Acoustical Treatments for Low-Budget Music Production

With the recent emergence of multiple music streaming sites such as Soundcloud, anyone with a computer can now create and share their own sounds. Whether you’re recording in a closet, dorm room, or spare bedroom, acoustical treatments can improve the sound quality of your music. Read on for tips to give you the best possible acoustics when you’re just starting to experiment with production or have low-budget music projects.

A common question many editors ask is whether they need Bass Traps in addition to standard acoustical absorption treatments. Generally, bass traps are needed in larger spaces when low-frequency sounds are being produced. These may be from direct sources, such as drum sets or other instruments (oboes, tubas, etc.), or from electronic sources, such as beats often featured in hip hop music.

Diffusers actually scatter sound, rather than absorbing it. Since the wavelength is so long for low-frequency sounds, it’s often easier to scatter the noise than to install thick enough absorbing materials.

Absorption Panels

Absorption panels are the perfect solution for single-room acoustical issues. We generally recommend 2″ thick acoustic panels if significant noise reduction is needed. While the NRC rating may only improve a bit, the performance at speech frequencies (such as 500 Hz) is 3x better than 1″ panels. When comparing acoustic panels, this is a critical characteristic that should be considered.

They can be easily mounted on the wall and wrapped with various fabrics or even custom art to fit the decor of your creative space. They trap and absorb sound waves, reducing echo and reverberation while increasing speech intelligibility. Background noise will be removed from your recording, while the voice of the artist will come through much clearer.

Acoustical Wedge Foam

Acoustical foam is a very budget friendly way to improve the acoustics of your recording or producing space. It can be hung easily or placed anywhere around the space to reduce the force of sound pressure buildup. It is a great solution for tight recording spaces, such as closets or dorms.

Similar to acoustic panels, the primary purpose of wedge foam is an affordable product to absorb reverberation.

Pyramid Diffusers

If you are looking to remove echo and sound imperfections, pyramid diffusers will improve audio quality without decreasing the effects of your original sound.  Diffusers are more effective in a broader area, such as a garage production or recording area.

Pyramid diffusers are equivalent in performance and function to standard bass traps, such as barrel diffusers.

Door Seals and Sweeps

If you are recording in a single room within a home or building, you do not want noise from other areas seeping into your space. Soundproofing the door with seals or sweeps will prevent transfer of noise between rooms. Door seals are installed around the perimeter of the door, while door sweeps are placed underneath the door.

When you’re just getting started producing or recording music, these cost-effective and easily installable products can drastically improve the quality of your sound. Let us know if any of these tips worked for you in the comments below!