John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum Archive

Ethan,

You contributed to a thread i started some time ago about flooring and the subject moved to ceiling treatment over the drum position. Your feeling was lots of absorption above the drums to make the ceiling seem as if it was 'infinitely high.' At the time, i was really thinking a QRD was a better idea, but i realize that you're totally right and it makes so much more sense to just eliminate those ceiling reflections altogether than try and do anything else.

Anyways, i'm getting to the point where i have to start thinking about the drum position and what i'm going to do with it. I've decided to build a 8'x8' cloud over the drums, using rigid fibreglass with an air space between the fibreglass and the ceiling.

My question is should i create a sealed box similar to Sayer's rear wall absorber (directly fixed to the ceiling) or should i simply frame up the fibreglass and then suspend it with some hooks?

I understand the use of the sealed box for the corner or sidewall absorbers which serve double duty as helmholtz resonators (with wood slats) but i'm wondering if the sealed box style of the rear wall absorber is more just functional for mounting.

thanks,
bryan

I had this idea for mounting... not sure if it would work.

But what about building a light weight frame that is GLUED to the ceiling (assuming drywall - would glue hold? It wouldn't hurt isolation at all). I would use some type of light but sturdy metal. It doesn't really have to be a frame (more like several U shaped pieces ...see below, pardon the awful picture). As long as one side has no closing, you could slide bass traps (just some 703 stacked and wrapped in fabric only) in and out as needed. So then when you are mixing, you can use the bass traps some where else... like in a cloud above the mix position.

Anyone have any thoughts on that idea?

Bryan,

I'm not much of a construction guy, so I stick to advising people what to do, and let them figure out how to do it. Basically, any way you can get absorbing material to stay in the right place should be fine.

--Ethan

Ethan-

Taking the 'i'm not a registered psychologist, but...' path, eh? hahaha

I'm assuming by your answer that the box would just be a functional way to support the rigid fiberglass a distance away from to increase low frequency absorption. If that's the case, i'm thinking i wil build a frame to support the fiberglass and then suspend it with eyehooks on the joists.


Tom-

In theory, i think that it's a good idea, but in an imperfect world, glue sucks and shouldn't be the sole thing holding something over my head... All you need is some doofus drummer to reach up and try to hang on it and all hell breaks loose.

I do like the idea of having something that could be slide in and out and could have some good uses. What if the brackets were screwed to the joists through the drywall?

bryan

I was only suggesting glue because in my case, I would be afraid of hurting isolation. I will have resilient channel, so i'd have to screw to that...it probably wouldn't hurt isolation, but after going through all the trouble, i'm sure i'll be a bit paranoid. For me, as long as I used a glue that could easily hold the weight of the trap, I'd use glue.

But I can't imagine any problems with a frame connected to the ceiling that would allow a trap to slide in and out.

tom,

I understand your situation. Maybe you could screw it into the drywall, but use accoustic sealant around the screw holes?

yeah... that's what I was thinking

just a idea but my not just buy a suspended ceiling, frame it out so 8 fit and hang that from the ceiling.

Glenn