Questions and answers

  • Do the acoustic kits prevent the sound from leaving (or entering) the studio?

    No. The acoustic treatment is not designed to soundproof the studio (prevent the sound from leaving or entering the room). Soundproofing treatment must be applied by building acoustic walls, ceilings and floors to improve the acoustic insulation of the premises and prevent the sound from being transmitted from one space to another. The Skum Acoustics kits are used to improve the sound quality inside the studio, but they do not increase the insulation capacity of the room.

  • Are acoustic foams acoustic absorbers or acoustic insulators?

    Acoustics foams are lightweight, flexible materials with a porous structure which have excellent properties as acoustic absorbers. Acoustic insulators are normally very dense (heavy), more rigid, less porous materials that do not offer good sound absorbance, but on the other hand, have a high capacity to prevent sound from passing through them.

  • How to fix acoustic foam?

    A full article on the installation of acoustic foam rubber is here:

    The best and most reliable way to fix acoustic foam is practically any acrylic-based adhesive. Also for this process, a two-sided adhesive tape on a fabric basis with improved adhesion (stickiness) is perfect. This adhesive can be purchased in any building supermarket. Apply glue along the perimeter and diagonally (cross in the middle). This way you will achieve the best attachment. However, there are times when acoustic foam must be removed, and if the glue has been applied to acoustic foam without the layer between the wall and the acoustic foam, the material will be substantially damaged during removal. Therefore, in order to avoid such situations, we recommend to glue acoustic foam on thin sheets of dvp, which can be purchased and cut in almost any building supermarket, and then glued the sheets to the wall with the same adhesive. In order not to damage the wallpaper or any other decorative wall decoration, you can fix the sheets on the wall with screws or with dowels, and then glue the acoustic foam directly onto the sheet of the fixed sheet. Please note that the dismantling must be done very carefully with a large spatula.

  • What changes will I notice in my studio soundstage after installing an Acoustic Kit?

    You will hear a more precise sound that is better defined and with a more coherent response at low frequency. You will notice a more muffled atmosphere, with less reverberation and sound nuances that were previously masked. Your recordings will sound more controlled and professional and you can transfer your mixes to other spaces with higher quality.

  • How can I improve the acoustics of my studio?

    Installing an acoustic kit is the first step in acoustic conditioning for your studio and provides a global, balanced treatment. You can improve the room’s response at low frequency, adding more bass trap units in vertical and horizontal corners. In addition it is advisable to use a Fötter supports kit to improve the precision of your near-field monitors, as it isolates and disconnects them from the surface that supports them, thus preventing the transmission of vibrations and stopping the surface from booming, which distorts the listening.

  • Why acoustic black foam is more expensive than light?

    The fact is that black and light acoustic foam rubber have different production, but almost the same acoustic properties. The disadvantage of light acoustic foam is that it is prone to fading, which occurs after a certain time with direct hits on it of ultraviolet rays. Therefore, light acoustic foam is advisable to use in basements, inside frame structures as soundproofing or rooms where there are no windows or blinds or thick curtains are installed on them. In this case, you will retain the aesthetic appearance of acoustic foam for many years to come. The light emanating from ordinary bulbs absolutely does not affect the color of the gray acoustic foam. Also, I remind you that the acoustic properties of gray acoustic foam rubber hardly differ from the acoustic foam rubber of the brand "black graphite".

  • Are acoustic foam rubber used as a soundproofing device?

    Acoustic foam is a sound-absorbing material and first of all it reduces the level of reverberation in the room. However, when waves are absorbed, the possibility of sound coming into both external sources and inside the room also decreases. This is why acoustic foam is often used in call centers or offices, where there is a so-called cellular system of work organization. It should be understood that if you need to "separate" the room from the external impact of sound waves, you must also use soundproof, as well as vibration isolation materials.

  • I will need to cut some panels to adapt them. How should I do this?

    Acoustic foam is easy to cut with a cutter. The difficulty lies in maintaining a firm grip to obtain a clean, straight cut ;)

  • How much of the surface should I cover with the acoustic absorbers?

    Less than 100%, that is unless you are building an anechoic chamber%! Normally, depending on the use made of the room, between 20% and 80% of the surface area of the walls and ceiling. This is a very wide range and for this reason, for each product we have developed a guide providing information about the necessary quantity, depending on the use made of the room and its dimensions. At all events you can contact our acoustic specialists who will recommend the best option for your particular project.

  • What product colours are available? Can I paint them or cover them with fabric?

    The polyurethane foam products are available in charcoal grey. In the case of melamine foam (fireproof) they are available in pearl grey and white. Acoustic foams should NOT be painted as this blocks their pores, considerably reducing their sound absorption capacity. But they CAN be covered with fabric, provided the sound can pass through it; the more translucent the fabric, the better the passage of the sound.

  • Questions on soundproofing and the answers to them.

