M stickies right now). I re-measured in that part of the room and found there's a bass issue in that corner at something like 60 hz. What makes it worse is that there's about a 2' chamber between that and a bookshelf that is apparently literally shaking the wall in that one part of the room. I was only using a 1.5" deep high-mid panel there which does nothing for those frequencies for sure!
@@mosermichael4404 where do you get thermo hemp?
Wouldn't it be loosing fibers/dust with fabric cover only? Some people recommend one layer of pallet strach/film and then putting into frame to wrap with fabric. I'm onto doing my second set of panels and was wandering about that. Thank you for the video.
Cellulose Fibre manufactured from recycled newspapers and also sheepswool is good natural options.
Great to see a full build of one of these panels. How do you then mount these on a wall? Just a picture wire across the back, hung up on picture hooks, or is there a better way? Cheers
They can be hung with a single French cleat on the back, in addition to the method you described. The downside to this is that a spacer is necessary to include the necessary air gap. I also have a few hung from the ceiling, connected at the top of the panel with two hooks. If hanging, using small turnbuckles between the hooks and rope/chain allows them to be hang straight with a level. Some folks put them on easel stands as an alternative to hanging.
@@inmemoryofin that's very useful. Thanks!
what is the type of mineral wool they use? or brand?
whats the density of the rock wool? 40kg/m3 or 80 or 100?
What are the insulation in this?
I have been asked to make some art to 'beautify' panels for restaurant settings. I do paper art. Would adding that to the front of any acoustic absorbing material decrease its effectiveness? The noise absorption they want is for talking from all customers and kitchen type noise. I am open to ideas and instruction - thanks so much.
Most likely yes. If you can find a breathable fabric like some light cotton and draw on there, that would be your best bet.
Why not make the panels to fit the the mineral wool as purchased, getting rid of the step of cutting them down to size? Is that rigid comfort board 80 by chance?
I bought some borgaline fabric, it's some form of cotton? Would this be suitable to cover the panels with?
what stops the itchy material from passing through the fabric?
What type of wood are you using? Pine?
what type of insulation? was trying to figure out thickness of each. I know you mentioned 1x3s, then 3/4 off for backer, leaving 1 3/4". Buy I see 2 layers of insulation and am not familiar with an insulation that' s only 5/8" thick. Great vid though, thank you for the detailed advice!
wondering how much the materials used adds up to?
Great video, thank you.
What density rockwool do you use? My local supplier in South Africa has 60, 80, 100, 120 and 160kg/m3 available.
Thank you!
I think approximate 45-60 kg/m³, but for bass traps or small room you need over 100 kg/m³. To catch low frequencies.
Not too much, it will be like solid wall, and mirroring sound.
What's your stance on using a thin plastic back to wrap the wool? The idea is to make sure the fibers don't get into the air but mainly: If you use a thinner plate but dense material that'll have difficulties dampening lower frequencies but is excellent for higher frequencies, some of the higher frequencies will get reflected by the plastic making for an overall flatter response. Of course at the expense of some performance but I'd rather have weaker dapening on the highs than the room majorly lacking in highs because now the lows can overpower the lacking highs.
If you find you are losing too much the very high end wrapping with the thinnest plastic you can find is great. Think the thickness of a dry cleaning bag; that way it only bounces back the very high end but absorbs most everything else. I have seen people doing this in panel building. In fact in my studio I made frames on my concrete wall to fit these very mineral wool boards and then covered with Burlap fabric and then added VG Douglas fir 3/4" boards with about 4" gaps in between(can be adjusted depending on dampening required) so it looks nice but also reflects back some higher end. On softer woods I use minimal varnish wiped on tight just enough so I can clean the boards and not overcoat the wood and make it sound too harsh. You can hear the difference in sound before and after 3 coats of varnish on a wood floor in a room so I would assume the same applies to wood in studios depending on the density of the wood used.
@@jonwikan3986 How would you describe the sound difference between pre and post varnish?
@@inmemoryofin good question. You know when you walk into a new house and it echos and there is a lot of reverb? but then you move furniture into the room and things dampen up? Kind of like that but maybe more subtle but noticeable. I am talking 100 year old Douglas fir floors, a really soft wood that absorbs quite a bit of sound without a hard as heck protective varnish.
Cellulose Fibre manufactured from recycled newspapers and also sheepswool is good natural options.
What about this rock-wool particles flying though the fabric and in our lungs? Is there any research on that?
Can anyone tell the song title? Interesting video about building the panels.
what is the backing/white fabric called?
