Tuesday VO Tech Tip: (Acoustic) Panel Possibilities

Using 2″ acoustic foam to absorb frequencies in our recording space tends not to be adequate for the job. Last week I discussed some of these limitations and referenced acoustic ratings. Keep in mind those ratings came from tests on high quality acoustic foam. Lookalike foam made with inferior material performs even more poorly. The cheap stuff offered through major online retail sites does almost nothing to reduce reflections in the vocal frequencies.

It’s not that foam can’t be beneficial. In certain spaces it might work fine. But in general, when I’ve helped voice actors, narrators, and podcasters achieve better results within a strict budget, acoustic blankets are often the most cost-effective solution. Large acoustic blankets such as the Filmcraft or Producer’s Choice cover a lot of surface area and can control a wide range of frequencies within our recording spaces due to their significant mass. The blankets may not be as photogenic as angular foam panels, but will help better control reflecting frequencies in your space. 

When there’s a bit more budget to work with, well-built acoustic sound panels have a lot to recommend them. I’m referring to fabric covered frames which contain some sort of acoustically deadening material – typically Rockwool or Corning 703. Panel designs can range in thickness, commonly 2″ or 4″ front to back. Some are open to the back in order to trap lower frequencies (“bass traps”), while others are built with a solid backing panel. They will have relatively open weave fabric attached to hold the damping material in place while permitting sound waves through. Running the numbers and comparing the same amount of coverage in square feet, the price of high quality 4″ acoustic foam tends to be more than the price of finished panels of the same thickness.

Finished Acoustic Panels have several positive aspects:

• Panel material tends to absorb a wider range of reflected acoustic energy.
• Panels provide a nicely finished look, and can be sourced in a variety of colors.
• The absorptive material remains more “contained” behind the fabric – unlike foam particles which may degrade and flake off into the space
• Wood framed panels are easier to mount.
• They can make for a fun DIY project if you are handy with tools and material.

One of the more enlightening moments came when I received the ATS panels to replace the aging acoustic egg crate style foam in my Vocalbooth. I’d spent a lot of time tuning that 4×4′ space with bass-specific foam chunks and other deadening material and had minimized the “booth” sound through careful mic placement and adjustments. But like all acoustic issues, once you notice something, it’s very hard to “unhear” it.

After unboxing the panels, I positioned them against the to-be-removed foam, with the 4″ bass traps stacked atop the panels. Stepping into the space was mildly disorienting. Compared to what I was used to in that space, there was now little perceived sound reflection. I felt not quite dizzy, but definitely less stable. These panels clearly did a lot more work than the previous solutions I’d had in place.

Using quality acoustic panels raised my expectations of what can be achieved within a commercially available booth. I’ve always recommended further tuning of any prefab booth, and will be adding some panels to improve my Studiobricks setup as well. The model I have uses the original foam material which does a good job, but can be made to sound better. Better sound is what we continue to seek, as delivery requirements, live sessions, and client expectations all continue to increase.

If you would like a free review of your vocal recordings, please use the upload tool on my Audio Review page.

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