How to Make a DIY Sound Panel That Doubles as a Light Modifier

I am not a fan of tools that only have one purpose. Mini pancake griddle? Used it once. Panini press? Never used it. Deep fryer? Didn't even take it out of the box! Gimme a damn cast iron skillet and you've got breakfast, lunch, and dinner made with one super versatile tool. 

Which brings me to the main topic of this article: sound panels. Sound panels do one thing: they absorb sound. They don't come in handy for much else on set or in the studio. But what if there was a way to make a sound panel that could do more than treat a room? 

In this tutorial, Caleb Pike of DSLR Video Shooter shows you how to build a portable DIY sound panel that can be used for its intended purpose but for lighting applications as well. Check it out below:

Here's what you're gonna need:

• Rolling Stand
• Sound Blankets (Pike recommends these from Producer's Choice)
• Kupo Adapter
• 1/2 Course Thread Bolt (1-1/2" long)
• 1/2 Course Thread Washer (2" wide)
• Eye Screws (Pike used #6 1-15/16 inch eye screws)
• 6' board (Pike used a red oak 6’ x 4” x 1” board)

There are a couple of important things going on with this build.

First of all, Pike makes these DIY sound panels portable by mounting the sound blankets to a rolling stand with metal carabiners and eye screws. That means you can not only remove the blankets easily when you need to tear down and pack up (or if you want to use them for something else) but you can also roll the whole thing around on the stand to get the placement you need.

Second, and perhaps most importantly, these blankets have a black and white side, which doesn't mean a whole lot in terms of sound treatment, but if you're working in a small studio and don't have room for lighting gear and sound gear, you can use this thing to bounce light or block it out completely. It's really a great multifaceted tool to have if you shoot and record audio in the same space.

What's Next? Make DIY sound panels from rockwool insulation!

If you're looking for a more permanent solution to sound treating your room, you might want to take a look at this tutorial that shows you how to make your own DIY sound panels from inexpensive rockwool insulation.

Source: DSLR Video Shooter