By Fred Bogert

Whenever you record into a microphone, the mic will pick up not only the direct sound of the source, but also various reflections of the room surfaces. Controlling these ambient sounds can make a big difference in how your recording sounds. Here's something you can build for your recording projects that will greatly increase your ability to control the ambient environment of your acoustic sounds.

Start with a 4' x 8' piece of quality plywood , and a 4' x 8' piece of perforated pegboard. These will be the front and back side of the acoustic panel. Build a frame of 2" x 4" studs to mount the panels on. Get a roll of R-11 fiberglass insulation and space the studs so the gaps between them can be filled evenly with the insulation. Tack the insulation so that the paper side is on the side of the frame which will be covered by the plywood. Now glue and screw the plywood and pegboard to their respective sides. Use Liquid Nails and all purpose 1-1/2" screws. Next, coat the plywood and exposed frame ( but NOT the pegboard) with several coats of polyurethane until you get a smooth high gloss finish. Now cover the pegboard with an inexpensive carpet that has a thick nap (long fibers). Attach this with liquid nails and staples, but be careful not to fill too many pegboard holes with glue.

And now for the fun part. The panel that you just built reflects sounds on the plywood side and absorbs sound on the pegboard/ carpet side. When you record anything involving an open mic, place the panel in all sorts of different places ( on the floor, against a wall, leaning at an angle, etc.). You will hear big differences in the colors you capture. By getting to know the way your panel controls the ambient sound of your recordings, you can fine tune your acoustic recordings and greatly improve your ability to capture that magic musical moment.

Fred Bogert
Studio C Productions
30 Music Sq. W. #150
Nashville, TN 37203
1-615-259-2346
FAX: 1-615-259-7852