I’m making my own right now for music production! I use wood fibre with 50.2 kg per square meter. Is 45mm enough in thickness? 122cm x 55cm in dimensions
I watched it though. Haven't learned all that much new here. Making these panels is a true DIY job -- just get some foam board or mineral wool piece with a a hard backing, and staple some fabric onto it. Putting them in a wood frame makes the result fancier.
Great suggestion! If you want a bunch of mineral wool fibers floating around in your studio that you will enviably end up breathing in. I think the the frame helps contain everything better.
You need an open cell foam, can't use closed cell for sound absorbing panels.
And you can't have any hard backing either, that's why you need the wood frame.
Ned Shneebly is looking great these days. Love the new hair.
💀💀💀💀💀
Actually it's Shnayblaay
@@squoblat heheheee thank u for that
One of the Best Ideas of SoundProofing is "SoundProof Curtains" That Stops Outside Noise by 80% (25 Db) Tested. Check Here: livesoundproof.com/best-soundproof-curtains/
@@LauraBrown-hg2ry if you want soundproof curtains, get the PVC overlapping strip curtains in the biggest thickness you can handle. You'll drop way more than 25db, but they will be fixed (rather than sliding), you get a decent air seal if you set them up right and it keeps the heat in.
For anyone wondering about the nail-gun, you don't need one. If you want to make an uber good looking one that offers slightly better performance in the low end, here's what I've done:
Get a $20 pocket-hole jig and some Tight Bond II wood glue. Pocket hole screws aren't strong but they'll hold it together for the glue to dry. That particular glue is stronger than wood itself, also join the short pieces to the face of the long ones. The benefit of this method is it lets you keep the joinery on the inside with no visible screws or nails on the outside, and you can apply wood finish to the outside frame which looks really nice. The other caveat is if you use plywood you have exposed edges which require iron-on laminate strips ("edge banding") before finishing, and the whole process can take days instead of hours. The edge banding doesn't take very long and makes the cheap plywood look solid wood, you just gotta be patient cutting it off with a utlity knife.
I also use a 3" hole-saw that attaches to a drill and spaced out 8 holes in the long sides and 4 in the short. When you factor in the *hole-cutting + sanding, + laminate + wood conditioner + wood stain and clear, coats* .... it's a. lot of work.
The next issue is you need to fasten the fabric to the inside of the frame in order to keep the outside stained wood visible. This requires cutting some thin wood slightly shorter than the outer frame and using it to pinch the fabric up against the inside edges, flush with the outer face of the panel. This was by far the most confusing part for me at first, but when you see a white fabric pop through the holes of a dark wood stained wood on the outside -- it seems worth it. Especially that moment you hang 10 ten of them. They'll be night and day prettier than the bare minimum with slightly better bass absorption because of the holes.
Let us see some photos! Sounds awesome!!
So enjoy the beautiful wood while you develop small cellung cancer.
3/4” isn’t a lot for a screw to bite into.
@@trevorhardy3544 It's plenty for pocket holes if you do a proper but joint with them.
@@trevorhardy3544 Yeah daft idea, just screw through face grain into end grain and it'll be solid. Cover with your material. The end.
Does anyone know what kind/brand of backing fabric is recommended? Something to keep the minerals inside the panel while still being acoustically transparent and inexpensive.
Looks Good! just wondering how to hang this panel? any specific bracket?
Hi Big Zul, the panels come with french cleats for wall mounting. We have a video on our channel showing how to install them. If you'd like a little more info email us through our website and I can send you install guides as well. Cheers!
We call them flush mount brackets in the UK I don't know what you guys call them ! 👍
I might have missed something. Is there a reason why the frames aren't just made to perfectly fit a piece of insulation? That would save a step for every panel.
Probably so they can minimize lumber waste? That's all I can think of...
@romancecoffeeroaster That's actually a pretty valid reason, thanks.
Anybody else having a hell of time tracking down single packs of rockwool? Any suggestions for best places to order a pack of 8 batts? I'm shooting for 3x48x24.
I get them at Home Creepo in 1.5 inch and double up if needed. I believe brand is Rockwool(formerly Roxul) Comfort board 60 and there is a 2 inch version as well. *Note: not all Home Depots carry this but it can certainly be ordered. Usually $50-60 for a pack of them. 6 or 8 depending on thickness.
When hanging vertical, Is it better to have the horizontal pieces longer or the vertical pieces longer for structural stability of the frame? In this video he does vertical pieces longer overlapping the horizontal pieces. Is there a reason for this?
which wood board is used to make the frames?
