Bop Stop Recording Studios

SO just to update my ongoing acoustic treatment implementation and development.

Here you will see finally the finished three QRD stack made up of two units purchased from RPG and a custom bottom larger QRD.  It ended up being 9ft and 6 inches tall!!!! Let me say, me and my wife lifted the top two QRD section with the added Period wings and it was about 60+ lbs alone onto the bottom QRD and wedged it between the two stabilization brackets on the sides.  Once we lifted it I really didn't think we were going to be able to do it and I suddenly had immediate visions of a trip to the emergency room as this thing was heavy and if it fell we would be at the hospital for sure.  None the less it is done.  The back section is 6 inch thick Broad band absorption panels.

OK, so here are the purchased Skyline Primitive Root diffusers purchased from SoundArt.  They were kind of yellowish in the original state.  I began to spray finish these with white primer, must be water based, which I prefer for clean up reasons.  Well, as many have mentioned these type of diffusers just suck up paint and finish.  This after 5-6 coats of sprayed white primer.  I will apply another 5-6 coats looks like, whew.  Even with my new hi volume low pressure spray machine, this takes lots of time and paint!!  Getting close and still debating painting them black or just keeping them white, but they will be mounted into stained wood frames.

Next are SIX Auralex T-Fusers.  They were WHITE originally and now they are STILL WHITE, but this is an oil based primer, they I sprayed on very light coats.  It looks really nice and flat.  I will paint these flat black next.

OK, so this is for those who like MDF finishing and pure wood staining.

First is the raw cut sanded MDF boards that will be the 4'x10"x.5" WINGS for the QRD.  You can see them go from light brown to three coats of white primer, with sanding in between.  This was a lot of work, but it is not easy to get MDF nice and smooth on the cut edges.  I used oil based primer, can't be water based.  Then I sprayed a water based Black flat paint, but was learning how to use my new paint machine, so it was thick and had to brush it.   This is just the first coat, but already looks pretty good.  I will apply one more to all sides. 

Last is the outer frame of the QRDs, which will be stained Spruce.  
You can see the first coat of miniwax golden oak stain.  and the finished second coat.

Some more Acoustic Science Development for the studio.  Meaning more acoustic treatment porn!  Raw implementation, unreserved customization, and some down right nasty DYI.

So I will be updating from the last post some progress on those projects, some new projects in development, and some more steamin Hot tool toys!

OK, 
If you are an Acoustics Geek please read on, as this post relates to our most recent acoustic treatment implementation.  While even some very large established commercial studios have put developing equipment ahead of acoustics, we know that a $40,000 mic is not going to overcome even a great instrument played in a poor sounding room.  It will always be better to track with an average microphone in a great room, then a studio filled with premium equipment with poor acoustics.  We never put the acquisition of components ahead of room acoustics, as the interaction of instrument and the environment is the most critical.  In turn we have invested thousands of $ into acoustics.  We began for example with installing over 40 acoustic broadband absorption panels.  We have been furthermore acquiring and implementing the optimal balance of acoustic QRD, Fractal, and Binary acoustic diffusion.  These approaches yield a room that sounds lively, larger than its dimensions (without echo), and a relatively flat response across the sound frequency spectrum.

So, these last few weeks, I have been working on several projects.

1) I bought 2 large approx 9'x6' and 2 smaller 6'x4' ceiling clouds that were custom built by Acoustech in NH.  Despite buying them, they still need to be mounted and I can't leave well enough alone, so I had to add about 3-6 inches of Roxul broadband absorption to them.  Sounds good but required adding additional support as now they weigh about 30-40lbs each.  I will be hanging them over the drum kit and in the center of the tracking room with diffusion across the front.  Pics below will show the final product goal.

Check Back Again, as these projects are set to be complete in 1-2 weeks max.  Next will be more large scale CUSTOM Skyline diffusers and some Unique Binary Sequence Diffusers!!!  I will be drilling about 6000 1/2 inch holes, but don't worry I bought a heavy duty hi velocity power drill!!  Also more QRD diffusers and next big project will include HUGE soffit Monitor/subwoofer mounts!!!!