Calling all scientists!

[ozzytenorplayer]

I have a question for all you wizards out there... :idea:

I've decided to construct a small noise-reducing enclosure in which i can caress my tenor. Hopefully it will reduce the noise of the sax by at least 70% and keep the neighbours happy. The neighbours are one bricks' space away!

I'm using 50mm thick sound absorbent polyurethane panels with the little pyramid shaped irregularities on them with an air gap of 50mm, then another 75mm thick home made panel which is made from liquid absorbing cotton\synthetic panels. These panels are known in engineering work as "soaker pads" and can absorb massive quantities of spilt oils etc. They pass air readily enough (if you hold them to your mouth and blow hard) so in theory should work quite well.

The enclosure is of wooden construction and measures 1.5m long by 2.0m high and is 1.0m wide inside. I have a 200mm extractor fan which i intend mounting on top, facing rearwards possibly, or behind a sound diffusing baffle of sorts. To add fresh air i plan to use common fans, installed at the bottom.

My question to the technically minded is this: Whaddaya reckon? Any hints or suggestions to make this half complete answer to my neighbours insanity any more effective??

Oh, and does anyone know in what frequency ranges a tenor operates? I'm pretty sure high A is 400Hz? As that is what a tuning fork vibrates at.

Thanks to anyone for any assistance! :)

[Martin]

A true Ozzy would simply say ' bugger the neighbours' like I did.

Seriously, if it is a real problem, finding somewhere like a noisy footpath or a park is a great place to practie. The fact that you can blow as loud as you want will do wonders for your sound.

[ozzytenorplayer]

A true Ozzy? That's a bit rich on Australia Day!

I may have left out that i'm a beginner and am of the opinion that the neighbourhood really wouldn't warm to ascending and descending scales like they would John Coltrane's Love Supreme.

If you were brazen enough to play in public, as a beginner, and not feel any shyness at all, then maybe you are the next John Coltrane?

As for playing in public and obtaining a fuller sound, i found quite the opposite when i tried. The wind just carried the sound away and it was like the volume had been turned right down on the tv. Studios use the same materials i am considering to enhance the sound produced by the sax for recording, and if that sound produced wasn't good enough to train the players ear, then i don't think they would have been in there recording in the first place?

I just don't think your reply had honest intentions, more likely it was intended to enhance your own supernatural abilities?

[Razzy]

Uhh, playing loud is easy. Playing soft is hard. This is your perfect opportunity to play softly and build your tone... though neither should really be taken to such extremes. And I find noisy places are BAD for practicing... it clutters the mind and makes it difficult to focus and to hear yourself.

[larry]

Before you go through all that trouble - have you seen:
http://www.music123.com/Item/?itemno=84743

$110 and the problem is solved!

[max]

As for playing in public and obtaining a fuller sound, i found quite the opposite when i tried. The wind just carried the sound away and it was like the volume had been turned right down on the tv.
Exactly - that's why it helps. You're forced to really work your air production to compensate.

[BobMac]

also consider this:
http://www.music123.com/item/?itemno=84743&t=4#tab

[Gandalfe]

So using this bag captures a lot of humid air and can be damaging to your horn. If you chose to use this bag, you would have to throughly clean your sax after every practice and still you might end up with extra repair bills. Um... I think I'll pass.

If you create a sound proof room, it too will be hot and stuffy. Imagine doing a hour of practice in a sauna. You could put a fancy fan in, but you would then increase the amount of sound that escapes.

Maybe the best you can do is practice at a decent time. Even then you may find the neighbor on one side works at night and on the other side works the day shift.

It's a tough problem.

[BobMac]

gandlafe, I have to disagree.

If the fan runs air through an acoustical baffle, the sound will be absorbed before it leaves the box. The baffle, IIRC, will be like a duct, lined with the absorbent material with a couple of bends in it.

rm

[Richard901]

One difficulty is blocking the low frequencies. The lower the frequency - the more mass (weight) is needed to absorb it.
Blocking the sound from a tenor will be more difficult than an alto or soprano.
Make your booth as heavy as possible.
WARNING - this only applies if you are on the ground floor (1st floor in USA?), and the floor is solid concrete, etc.
Don't build a heavy booth on an upper floor - for obvious reasons.

There are many soundproofing articles on the Internet e.g.
http://www.customaudio.freeserve.co.uk/techfrmset.htm

http://www.soundproofing.org/
SEE THE MYTHS LIST.

The booth definitely needs air input and output. This will not only keep the booth cooler and bring in oxygen, but it will stop dangerous levels of Carbon Dioxide building up. Carbon Dioxide in high concentrations is a silent killer – remember the problems on Apollo 13.

This wasn’t meant to scare you – commercial booths are available e.g.
http://www.soundsuckers.com/booths.htm

So it is possible to build your own quite cheaply, with a few safety precautions.

I have built one - I don't have much woodworking skill so it's not perfect and not a work of art - but it works reasonably well - I only play soprano (or try to!!!)

Hope this helps.

Richard