Can the Ceiling be a resonator?

I have seen several references to Helmholtz resonatrs, etc. for the small studio. In particular, I was wondering if the ceiling could be finished off with pegboard, rockwool, and covered with cloth so that the ceiling and the unused spoace above it become a broand-band absorber?

Helmholtz absorbers are tuned absorbers, not wideband. If you use 6" of insulation you will get flat absortion down to around 90 Hz. if you 10.5" (eg. 3 layers of Roxul Safe n Sound) toy will get flat absorption down to 50 Hz! How wideband are you looking for? See fig 1, in [url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/reports/1992-11.pdf]BBCD 1992/11] Widely absorbent; Andre[/url]

Helmholtz absorbers are tuned absorbers, not wideband. If you use 6" of insulation you will get flat absortion down to around 90 Hz. if you 10.5" (eg. 3 layers of Roxul Safe n Sound) toy will get flat absorption down to 50 Hz! How wideband are you looking for? See fig 1, in BBCD 1992/11] Widely absorbent; Andre

Well, that would cover it. I read about a place that had done some Auralex treatment all over the ceiling and wound up sounding great. My thought was if the ceiling and the space above it were as wide an absorber as possible, then it would reduce the problems and the necessary treatment in the remainder of the room.

Here's a slot resonator in the ceiling cheers john

This is exactly what I had in mind - Just make the entire ceiling like this and suspend the lights at appropriate places. Is there any problem with that?

Is there any problem with that?

no - it works fine I'm glad you bought it up as I've been trying to get people to consider the ceiling as well as the walls for treatment.:) cheers john

It only makes sense to me. I have a friend that had a drum booth constructed. He did basically the reverse, and had the floor ported. The floor was a resonator. It was very interesting.