[EdRo]

Ok guys. I have a band practice in a basement (bass, drums, 3 guitars, keys and 2-4 singers), and it gets pretty mushed up. Someone starts to turn up to hear himself, and before you know it, NOTHING sounds good! I was wondering if the usual treatments in the corners (Superchunk traps) and Roxul panels 24" x 48" x 5.5" thick, hung 1.5" off the facing wall will help clean up some of the excess low end. The room is about 17' x 22', with ceiling at 7.5' with open floor joists. We filled the joists directly above the drummer with acoustic fill and then put acoustic foam panels over the packed joists. Can't afford that above the entire practice area. The drums are also surrounded with acrylic panels. I'd like to see the sound environment cleaned up so practice can be more enjoyable and productive. We record our practices, so any improvements I hope will be heard. Will this stuff help my practice room, or will I waste my time and money trying? Thanks for the help, and rock on, guys! 

[Glenn Kuras]

Basically yes if you get some bass traps in the corners the room is going to sound much more clear. Now if people keep turning up there really is not much anyone can do about that. 

[jakelieb]

Check out Ethan's web page. He is a musician that studied acoustics for recording. I learned a lot and changed a terrible sounding room into a great listening room.

http://ethanwiner.com/basstrap.html

[SteveRB]

minimum 25% of ALL wall, floor and ceiling surfaces to have broad band absorption PLUS major corner traps.

20% coverage of ALL surfaces with decent reflection panels is a bonus to help it still feel alive.

Doesn't have to be expensive stuff

[Quiet Earth]

I have a band practice in a basement (bass, drums, 3 guitars, keys and 2-4 singers), and it gets pretty mushed up. Someone starts to turn up to hear himself, and before you know it, NOTHING sounds good!

I'm having that same problem at my house, except in my garage. It's called the volume wars. It's actually pretty normal to start playing at a decent volume level and then gradually, song by song, it gets louder. Volume creep - it's human nature. The key is getting everyone to turn down every couple of songs. It helps if there is a central person or band leader that everyone respects. The leader keeps the volume in check. I'm having trouble filling that leader roll at my house. I'm like Rodney Dangerfield - I get no respect. 

Actually we were doing fine until the drummer declared that he wasn't getting along with the elcctronic drums. He brought a real drum kit over and it's been Hell ever since. Everyone thinks the answer is to turn up to match the volume level of the drums. This is total and complete insanity. I can't mic the singers loud enough to match a live drum kit and 3 electric guitars (and bass) in a 3 car garage. Everyone is looking at me like I'm doing something wrong. I don't know what to do. To be fair, the drummer is trying to play quieter but on most songs he just can't. He needs a certain energy level to make some songs work.

Anyway, I put up a crapload of cheap foam wedges over the drummer (ceiling) and bought some free standing, carpeted, rigid fiberglass absorbers to put around the drums. I also put some big carpets down on the concrete floor too. We'll see how it goes (tonight) if it tames some of the volume of my echoey, drum assaulted garage. I know that I am making small improvements, but I am also wearing ear plugs now. It seems like the only thing you can do when you stand next to a drum set in a small space is wear ear plugs. 

There is only so much I want to spend on this problem since it is in my garage, but in your case with an indoor basement set up you should probably spend more on the acoustic treatment and less on gear until you get the sound under control. No point having a nice PA with a crappy sounding room. Good luck with it and let us know what you end up doing. I may follow along if it is garage friendly (and not too much money).

Quick question on those acrylic drum shields. Do they really help or do they just re-direct the energy to the wall behind the drummer and back into the room? Seems like they would just move the problem somewhere else.

[*Scotty*]

What about switching to in ear monitors for everyone and give them a feed from the mixing console. You protect everyone's hearing from what must be truly horrific SPLs and no more complaints about not being able hear themselves.
Scotty

[Quiet Earth]

Hi EdRo,

I thought I would report back on the free-standing baffles we put in front of the drummer last night. They made a big difference. Everyone thought it was a big improvement, including the drummer. Pleasant surprise.

I placed 3 ClearSonic S4-2 sound absorbing baffles in a semicircle, in front of the drummer. The baffles are just low enough that the drummer can see over them and not feel closed in. I'm going to get 2 of the taller baffles to place behind him and be done with it. That, and the absorption on the ceiling made a huge difference.

I haven't done any bass trapping because it is only my garage and I don't know how permanent this practice space is going to be. Plus, it sounds pretty good right now without the bass traps. We still have a tendency to play too loud, but it seems like things are a lot more manageable with the portable absorbers and some willingness of everyone to cooperate.

Anyway, here are the panels I bought if you are interested :
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/401262-REG/ClearSonic_S4_2_S4_2_Dark_Grey_SORBER.html

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/401266-REG/ClearSonic_S5_2_S5_2_Dark_Grey_SORBER.html

Here are the earplugs I bought which only attenuate a little bit, and you can still hear the highs :
http://www.amazon.com/Earasers-HEM001-Musicians-Plugs-Medium/dp/B00E2D9HAA/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1423071327&sr=1-1



Scotty,

Yes, that is what the pros do - real bands with a dedicated sound man use IEMs. We are just a bunch of guys playing for fun, and some of the people in the band come and go. I can't really justify buying enough IEMs for everyone who might show up to play, and I don't expect everyone to show up with their own set of IEMs. What if someone shows up and he doesn't have IEMs? I would have to convince everyone to buy Their own set of IEMs, and then we would all have to learn how to use them. I'm not sure if that would be harder than just getting everyone to turn down. 

Plus, it might create as many problems as it solves. I don't really want to spend the evening carving out personal mixes for each and every player.  I Suppose I could do it, but I think I would rather just set the mix levels once and then step aside and play bass. I'll think about it though....

[EdRo]

Thanks guys for all the input! I've ordered 5.5" thick Roxul for my panels, (last week) but it hasn't come in yet. I guess I'm a little anxious. I'm building panels for my H/T, too, so I figured I'd experiment with the panels going in my buddys' basement first! Should I try diffusion on the wall facing the drummer? I guess it's a "you don't know till you try" kind of a thang!!! Again, thanks for all the input, guys. My Taylor acoustic trying to cut through Orange half-stacks and a flailing drummer is a tough battle indeed!!! ROCK ON, GARTH!!!