    - Will the soundproof material work effectively if it is simply attached to the area to be isolated?
    Unfortunately no! This way will not work. Soundproof structures are made on the basis of the frame and work according to the formula - solid material (reflecting) - soft or porous (absorbing) - again a solid material (reflecting), where the first layer is reflecting: overlapping walls, ceiling or floor; second sound-absorbing; and in the end, plasterboard sheets are often used. Just on the wall are fastened, as a rule, soft sound-absorbing materials to reduce the time of reverberation and correction of acoustics. The sound wave in this way getting on the overlap is partially or completely extinguished and the level of echo in the room is noticeably reduced. But the sound from behind the wall will penetrate to you.
    - How to get rid of conversations of neighbors from behind the wall?
    We have on the page in the information section there is an article "Sound insulation with acoustic high-density foam foam IzoBlock" shows the ways by which you can reduce the level of sounding sounds from behind the wall. The level of sound insulation depends entirely on your needs and on the minimum amount of space that you are ready to allocate for the design. If you hear from neighbors at a high level, then we can offer a design "Sound insulation of walls with IzoBlock material ~ 90-105mm (~ 57-65dB)" - depends on the base of the walls. This is the maximum degree of sound insulation based on 2 types of material IzoBlock 40mm and IzoBlock 20mm, and two layers of GCR.
    - Disturb sounds from the neighbors from above. What type of soundproofing do I need?
    In the event that your irritant is "air noise", and not "shock noise", it is enough to make a soundproofing of the ceiling. The construction is shown on the page "Sound insulation with acoustic high-density foam foam IzoBlock". Sound insulation of the ceiling will remove "air noise" as much as possible and minimize "shock noise".
    - Sounds from neighbors walking on top or from moving furniture. What should I do?
    The sounds of the footsteps you hear from the neighbors from the top are "shock noise". Completely remove the "shock" noise from the neighbors from above can special material for floor coverings IzoBlock floor, which is laid out by neighbors from the top to the floor for the finish coat.
  • Acoustic foam, what is it?

    Definition
    Reticulated polyurethane foam of high density based on heterochain polymers, the same acoustic foam is a material developed on the basis of polyurethanes, whose macromolecules contain an unsubstituted urethane group, as well as a group of simple and complex polyesters.
    Principle of operation
    This material has an open-cell structure and a special profile, which significantly increases its acoustic characteristics. Such properties allow us to weaken acoustic waves by increasing the air resistance, so that the amplitudes of the sound waves drop substantially. The energy of the sound wave passes into the thermal wave and a decrease in the reverberation time is observed in the room.
    Application
    Architectural, construction and musical acoustics often include the use of relief sheets of acoustic foam. First of all, this material is applicable in the acoustic processing of buildings and rooms, but acoustic foam is also relevant inside the frame sound-proof structures, which significantly increases the additional sound insulation of the floors. In such designs, acoustic foam is used with a higher density, which increases the sound absorption index towards low frequencies. Automobile manufacturers, manufacturers of diesel generators, industrial air conditioners, as well as musical instruments, headphones, microphones, household, studio, car speakers, etc. also resort to the use of acoustic foam rubber.
    Acoustic treatment of premises
    Acoustic foam with the profile "Quadra", "Pyramid", "Plate", "Saw", "Wave" and "Decor" is used as a sound-absorbing material in professional sound recording studios, cinemas, concert halls, nightclubs, call centers, narration studios, gyms, auditoriums, production halls, industrial zones, shopping areas, shooting galleries, radio, television, etc. The height of the profile plays a significant role in the use of acoustic foam: due to the order and depth of the depressions, as well as to the special relief of the product, the sound energy is partially dissipated into thermal foam, whereby a decrease in the residual reverberation can be observed.
    Environmentally friendly and long service life
    Acoustic foam rubber is hygienic and does not cause allergies, it is stable against the influence of microorganisms, alkalis, acids and bacteria, does not emit different degradation products, and does not contain harmful substances and components, does not become moldy and does not form dust, but due to high content and the quality of the polyester has a long service life. Acoustic foam does not interfere with air circulation, which eliminates the possibility of condensation.
    Using
    With the help of acoustic foam rubber it is possible to maintain comfortable conditions in a confined space (due to the friction of air in open pores, the sound energy is lost). Use APPU recommended in cases where a room, or in its vicinity, there is a strong source of sound! One of the main advantages of acoustic foam rubber is the ability to absorb sound waves perfectly, and to prevent their propagation. Due to this, it is widely used in creating sound attenuation and in finishing specialized rooms. Acoustic foam is widely used as a sound-absorbing material in many rooms for rehearsals and professional sound recording studios. The use of this foam rubber allows you to achieve two goals at the same time - to ensure the ideal propagation of sound inside the premises used and to prevent the discomfort of others. In recording studios, special materials from the APPU ("bass traps" - they improve the quality of recording and reduce the intensity of echoes) are rarely used. Many experts say that the volume of acoustic foam, which is purchased, should directly depend on the type of premises. - In order to comfortably listen to music in your apartment or place your home theater or speaker system - you need to process only 25 - 30% of the surface of the ceiling, walls and floor; - Creating a room for "listening", "rehearsal rooms" or similar objects - 50 - 70% of the total surface is processed; - To create a public attraction, a cinema hall or a karaoke room - 70 - 90% of the surface is processed; - To create laboratories in the field of sound testing or control rooms of a recording studio - it is required to process at least 90% of the surface; - And for vocal cabs (voice recording) - 100% of the surface is processed. In the online store "UA Acoustics" it is possible to purchase acoustic foam "Pyramid" in height 30, 50 and 70 mm, as well as bass traps of different sizes.
  • How To Strengthen The Acoustic Carpet And Its Applications?