Hi! We use Baltic Birch Plywood for all of our products.
@@grahamwaks3163 Ooo Thank you sir
I plan to build some corner bass traps. Commercial corner bass traps are often triangular or round; is it OK to make them
Square? Say, 40 by 40 by 120 cm?
Cant see, but are you stapling to the insulation?
what do you guys use to hang up the panels ?
Hey! It depends on whether they are being installed on a wall, corner, or ceiling and whether they will be flush mounted or with an air gap but for the most part on walls, we use French Cleats. We have a video on our channel showing how to install panels with the included hardware. If you'd like an install guide, I can also email ours. Reach out to us through our website!
So how do you hook it up onto the wall, is there a extra piece that hangs it up onto the wall or do you just use the two sided duck tape ?
Hi Carlito! There are several ways the panels can be installed. We have install guides on our website as well as hardware kits. Check out the install guides here. www.musiccityacoustics.com We also have a video on our website showing how to install them with french cleats. Cheers!
Great video. What kind of fabrics do you use for front panel? I really like the smooth and winkel free like you guys use.
Hi Allen and thanks! Our standard fabric is FR-DMD Acoustic Fabric. Creating a smooth look can be accomplished with just about any fabric as long it is pulled tightly and straightly during the wrapping process. Avoid, cheaper fabrics though as over time the stitching will loosen and the fabric will start to wrinkle and sag.
The important thing about fabric is that it is transparent to sound. To be sure you can do the following, take the fabric to your mouth and blow, if the air flows freely that fabric is optimal. Flannel or "Jersey" fabrics can work well.
@@publiogarcia7529 thank you for explaining, what of 100% cotton material?
Hoping you can help me , can we use non-rigid insulation. Here in NZ we can get fiberglass insulation,but its not in rigid boards. I can stuff it as compact as possible though, would that work?
Hi Chantelle, you can absolutely use nonrigid insulation. For acoustic panels that are 2" to 6" deep, the performance won't be quite as effective but they will still work really well! For really deep bass traps this can actually be beneficial just make sure not to compact it down! Whatever product you end up using, it should be in its original state. Compressing fluffy insulation actually makes its performance worse.
@@MusicCityAcoustics thank you so much for the reply! So helpful
Hi,
Thank you for the great video.
Can I ask what thickness of plywood you are using for the main part of the frame. I know that the bracing piece is 1/2 inch but the thickness of the main elements looks to be bigger what is it?
Thank you
It's 1"x3"x8' furring strips
This is awesome. No glue = No fumes. I've tried putting my own together and they didn't turn out nearly this well. What really kills me is that these will likely do a much better job than the craptastic panels I got from Amazon for about the same price. I just checked - the broadband panels are way better.
I'll be calling (or stopping by if possible) soon I think since they're right here in Nashville.
Thanks for this run-thru!
That's so awesome! Those guys are great, so we know they'll be more than happy to help you out. Thanks for watching, D.J. 👍
Hi D.J. we'd love to help you out with your room. Reach out to us whenever you're ready!
Wood glue doesn't have fumes. Were you gluing cheap foam panels to your wall?
What kind of glue are you using? Wood glue doesn’t have fumes and in fact Titebond 3 is food safe.
Is that comfortboard you’re using? If so is it 40, 60 or 80?
Hello Can you tell me the specs of the mineral wool used? Here in Brazil there are several densities to choose. And prices varies a lot
I used Roxul “Safe N Sound” on my studio panels. Works great!
We use OC 6lb. 4lb and 8lb work well too depending on the application, just be careful not to make your panels too thick when using 8lb. The depth of your panels will have a much greater effect on how they work than the density of the material.
There’s a certain irony to them not having any acoustic treatment in their workshop
That aside, this takes a lot of the guesswork out of it! Thx!
Yes, there is. 9:25
That's what I thought at the very beginning xD
Definitely some panels on the long wall...
Hi Rob, we have a few panels in there but yes you're right, we could probably use a few more. Check out the other video we did with Adam Audio and you'll see where it all goes! Cheers!
I guess, but it's a woodworking shop, not a recording studio...
Do you have any ideas to make the back side look more neat..
Use a fitted sheet to cover the backside, but it'll be hung on that side so who cares what it looks like?
I usually staple the front fabric first and then staple the backing fabric on the back, cutting the excess with an exacto knife
Amazing video! Especially love your tempalte table.
