Don't Waste Your money on Foam: Here's What You Don't Know!

[@TheParagonAxis]

As someone who is commercially post producing tons of (homemade) podcasts and and is constantly being asked about their "acoustic treatment", I can just say: THANK YOU! I'll send them all over here!

[@JamesYounger]

Thank you so much! I REALLY appreciate that! :)

[@jackedkerouac4414]

James you're knocking it out the park with these videos. Best one yet. Thank you for all your hard work.

[@JamesYounger]

Thank you so much for your support! :)

[@David_Radio]

Thanks for this James. The amount of frustrating conversations I've had telling people this foam does NOT work yet they insist on buying these tiles because they're cheap, easily available and on so many videos offering "professional advice". Even some high end, expensive voice over booths are internally treated with this stuff so they must be right! Right? And as for promoting soundproofing as acoustic treatment? Yep I share that frustration too. I'll send them to your channel.

[@JamesYounger]

Man! I just shot a video this weekend all about pro booths and the quote on quote "treatment" they come with! Hahaha you read my mind! Thank you so much for the support! I really appreciate it!

[@Kratzenstein]

Awesome video James, there’s so much misinformation out there about acoustic treatment and it’s great that you provide helpful and zero cost information here

[@JamesYounger]

Thank you so much! :)

[@dannylightning-audio-reviews]

For a voice actor, no it will not be good enough but for a regular person just trying to cut back some reflections, I did a video on some foam recently as well and I'll tell you what, it cut the reflections back a lot as long as I have the microphone placed properly. I'm very happy with the results, it got rid of most of the reverb. My room has a bed and some other things in it so that also helps, wasn't a super echoie room like your bathroom but I could hear a decent amount of reflections now I want to hear a tiny bit .

[@JamesYounger]

Oh yeah! Everyone situation is different so there's definitely no one size fits all solution, and in some cases foam can help more than in others. It's just that foam only attenuates the higher frequencies across the frequency spectrum leaving out all of the mid to low frequencies and that can be a really big problem. However, in some cases those frequencies won't be as much of an issue in bigger rooms (Unless you're recording music or something like that) AND especially with beds, couches and other furniture like you're saying. Furniture can be a really big help!

[@Lucars46]

what are the other techniques you use in your treated room?

[@OffscreenkillVD]

As someone so incredibly broke that I needed to build myself an (actually fairly well working) Mic-shield this is a godsend of a video. I really love your Style of doing these videos, going in with the actual expertise, but not trying to be stuck up or "commercialized professional" for the lack of a better word. Really enjoyed that. Good stuff!

[@JamesYounger]

Thank you! You have no idea how much I appreciate that!

[@asianguy6174]

What he says about established super stars not having to have great sound is so true! Just listen to PBS Frontline’s William Lyman lately. His acoustics suck.

[@ReinQuest]

I’ve watched a lot of videos on this. You speak the same truths that the others do. Their is so much misinformation out their with gimmick products that don’t work. I’m still working on my project but I found it funny when I was at the hardware store asking for rock wool and the first thing the guy asked was “are you picking that for audio?”. When I answered he just smiled and followed up with how he could save me money if it wasn’t audio related. 🤣 I just got a kick out of that.

[@asianguy6174]

For a tiny space you need four things: Rockwool, (or comparable material) Rockwool, and Rockwool, and more Rockwool. 6” to 8” worth in order to avoid phase cancellation, boominess and that muddy sound.

[@nayb1398]

Hi. Would you recommend carpet underlay attached to the walls? (I use moving blankets too). Thanks!

[@idaliagonzalez7945]

Thanks James Working on my studio area. Would 6-8 inch mattress foam work? Asking for a friend…lol

[@JamesYounger]

I wish this were a simple answer but there are so many variables :( But the most simple way I can break it down without going into a book of writing is One mattress won't be enough. The best place to put it would be in front of you because that will be your first reflection point, but then that leaves out your left, right, top and back.

[@Penelope416]

I know you're a voice actor too. Can you give information or make a video on how should voice over artists sound be for an audition? Should it just be a the raw audio? Breaths removed? Any process of any sort done to the audio before submitting the audition? Would like your feedback on this.

[@JamesYounger]

Adding it to my list! :)

[@GeorgeReidMusic]

This video is amazing! Thank you dude

[@JamesYounger]

Thank YOU!

[@theoutsiderjess1869]

Maybe it's because my Mom never let me stick things on my wall but I was always cautious of using foam to acoustically treat your room and it being incredibly cheap on Amazon and I'm not interested in voice acting

[@CuriosityasaCompass]

This was very helpful. Thanks so much.

[@JamesYounger]

Thank you for the support! :)

[@MikeAmazonInfluencer]

Great video 👍🏼

[@WillianMaier]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge 👏👏👏

[@JamesYounger]

Thank YOU for the support!

[@xyzct]

Even 4" is verging on useless at absorbing 100Hz. 6" is a good bare minimum. 8" is a good goal.

[@JamesYounger]

BOOM! YES!

