Another Drum Room

[stevek]

Hello,
Thanks in advance for any help.
I have a 6' W X 20' L X 8' H room that I've just about finished setting up as my drum/music room.

It's a separate room on the opposite side of an open carport from my house. The main roof of the house extends over an open carport and covers the drum room which is a well built structure (2x4 walls with solid exterior walls) on a concrete slab.

One door (a solid door to replace the original luan hollow-core).
One window (36 h X 34 w), very good shape with tight weather containment.

Walls are insulated with R13 (3 1/2 ") kraft faced fiberglass and covered with 1/2" drywall. Unfortunately, it wasn't until after I finished that part that I learned about using the isolation rails and double layered drywall with glue in between.

At this time I have two steps left:
Insulate the attic over my room: I'm thinking about R19 batts of fiberglass or a blown in cellulose.

Here's where I need your input.
The sound inside the room needs to be toned down as much as possible on a limited budget. I can't afford Aurelex (or other like products) but want to take as much of the "slap" out of the room as I can. The high-end frequencies.

From what I've found that appears to fit my budget the two choices to soften the sound are:
1. double layers of acoustic ceiling tiles
2. eggshell mattress foam
I would probably want to cover either of the above with some material to reduce the dust in the air.

Please understand I'm not trying to sound proof the room just make it less bright sounding inside. (this is not intended to be a recording room just a practice room).

I've had much experience with tools and wood working and can build frames to hold and mount the ceiling tiles or eggshell foam or whatever it deemed the best option.

What are your suggestions for addressing the sound quality in the room?
Also, what insulation in the attic will give me the best thermal and sound reduction qualities?
Thanks again.
Stevek

[Randy S]

Stevek,

I would recommend cotton fiber insulation for the attic and we carry  2" cotton fiber panels in various sizes really cheap (not on our website) you will have to call in for this product.

[stevek]

Randy,
Thanks very much for the quick reply. By Cotton fiber are you referring to products like Ultra Touch denim that home depot sells?

I've seen some reviews that were not favorable on this but that may have been based on the importance of a proper installation and less about how well it works.

I'm definitely willing to go the re-cycle / up-cycle route and glad to avoid fiberglass fibers whenever possile.

And are the 2" panels you mention for covering the walls and maybe parts if not all the ceiling? Would you recommend I build frames for these or can they just be tacked to the wall.
Do they need to be covered? I would imagine not since they are cotton but I do want to keep the dust to a minimum.

Again, thanks for your time and quick reply. I'm ready to finish this up and put the room to use.

I'll give your company a call in the coming days.

Stevek

[stevek]

Randy,
Thanks very much for your feedback and time on the phone. Great information. I'm putting the finishing touches on my room and hope to have the basic conditioning finished within the next two weeks. I'll be using the "checkerboard" method you suggested to get rid of the harmonic tones.
Please be sure the following info that I'm sharing is correct.

The term"soft panel" refers to the method you choose.
I'm using convoluted foam in frames covered with a porous cloth.

There are other types of material you can use but the better absorption it has the better job it will do. (and the more it will cost).
Other options include pro-grade sound blankets, cotton fiber insulation or quiet batt insulation.


For those who are trying to flatten out a music room, expecially for drums, if you clap your hands or tap on the edge of a snare even at moderate volume, you might hear a high pitched quavering note. Very hard to miss and very annoying. This is what Randy says are the harmonics.

My room is small and has parallel walls.

Think about two facing walls, Wall-A and Wall-B:
Randy suggested adding a soft panel starting on Wall-A then leave the opposing section of Wall-B as is.

Now move down the room and add a soft panel on Wall-B, leaving the opposing section on Wall-A as is.
Continue this "checkerboard"pattern. Cover at least 45% of the walls or until it sounds good or you run out of money.

I'm also going to mount a panel on the ceiling over the kit.

Depending on how this works I may add bass traps.
More updates as this moves forward.
Thanks again Randy.

Stevek

[Randy S]

Stevek,

Good enough for what we are doing with out having to get into testing the room.

You will need bass traps for sure, so don't forget about those!

There are a few different ways to treat rooms (checker board, linear, full coverage and partial coverage) what I have found out in the years of doing this that musicians have their own flavor so to speak on how a room should sound. Some like dead rooms some like high reverberation and some like it in the middle.
As I always tell my clients you need at least 30% coverage to notice the change and build up from there until you are happy with the way the room sounds.


Let us know how your room turns out and how you like the sound of it.

Randy S.