[GuitaristZ]

My Dad and I have been fixing up our basement as a music room. We have put in walls, soundproofed ceiling, etc. and in the past 2 weeks we did the floor. Before the past two weeks we had carpet. We just did the baseboard today so it is done pretty much. anyway, the acoustic difference is AMAZING! I can hear my guitars so much better and clearer! harmonics just ring out so clear. I also have to turn down the amp more because it is much louder without all the carpet. there is virtually no echo so im happy about that too. Even my digital piano sounds so much better. I have a roland RD170 and it sounds much more full and real now.

heres some pics

 

[Ripper]

Hey nice job, that looks great. My practice room looks like the inside of an old military bunker or bomb shelter, hopefully this summer I can find some time to spruce it up a bit. I'd have it done already but I can't get my mrs. to see that it really should have priority over the rest of the home renos.

 

[Robert1950]

Yeah, my 'practice room' looks like a bedroom,... wait,... it is a bedroom.

Looks spartan, but it's all about sound.

 

[GuitaristZ]

next I will be installing some drums and then some recording equipment in the future hopefully. the drums are needed though soon as my band is going to hold our practices at my house from now on.

 

[bRian]

Looks like you an the ol' man did a fine job.

 

[Xanadu]

lol. my practise room is my friends basement...

 

[GuitaristZ]

Well, after a lot more playing today, I can definately say the room sounds SO much better than before with thick carpet. So much more open!

right now, I cant get my marshalls volume past 1 (on the modern channel) though which sort of sucks. I might get an epi valve junior for practice etc, because I want to preserve my hearing lol.

 

[nine]

Looks great. Personally, I'm not a fan of how echo-y hardwood is (my whole condo is hardwood). I like carpet and dead sounding materials in rooms that are audio related.

 

[Gilliangirl]

GuitaristZ,
That's what I'm in the process of doing for a room in my basement as well (for the same reason, music room). Did you use that flooring that just pieces together like a puzzle, or is that the true hardwood flooring? I was thinking I'd put laminate down, or even hardwood, but the kind that's easy to install (so they say). Anyway, your room looks great!

I've heard that bare floor is good for acoustics, but if you want to do recording, carpet is better. Not sure how true that is.

 

[GuitaristZ]

GuitaristZ,
That's what I'm in the process of doing for a room in my basement as well (for the same reason, music room). Did you use that flooring that just pieces together like a puzzle, or is that the true hardwood flooring? I was thinking I'd put laminate down, or even hardwood, but the kind that's easy to install (so they say). Anyway, your room looks great!

I've heard that bare floor is good for acoustics, but if you want to do recording, carpet is better. Not sure how true that is.

We put down stuff called "dricore" subfloor system first. Its basically 2'x2' plants of wood with corrugated polyethelene (i think) (plastic) stuff underneath to stop moisture and allow air to ciruclate. Its about 7$ a piece I think so its a bit expensive. However, before all that, we had to level MANY spots on the floor (like 5-6 spots, each ranging from 1ft to 5-6 feet) that were uneven. We did this with "self-leveling" cement which you can get at any home depot. Just ask. The dricore manual says you have to level, with cement, any low spots great than 1/4". Anything less than that, you just buy these shims (like 4$ a box I think or something) to put under and make it nice and level.

Next, we put down the foam stuff. We then installed the actual wood flooring. The stuff we used is laminate flooring. It just locks together. We bought ours at home depot. I forget the brand though right now. It really does take 2 people installing to do a good job (at least on the brand/type we did). One person has to hold the previous tile up and in sorta, while the other person installs the next plank. You also have to tap them in as you go and later on, to ensure the seams are not visible. Fun fun. :tongue:

I am loving the sound of it! Playing my piano down there just sounds so much better. I suppose for recording you might want some acoustic tiles, but I just love this floor too much right now though haha.


Best to talk to some professionals though, so dont take my advice as fact

 

[Beatles]

Looks very nice.

You may find that eventually you will want to add some room treatment especially if you plan on recording. Its sounds loud because of all the reflective surfaces. Once you get have a kit down there and a couple of guitars, you may not like what you hear.

 

[GuitaristZ]

Looks very nice.

You may find that eventually you will want to add some room treatment especially if you plan on recording. Its sounds loud because of all the reflective surfaces. Once you get have a kit down there and a couple of guitars, you may not like what you hear.

aah so like some acoustic foam stuff? like those foam tiles which have triangles?

 

[Beatles]

There's a lot to consider when treating a room. Personally, I prefer to have a "dead" room. The foam you mention will only absorb some of the highs, and then not very much. Sound collects in the corners, especially the low frequencies. Here is a little something anyone can try at home. Put on a cd or whatever at a loud volume. Now go stick your head in a corner and see what happens. You'll be surprised at what you hear. Sound collects at every 90 degree angle. You can also look at building cheap 2x4 absorption panels. Not the best way, but you can build a light weight 2x4 frame and put something like Roxul Safe n Sound accoustic insulation, or even better, some OC 703 and cover it with a breathable fabric and hang it on the wall. You can use the same accoustic insulation and cut in half. Then take that half and cut it in a diagonal. Pile them up in a corner and cover with fabric, or place the diagonal pieces where the wall meets the ceiling and cover in fabric. You'd also have to make a frame for this. Another alternative is to make "clouds" where very basically, you hang acoustic insulation wrapped in fabric from the ceiling.

 

[lolligagger]

I have installed hardwood in many of the rooms throughout my house, and in the house prior to this one. The first thing I do once I'm done putting a floor down is to grab an acoustic guitar and strum. I just love that sound!

I have officially declared the front room as "my practice room" and I have to say I quite enjoy having a nice space, with a decent view outside. I have nice comfortable leather furniture, some nice rugs for warmth and some nice antiques tables for my sound/recording gear. SWMBO really hates that last part...tee-hee-hee!