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Rob_Mopar
Rob_Mopar SuperDork
12/21/14 4:42 p.m.

Figured if any group would know it would be here.

I'm looking to kill some of the echo in a roughly 1200 sq-ft cinder block room. Just for one day. Can this be accomplished with essentially a boom box playing a MP3 loop of white noise? If so, can anybody point me in a direction of the I can use?

Woody
Woody GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
12/21/14 4:51 p.m.

If you're just trying to reduce echo, how about adding a few Christmas trees in the corners?

Rob_Mopar
Rob_Mopar SuperDork
12/21/14 4:59 p.m.

Some stuff will be going in the room, but not enough to deaden the echo. If I had a spare plastic tree it would be in there.

Fueled by Caffeine
Fueled by Caffeine MegaDork
12/21/14 5:09 p.m.

A fan.

DirtyBird222
DirtyBird222 UltraDork
12/21/14 5:14 p.m.

just a white noise app on a phone or tablet and plug it in to a stereo. If it's filled up with people that should help reduce some of the echo too right?

Spitsix
Spitsix Reader
12/21/14 5:16 p.m.

radio set in between stations

singleslammer
singleslammer UltraDork
12/21/14 5:18 p.m.

I have no idea how that will work in a cinder block room. I would try what Dirt Bird said first.

I do like the christmas tree idea though.

Rob_Mopar
Rob_Mopar SuperDork
12/21/14 5:27 p.m.

Thanks guys. The people will be absorbing some of the noise, but they are the generators too. Just trying to make it so conversations will be possible without sounding like a high school basketball game. I'll experiment with Dirty Bird's idea this week.

mad_machine
mad_machine GRM+ Memberand MegaDork
12/21/14 6:07 p.m.

this permanent or temp? Eggcrate foam works wonders for perm

Rob_Mopar
Rob_Mopar SuperDork
12/21/14 6:12 p.m.

In reply to mad_machine:

Temp. The space will be outfitted with stuff in a few weeks.

02Pilot
02Pilot HalfDork
12/21/14 6:13 p.m.

On a computer: http://simplynoise.com/

On an Android phone: White Noise Lite

Rob_Mopar
Rob_Mopar SuperDork
12/21/14 6:19 p.m.

In reply to 02Pilot:

Awesome! I'll rig up a test later in the week. The floor in the space is getting an epoxy coat tomorrow. Test will have to wait until I can get in there.

novaderrik
novaderrik PowerDork
12/21/14 6:50 p.m.

hang up some blankets.. hit up the local Salvation Army or Goodwill store and see if they have any bitchin cheap "wolf howling at the moon" blankets to add a little extra ambiance..

AngryCorvair
AngryCorvair GRM+ Memberand UltimaDork
12/21/14 7:41 p.m.

i was gonna say pretty much what novaderrik said.

DrBoost
DrBoost UltimaDork
12/21/14 8:27 p.m.

I use simply noise all the time at work. Either the white noise, or the rain storm with headphones on.

petegossett
petegossett GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
12/21/14 9:40 p.m.

White-noise will only cause people to talk louder, making it sound even more like a gymnasium. You need objects that break up the solid, flat surfaces. As stated above, blankets/quilts hung on the walls are a good start. Even artwork hung on the wall would help, as will a few rugs on the floor.

Ditchdigger
Ditchdigger UltraDork
12/21/14 10:06 p.m.

You need some acoustic dampers or "tube traps"

This hanging style from McMaster will get rid of a lot of echo from a room

The panel style are good too

I agree that you have to soak up that noise instead of add to the din.

You could hit a local insulation place and get some 6" fiberglass pipe insulation, peel off the kraft face and hang the tubes up high out of sight.

novaderrik
novaderrik PowerDork
12/21/14 10:53 p.m.

just copy this room and you''ll be golden:

Sultan
Sultan Dork
12/21/14 11:39 p.m.

In reply to Ditchdigger:

Those panels are Sonex and are crazy expensive. You can get it here, http://www.acousticalsolutions.com/sonex-acoustical-foam

You can correct that people will make sound yet at the same time they are large bags of water that absorb sound. If it were me I would put down carpet and they try to break up the reflections with stuff like shelving.

Advan046
Advan046 SuperDork
12/22/14 12:40 a.m.
novaderrik wrote: just copy this room and you''ll be golden:

Yes those types of room are very unnerving. Your mind starts playing tricks on you fast.

I have been in three different ones. In each case I just felt an irrational fear of being in there. Not good hearing every molecule of dust as they land on your earlobes.

I get spooked just seeing that photo.

Advan046
Advan046 SuperDork
12/22/14 12:43 a.m.

Cheap temporary solution could also be a very large display of real or fake flowers in the corners and center of the room.

Small (10foot-ish) trees of any type would do as well.

tuna55
tuna55 UltimaDork
12/22/14 7:23 a.m.

Ever hang up a comforter in your bathroom over the curtain to dry? It drops the noise a huge amount. +1 for hanging up blankets and -1 for adding more noise. I have a background in acoustics and have spent some time in a partial anechoic chamber, but did not find it bad at all, just quiet.

pinchvalve
pinchvalve MegaDork
12/22/14 8:08 a.m.
Advan046 wrote:
novaderrik wrote: just copy this room and you''ll be golden:
Yes those types of room are very unnerving. Your mind starts playing tricks on you fast. I have been in three different ones. In each case I just felt an irrational fear of being in there. Not good hearing every molecule of dust as they land on your earlobes. I get spooked just seeing that photo.

I have heard that before, how weird. You would think it would be relaxing. I wonder what effect it would have on my tinnitus? Due to ear surgeries, I have a ringing and "chirping" noise in one ear that has played nonstop for 20 years. I bet it would be so loud it would be deafening. Whoa!

tuna55
tuna55 UltimaDork
12/22/14 8:20 a.m.

In reply to pinchvalve:

Your tinnitus definitely gets louder, and you suddenly realize how much you move as you can hear your pants and shirt crinkle and fold. Oh, breathing, you breathe super loud.

ScreaminE
ScreaminE HalfDork
12/22/14 8:24 a.m.

Somewhat confused on what you're trying to accomplish, but my kids sleep to noise machines at night set to "white noise" that sounds like a fuzzy TV. You can get them cheap ~$15 at Toys R Us or Bed Bath and Beyond.

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