Can I Cover My Bass Traps With....?

[wonder]

I'm redoing some things in my control room and moving some wall mounted bass traps around.

Thinking about changing the fabric I have covering them.

This may be a ridiculous question, and, in my mind i know the answer but ... i was doing some reading on some sites that recommended using Kraft Paper to cover your bass traps.

Here's my question ... lets say I wanted to use the bass traps as "art". i.e. get a poster printed of some of my artists and put that poster on the front of the bass traps. Is that totally defeating the purpose of absorbing frequencies?

[HCMarkus]

I don't expect that low frequency absorption would be impacted by paper. High frequencies, yes. Crossover point: unknown, would likely depend on thickness of paper.

You can get printing done on cloth if you need to maintain HF attenuation.

[wonder]

I don't expect that low frequency absorption would be impacted by paper. High frequencies, yes. Crossover point: unknown, would likely depend on thickness of paper.

You can get printing done on cloth if you need to maintain HF attenuation.

Fabric Posters might be a good option. More expensive. But an option.

[MIDI Life Crisis]

You guys are so much more uptown than I am about these things.

[Phil O]

I spent a lot of time experimenting with different configurations in my studio. The most important thing I learned is that all the accumulated knowledge about this stuff is just a starting point. In the end, what works is specific to your room. Paper over bass traps may be the exact combination you need for a perfect recording environment, but it may suck in my room - or vice versa. The best advice I can offer is try it, listen, adjust, etc. There's a wicker chair in the corner of my studio that just needs to be there. If it gets moved, things just don't sound right. Who'da thunk it?

Phil

[stubbsonic]

My only concern with paper would be that low-frequencies at high energy levels (like kicks) could cause the paper to oscillate/resonate potentially adding some crinkle/flutter noise. Fabric (even just bought in rolls at a fabric store) would be a nice & safe option. You could find LOTS of design options and not as expensive as printing to fabric in that quantity. Attach with durable elastic & safety-pins on the non visible side so it will remain a snug fit.

[leigh]

Just a thought: a T-shirt shop might be able to heat-press your own designs onto the fabric.

**Leigh

[philbrown]

I used some nice burnt orange drapes (cut up) to cover mine. Some other ones I used fairly cheap muslin from Walmart. Why would you use paper? There may be a legitimate reason, but it seems counter-intuitive.