    More recently, acoustic carpets have been used mainly for automotive trim and for tightening loudspeakers, but due to their sound-absorbing and aesthetic characteristics, in recent years it has been increasingly used in acoustically unprepared rooms as a sound-absorbing or sound-conducting lining material.

    First, let's find out what a carpet is? Acoustic carpet is an artificial non-woven material that has sound-absorbing characteristics in the high-frequency range and sound-transmitting characteristics in the middle and low frequency region. This material is often used for decorating the walls of home theaters, studio cabins, professional and home recording studios, rehearsal points, as well as for finishing music systems in order to improve the acoustics in the room.

    Due to the fact that the material stretches well, it will not be difficult to tighten the complex surface.Due to its fibrous structure, the carpet helps to convert sound energy into thermal energy by absorbing it at high frequencies, without disturbing the overall acoustics in the room. Thus, the sound becomes more qualitative and clean indoors at the required frequencies.

    Acoustic carpets in combination with panels made of acoustic foam rubber help to achieve a higher sound-absorbing effect in the room by extending the frequency range towards lower frequencies. You will be pleasantly surprised at the result obtained by combining these two materials not only in terms of acoustics, but also visually, since these materials also have high aesthetic characteristics!

    Carpet is a durable material. It does not arbitrarily stretch over time, retains its color, does not dust, does not become covered with mold, perfectly fits together and is easily cut.

    How to mount an acoustic carpet?

    -To begin with, you need to consider the progress of the pasting work based on the width of the roll and the geometry of the room. The lining can be both vertical and horizontal. The difference is only in the joints. For example, in your room on the perimeter of all the walls over the carpet will be attached sound-absorbing material. In this case, the logical version of the cladding will be horizontal.

    Step-by-step process of gluing:

    -Degrease and clean the surface to increase the adhesive properties of the original surface;

    -Next, take a small piece of acoustic carpet and try to paste it on the desired surface. We test, so to speak;

    -The next step is to stretch or gently pull the acoustic carpet, according to the length of the finishing surface;

    -We cut out the material with a stock of 1-2 cm;

    -After we have cut it is possible to start sticking. For gluing, the most commonly used spray adhesive is "Ultimate Adgezive" or liquid "88 glue". The latter before use should be heated on a steam bath so that it has acquired the desired consistency for application to the finishing surface.

    -Now you can proceed with the gluing. Gradually we apply and glue the acoustic carpet, it perfectly fits together so the seams will be invisible.

    Good luck!

  • Location of acoustic panels at the points of early reflections

    In this article, the process of searching for zones (points) of early reflections using a mirror starting with the highest priority is described step by step.

    A sound above 400 Hz is considered to be directional. In fact, the higher the frequency, the greater the directivity of the sound wave. In a home theater or listening room with a two-channel audio system, such audio waves bounce off adjacent walls and produce very noticeable second-order reflections that compete with direct sound from loudspeakers.

    These reflections are easy to control, strategically placing the acoustic panels along the side walls. As a rule, they are installed at the height of the ear and / or loudspeaker and are located along the wall to fix the early reflections from the loudspeakers.

    For optimal placement of acoustic panels (acoustic foam rubber), the most simple and effective way to find the points of early reflections will be the use of a mirror. To do this you will need an assistant!

    The process of searching for early reflection zones looks like this:

    1. It is necessary to sit in the listening position.
    2. Ask your assistant to place a mirror on the wall surface that is between you and the speakers.
    3. Using a pencil, mark the start and end points when the speakers are still visible in the mirror. Note that you need to see the left and right speakers (and the center, if used) in the mirror.

    This process will determine the area in which you want to install the acoustic panel (acoustic foam) Repeat this process for the second wall. 

    After processing the side walls, to more strictly control the reflections in your room on the back wall (behind the sitting position), you must also find the point of early reflections and install there also an acoustic panel. To do this, you need to stay in the listening position to deploy the body by 180 degrees and follow the same search method as with the side zones, i.e. note the start and end points in which the dynamics in the mirror will be visible.

    In order to further strengthen the sound control in the room, on the wall behind the loudspeakers, namely at the point of early reflections, it is also necessary to install the acoustic panel, however this time the maximum thickness. This method eliminates the comb filtering effect caused by non-directional low frequencies emanating from the loudspeaker.

    After you finish with the points of the early reflections do not forget about the low-frequency absorbers.

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