How to build your BASS TRAP (without to spend lot of money)

If you are here maybe you are near the desperation or maybe searching for economic solution to your acoustics problems in your studio.
Same I, after lost my ears searching the perfect tuning between loudspeakers and room and after modified my Tannoy monitors, i have concluded that my small studio suffered from greater and serious problems, the inborn resonances of the room.

Searching for solutions (more cheapest) have arrived in the Ethan Winer website, from which i have taken ideas, councils and inspiration for the realization of BASS TRAP.

SUMMARY:

Material and tools

Making therefore the accounts for piece:

total = 14,5€ for a time of 1 hour every module,
The cover of the modules has been entrusted to an upholsterer (that it does not have intentional is made to document); the cover does not affect the acoustic yield, but sure the eye wants its part.

SUMMARY:

To prepare the chassis

First mark the stick of angling in order to gain of following pieces:

4 pieces from 60cm
3 pieces from 40cm
2 pieces from 83cm

I suggest to use long angle alluminium (3mt) in how much the waste smaller, in any case considered that to realize a BASS TRAP 5,26 meters are necessary.

Cut all pieces, and arrange on a table.

Tried to really find a plan to you of solid support and realy flat you will avoid small problems in the assembly.

NOTE: the angle alluminium easy fold and much less easy unbend one.

Joined for first 2 pieces from 60cm to straight angle (with rivets), dulled therefore 1 piece from 83cm so that joints between pieces (an angle of approximately 45deg;) what you will have to obtain is a triangle like the following photo.

Prepared also according to triangle and set apart

Joined therefore 1 piece from 40cm putting it in vertical in the angle to 90°.

Before joining two remaining pieces 2 pieces fold them gently to you so that they catch up one opening of 45°

At this point we have prepared our chassis that will accommodate it fiber glass, according to triangle it will come applied to the end of the assembly of the fiber glass.

SUMMARY:

To prepare the fiber glass

ATTENTION: buy a varnish mask (easy available in the blacksmith shops) and a pair of gloves; moreover tried to carry out these operations in a open air.
The fiber glass harmful if by it is breathed powders, therefore fairies attention or you choose a less economic but safest material (expanded polyester as an example).

Worn long dresses, you put the tvarnish mask and also the gloves, you assess that you can?t be exposed to directed contact with the fiber glass, this will avoid you a little of annoyances.

You arrange one slab on the plan and cuts it to you in two parts with the cutter so as to obtain 2 square ones, you help with one stick of wood or metal;

NOT CUT THE FIBER GLASS WITH THE SCISSORS otherwise you will see to fly many of powders.

Cut therefore every single squared in parts so as to obtain two triangles like in the photo.

It prepares to you of it 10 pieces (5 squared) and collects into a pile them with cure and calm to you avoiding to raise powders and above all without to ruin the fiber glass sheets.

To this point we have all the material in order to proceed to the assembly of BASS TRAP.

SUMMARY:

To mount BASS TRAP

ATTENTION: as for the previous operation gloves and varnish mask until the end must be used.

Put the chassis of BASS TRAP on the bench so that there is comfortable to handle, take the fiber glass sheets and insert in chassis (better two for time).

Once inserted all fiber glass sheets, put the remained triangle so that it closes the chassis for the fiber glass; fix with rivetts the triangle as soon as added.

check that BASS TRAP is very solid, if not fix the chassis with rivets.

Now you take the polyester coil and cut one strip in order to turn around to BASS TRAP (approximately 2,20mt). Passages a veil of glue on the chassis (only the great sides 60x60x83); applied with calm and cures the polyester until completing the turn of BASS TRAP.

Once that the polyester is very balance to the chassis passages to make the advanced and inferior part following the same hardly illustrated procedure.

Once that you have covered all BASS TRAP, repeat the operations so as to cover it for a second time, this will guarantee you a perfect isolation from fiber glass powders.
AVOIDED to replace the polyester with burlaps plastic, you will sure obtain a better isolation from powders but acousticaly you will lose in absorption above all on the higher frequencies.

Now your BASS TRAP is ready, we go to see like putting them in the studio and how many well to put some.

SUMMARY:

Installation of BASS TRAP in the studio

For my studio i have created 8 BASS TRAP installs 4 in an angle and 4 in opposite side.

BASS TRAP are simply support one over the other forming one high column approximately 1,70mt.

In my case (ill-fated) the columns of BASS TRAP have been placed in the posterior angles of listen; the frontal angles are bound from a hit door that prevents to the positioning of BASS TRAP (in planning also the planar modules).

IMPORTANT: place your BASS TRAP near to the walls approximately 10-15cm from it (tried with some instrument of measure or to ear), this will avoid to make useless the result of the trap.

Experienced several distances from the wall until obtaining the better tune; 1/4 of the wavelength that you must pull down are a good beginning.
Listened and posizionate, changing music, still moved and still listened, sleep, fairies a walk and listened; to the end you will find your position.

SUMMARY:

Before and after BASS TRAP

Measurement without BASS TRAP dynamic range 70db

Measurement with BASS TRAP dynamic range 70db

Measurement without BASS TRAP dynamic range 40db

Measurement with BASS TRAP dynamic range 40db

SUMMARY:

29/05/2007