DIY Tube Bass Traps: Voiceover Audiobooth Construction - Part 6

My DIY tube bass traps were inspired by TubeTraps - an invention by acoustical guru Arthur Noxon. I just needed to put some small sleek bass traps in my booth, so my design focuses on bass trap characteristics, but please do learn how Arthur Noxon’s original TubeTrap works since they are able to also control the reflection of sound in your studio. You could easily create a more accurate imitation of the original, retaining the reflection properties, by using 2 builder forms per bass trap. At the store I noticed that the tubes come from the manufacturer in packs of 3, each tube form was slightly smaller than the other so that they could be slid inside each other. If you decide to make a more accurate version of Arthur’s tube trap, please message me. It’s on my list of future construction projects to make some for my movie room.

http://www.tubetrap.com/


Materials I used:

  • Two Concrete Building Forms - a full tube is used for the standing bass trap, and the other is cut in half to make 2 small hanging traps

  • Scrap pieces of Roxul Safe n’ Sound

  • Scrap pieces of Roxul 80 Comfortbatt

  • Scrap pieces of thin wood

  • Scrap piece of plywood or board

  • PL Premium glue

  • 2 years of burlap or 2 coffee bean burlap bags

  • burlap twine(thread)


Tools:

  • Power Drill

  • 4 inch hole saw cutter

  • Jigsaw

  • Electric bread knife

  • Long needle

bass-trap-tube-hole-saw.png

Step 1:

Cut one of the building forms in half. Using a hole saw cut 4 inch holes in the building forms. Stagger the holes so that the sound will be randomly trapped.

Step 2:

Using a jigsaw cut 8 inch diameter discs to make caps for the ends of the bass trap tubes. I used 4. I used the scrap piece I cut off the bottom of the door.

bass-trap-tube-apply-pl-premium.png

Step 4:

Using the building forms trace a circle on the discs. Apply PL Premium Glue to the edge of the circle.

bass-trap-tube-glue-base.png

Step 5:

For the standing bass trap, make a base about 10 inches square out of a scrap piece of plywood or board, and apply PL premium to the bass as well.

Step 6:

Place the building form into the glue on the wooden disc and base.

bass-trap-tube-roxul-80comfortbatt-centre.png

Step 7:

Put a scrap piece of Roxul Comfortbatt 80 in the middle of the tube.

Step 8:

Pack leftover Roxul Safe n’Sound around the Comfortbatt.

bass-trap-tube-standing-top.png

Step 9:

I didn’t put a cap on the end of the standing bass trap. I covered it with a piece moving blanket. I just bunched the burlap together on the end and sewed it shut.

bass-trap-tubes-cover.jpg

Step 10:

Wrap the bass trap tubes in furniture batting or moving blanket material before covering in burlap. This is an important step, you don’t want insulation escaping from the bass trap and floating around your booth or studio. Breathing in insulation isn’t good for your health!

Step 11:

I threaded some extra burlap twin around my bass trap tubes to hang them from the ceiling of my voice over booth. I placed the standing bass trap tube in the corner opposite where I sit.

I was influenced by this Youtuber’s design and construction.

https://youtu.be/FqXOLOy4jnU

These guys are much more skilled with tools and it shows in their build. Please watch their video to learn how it should really be done.

Fawn Alleyne