However....
I am to improve the nursery for my son and i wanted to hang a few panels in there to improve the reverb. As many people are mentioning there could potentially be some health issues with wrapping mineral wool in nothing but a thin peace of cloth.?
Also giving this is for my son, the panels are tp be hung fairly low in order to catch the direct reflections of his mouth and toys and therefore it is to be expected that these panels will be hit, tapped, get in contact with toys or in other way be handled a tad rough.
In general theres 2 questions.
- Is it safe with mineral wool or other insulation alike, or what other material would you recommend (considering the panels will not be left in peace)
- How/What can you do to improve the sustainability of the panel with minimal cost of effect?
No mineral wool should be used in nursery, especial with possibility of contact.
Thats why i love @adamaudio
Thanks Louis! We love our audience 👍
Would there be any downside using wood glue on the parts you used the nail gun on? I make more of a triple triangle but with the mounting and spacing from apart it looks like artsy rectangle with a little wall showing through. I’ve found no difference between using full rectangles vs the triangular rectangle. Only product I found to work better are the thick blankets
Wood glue works great! and no toxic fumes. Sometimes finish nails can back out, but usually don't since the fabric is holding them. I use small headed deck screws predrilled or countersink screws. Turns out wood glue is just as strong on end grain as face grain joints (as strong as the wood). I always thought the opposite.
is it better to risk irritation from the insulation or gloves getting tangled in the blade?
Is the fabric spandex like material?
I was thinking the same thing, even a few drops per joint would be better than nothing, it's basically held together by the fabric wrap more than the nails.
I want to know why the frame wasn't just made a bit bigger so you don't have to cut the insulation?
u guys are great
I’m making an acoustic insulated dog crate and I want to use a velvet fabric lining. Would it work or is there a specific type of fabric that has the best result?
Hi Jeroen, for a dog crate I think you can use any fabric that is tough enough to withstand the demands of a dog and obviously safe for them to be around. This is outside of our area of expertise so I can't make any specific recommendations.
If it works for a dog it should work for a parrot too right?
I was looking for a direct reference from someone who's livelihood was making sound panels rather than amateur tutorials who might not know the intricacies of the construction. Biggest thing I see is that there's an airgap between the insulation and the front fabric, which I didn't hear mentioned in any of the videos. There's also some dead space on the back from the way the frame is constructed, which may help trap some extra sound, Everything else seems fairly straightforward - light wood frame with insulation and a fabric cover. Now if I can find a professional bass trap construction video...
What size staples did you use to attach the fabric?
3/8". 1/4" can be a little too short to get through the fabric when it folds.
Sweet!
Hi there, we have a disagreement here; is all the frame made of plywood or only the center piece?
Looks like it.
wrapping the corner material looks the hardest. Shame the video didn't really show that part carefully.
10:41 shows that quite well?
If anyone has ever taught you how to make a bed properly, the folds are essentially the same as when you tuck your flat sheet under the end of your mattress. Or, like gift-wrapping the ends on a square box.
Hi there, may I ask how thick is the insulation material and does it matter how thick it is. It seems like you stacked 2 x 2" together, so just wanna clarify on that :)
I see he noted that is actually 1 inch rockwool, they were out of 2 inch that day.
How heavy are those panels?
Great! Any reason you use 2 1” thick pieces instead of a single 2” piece?
Probably cheaper to keep inventory of a single thickness and layer it as required.
Hey! We only used 1" pieces because we were waiting on a delivery of 2".
@@MusicCityAcoustics Ha! Shows what I know about economies of scale or anything else! 😂
@@Hermiel you actually weren't really wrong. We use 1" 8lb mineral wool in our Low Profile Panels and 2" 6lb mineral wool in the rest of our panels. To get the extra depth for Broadband and Bass Trap panels we stack 2" pieces.
@@MusicCityAcoustics I am redeemed!
Whats the thickness and density of the rock wool? I'm DIY-ing this but not sure which type of rock wool to get.
I'm not sure what they used, but a general rule of thumb is: the thicker your insulation the lower the frequencies will be that it can absorb, denser insulation also does a better job to a certain extent, at some point it will start reflecting high frequencies though. What I've seen and read online so far people tend to use insulation that weighs about 40-45kg/m3 (sorry if you're using imperial units idk those)
@@danoontjeh123 Thanks, that's useful. A construction store nearby has 5cm thick and 60kg/m3 for sale. Now my next worry is whether it's carcinogenic or not (different articles say different things...)