[@soniakallen878]

I have a Rode NT1 and am happy. Considering a second mic and would love if you did a comparison with it and the Austrian Audio OC18 or maybe the OC16.

[@JamesYounger]

Adding that to my list :)

[@edwin-0034]

Hey James first off congrats on pushing out this awesome content out brother, second signed up for your class and looking forward to it. I am sure I will have alot of questions, but I believe in you my friend so keep being the great guy you are, and work that execution in the pursuit that we can all have sound great sound for our Voice over set up. :0)

[@JamesYounger]

Great meeting you last night in class! Thank you for all the kind words and support! :) Looking forward to the next 5 weeks!

[@MoralRichMedia]

Eye opening video....nice

[@Pythonette]

What *do* they actually say?🤔 I have a feeling I'll have to sign up for your course to find out. 😄

[@AdilRiazAR]

Awesome work. Now I know not to use the 1 inch foam. Now the real question is what do I use then.

[@JamesYounger]

Acoustic panels will yield the greatest results by far, but remember what I said in the video. If you use foam the way I do, you can make it work. By pairing it with a bunch of other methods like clothes, cushions, pillows, and blankets.

[@MyAbsoluteLimit]

what is a good alternative?

[@JamesYounger]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/poKQiWSJq5edqq8

[@brightleaftarot]

Great content but... I think I speak on behalf of all of us when I say, we need to know how much paint you tore off the walls when you removed all the foam panels from your bathroom. 😅

[@ahfimiwonawun]

While I can hear the difference between the sounds in this video, I still don’t know what “boxy” sounds like. Both examples of foam insulated rooms sounded fine to me and though I can hear that there IS a difference in sound, you had to tell me which one sounded boxy. I gave someone an example of a recording I did once & they said it sounded boxy. And I just couldn’t hear what the problem was.

[@JamesYounger]

I'm actually releasing a video all about this topic (ear training) on Wednesday, so be on the lookout for that. "Boxy" is the easy go to phrase. But it can also be called, "muddy" "boomy" "honkey" etc. In the vast majority of cases, it just comes down to lack of acoustic treatment. The easiest way to recreate the sound is to cup your hands over your mouth and speak. It sounds a lot like how that sounds. Just, more or less depending on the specific situation.

[@ahfimiwonawun]

@@JamesYounger, Thank you so much. Looking forward to it.

[@juangiraldo2182]

How did you do the room that sounds dry?

[@JamesYounger]

4" Foam, clothes, cushions, pillows, & blankets all placed very strategically throughout the space.

[@mikeexits]

I'm thinking that the "you only need foam and you're all set" myth could have (maybe, potentially... Did I make myself seem unsure enough? Lol) just stemmed from people misinterpreting some information they were exposed to; perhaps some people who were teaching others about this stuff worded some acoustic treatment info involving foam panels in a weird way that, in one way or another, lead to them assuming that foam panels are the most important piece of the puzzle, and that most other things can be considered secondary, which could've snowballed over time as the game of fractal-telephone ensues and creates a butterfly effect. Maybe someone noticed and decided exploit this misconception, or maybe it started with the intent to scam in the first place. Just spitballing. This myth probably spread in many different ways, but I tend to believe that incorrect assumption is the root of most, if not all, miscommunication in general. And of course, equally rooted there is, well, poorly communicating your thoughts. I still feel odd witnessing severe misconceptions spread like wildfire in the "internet age," especially those times when the truth is pretty easy to find underneath all the noise if you just look past it. Off-Topic: Also, cool shirt! Planned on re-watching Ratatouille for the 2nd time but seeing that had me wanting to re-watch Toy Story 1-3 too. Never saw 4. I thought Inside Out was another good standout Pixar film when I saw it in theaters; need to see Coco and Soul too. Oh, I just noticed the Crash Bandicoot figure too, and on top of your Orange amp. Nice. :)

[@gameragerx4224]

Or you can double them up and get your 4 inch foam for cheaper

[@thebeardofknowledge]

Dang... in normal phone speakers it's minimal, but with headphones on the ending is obvious

[@JamesYounger]

Oh definitely! Phone speakers can't reproduce the full frequency spectrum so you actually miss a lot.

[@SuperMiker78]

I’m sincerely confused. I haven’t bought any foam yet so I’m not a foam fanboy 😂 Are you saying 2 inch foam isn’t thick enough or to not use foam at all? Because in your one home shot it looks like you have the big pyramid ones in the background and you sound better than the bathroom one for sure.

[@JamesYounger]

Hey there! I explain that in the video at the time mark below kzbin.info/www/bejne/poKQiWSJq5edqq8

[@SuperMiker78]

Oh, thank you so much! Totally missed that!@@JamesYounger

[@JamesYounger]

@@SuperMiker78 You're so welcome!

[@twisterad3]

I used the Amazon foam to decorate. It sucks for actual treatment.

[@matthewfrias6781]

Hate to say, I was one who was fooled by the foam 😭

[@JamesYounger]

I'd say the vast majority of us were!

[@blackjohnny0]

Just buy carpet.

[@JamesYounger]

No