Ok all you Rebels, it doesn't look like I'm gonna be moving this year (you never know, but I don't expect it), so I'm gonna build another ISO cab to use on my recordings, rather than going back to ampsims...Now, don't get me wrong, the ampsims are getting better & I personally have nothing against 'em, but I'm all in with real amps/cabs/mics...I just have too much time/$$$ invested & have learned too much to give up, so the ISO cab will be what I'll use until I get another pad where I can get loud...And whenever that day does finally come, I'll still have a low-noise option for the late night thing...
I'm looking at a couple different ways to go about this, & would like to hear what you guys think about both, plus maybe throw some ideas in I hadn't thought of...
There is a limitation on the overall size, it can't be over 27 & 1/2" wide because it wouldn't fit through the doorways where I live right now...
Here's what I have planned so far:
Option #1:
The usual "box in a box" thing...I have a couple options going this route too...
Option 1A): Build an all-plywood "box in a box"...Instead of a single layer of plywood, then Roxul, then the inner box, I could "double wall" each box...Instead of having a 1/2" thick outer/inner box, glue/screw the plywood together making it 1" thick, with green glue in between each layer of plywood...Same thing with the inner box, basically "double wall" with a 2" gap between the boxes packed with rockwool...
Pros:
- It would definitely be sturdy, & would most likely kill a lot of the noise I'm concerned about...
- The overall price wouldn't be too bad, but I'd be looking at around $150 just for the plywood...
- Would probably sound pretty good because of my previous experience...
- A box this size (outer box dimensions: 36"L x 24"H x 24"D...inner: 30"L x 18"L x 18"H) would be heavy as fuck & would be a pain in the ass when I finally get a new pad...A single sheet of 1/2" plywood is roughly 40 lbs, so the overall weight would be close to 200 lbs...
Option 1B): Build another "box in a box" using the same method as above, only substitute 2 layers of plywood with sheetrock/drywall...This would knock down the cost quite a bit, which is always good...I'm a cheap fucker...
Pros:
- As mentioned, it'd be a little cheaper going this route & would probably be as effective killing the noise as an all plywood box...
- Would probably sound pretty good because of my previous experience...
- Again, the weight, but this would only really apply when I finally do get to move...
Option #2:
Take a mini-fridge/freezer & turn it into an ISO cab...
I've read up on ISO cabs a lot in the last little while, & along with my previous experience stumbled on a couple builds where a fridge/freezer was used as the outer box...In those builds, the guys used a full sized fridge, with a plywood box inside, which I'm pretty sure would be great on the noise, but space is a concern somewhat, so if I go this route, I'll be using a mini-fridge...
Pros:
- The weight would most likely be reduced quite a bit, since a mini-fridge only weighs about 50-60 lbs, & I'd make it even lighter because I'd remove all the compressor/other shit I wouldn't need...
- The fridge/freezer door would probably do great because of the way the magnetized gasket seals it up...
- This route would probably be a lot easier to build, I'd just have to seal up the back & bottom, then basically drop the plywood box in...
- Would be much easier to move if/when I had to, plus it'd probably look better than the first route...
- I'm not sure how well the mini-fridge/freezer would kill the noise...The outer shell is thin metal, with pumped-in insulation making the walls around 1 1/2" thick...
- I'd like to use 2" of rockwool in between the plywood/inner box & the fridge/freezer, but may not be able to...Depends on the dimensions of the fridge/freezer...
- Not sure if it'd sound as good as an all-wood box or not, I don't see why it wouldn't, but I'm not 100% sure...Uncharted territory here...
I have plans for the inside too, but the only thing I'll mention for now is rockwool inside where the speaker/mic will be to knock down reflections as much as possible, along with using caulk/silicone to seal it up...
Sorry for the long-ass post guys, but I'd like to hear your opinions on this, & if you have any ideas feel free to suggest 'em...