Windows for walls as "bass traps"

How to use REW, What is a Bass Trap, a diffuser, the speed of sound, etc.

Moderators: Aaronw, sharward

ozymandias
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 12:59 am

Windows for walls as "bass traps"

Post by ozymandias »

A question I'm curious about:

Suppose I were to build a studio in a place where noise wasn't much of a problem, away from civilization and other people. Would building my ceiling and/or walls out of glass entirely (with a supportive frame, of course) be effective for treating bass frequencies? (as well as being pretty!)

The reason I'm asking is that windows reflect back high frequencies much better than low frequencies, so any frequencies reflected back into the room would contain (much?) more high-frequency content than low frequency content, the low frequencies having passed onto the air outside the roof/walls.

Is this a realistic design idea?
Ethan Winer
Senior Member
Posts: 1063
Joined: Fri Feb 21, 2003 3:50 am
Location: New Milford, CT, USA
Contact:

Re: Windows for walls as "bass traps"

Post by Ethan Winer »

> Is this a realistic design idea? <

You're on the right track, but even thin glass reflects bass a little. I suspect that by the time you made the glass thin enough to pass everything below 300 Hz - the upper limit of what is considered "bass" frequencies - the glass would be too thin to be practical.

--Ethan
z60611
Posts: 251
Joined: Fri Jun 18, 2004 9:08 am
Location: Ontario, Canada

Post by z60611 »

I know a guy who has six four-foot-by-six-foot windows in his home theatre - and when he's watching a movie he opens them to the outdoors as "bass traps". (in a rural/country area)
ozymandias
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 12:59 am

Post by ozymandias »

Of course not a possible scenario for a recording studio where a chirping bird can ruin a take ... I was referring to built in, immobile windows.

Edit: has anyone here ever been to such a studio? Has anyone ever BUILT such a thing? Sure it sounds good on paper but I wonder whether there are any case studies out there ...
Post Reply