Closet cab isolation

[Kapo_Polenton]

So I'm 80% done my basement studio room ( jammed full of gear, will post pics when finished) and I have reclaimed the storage under the stairs that sits in my space.(Wife wanted it for paint supplies). It's not that big but I was thinking of putting a 4x12 and 2x12 in there with diff speakers and then running an xlr panel through the solid core dore and filling all air gaps between the space. I have some extra cheap foam, roxul insulation and moving blankets i can use to help with reflections. But I wonder from those of you with experience, will this be boxy or is there enough room for the cab to breathe a bit?

See the Pic below for reference, these will be close mics to cut down on reflections and phase. No more than 1- 2 inches off grill. My console/ desk is about 6 - 8 feet from that closet.

Ps - don't bust my balls about IR's. I have them, like them, use them to jam but I just have real speakers and cabs and like the response more.

 

[Greazygeo]

My “closet” is long and narrow. I tried setting the can like your pic. It sounded terrible, rsound reflected straight back into the mic and caused severe comb filtering. Had to go longways and use thoes SE reflexion deals.

 

[stratjacket]

I think it will be tough. I think best for sound is to cover all walls with 4 inch fiberglass insulation like you mentioned you have. But that is tight, so at least the side facing the cab.
Then I’d try to build something like this with whatever form you have.

Or get a good iso shield that looks like this:

 

[PhoneyIommi]

The only way to know for sure is to try it. You could try non-destructively by running the mic cable under the door.
I do suspect @Greazygeo is right about comb filtering. I think your best bet is Roxul (panels would work better than batts) as thick as possible between the wall and the mic.
Roxul panels are better because higher density = more low end absorption. Low frequencies will go right through blankets and most foam.

 

[midnightlaundry]

My “closet” is long and narrow. I tried setting the can like your pic. It sounded terrible, rsound reflected straight back into the mic and caused severe comb filtering. Had to go longways and use thoes SE reflexion deals.

What he said.
A flat surface so close will do this.
If you can turn it around so the grill faces forward in the pic, might be better..
Unless speaker breakup is part of your sound, it doesn't need to be loud to get a good recorded sound.
Is that a 212 in the back? That might be the ticket for that space..
Roll off the sub bass.
Some big fat cushions behind the mic will block reflections.
My room is small and I can record so low that my picking and pickup switching will get picked up by the mic. I use a couple couch cushions and it blocks it.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Good points all around fellas.. I could probably even stack the 2x12 on the 4x 12 and have them facing out towards the door which would make mic positioning way easier. Put roxul on each side, back of door and on the 45 degree ceiling and use the cheapo foam to fill in the gaps where wall is exposed. Behind the cabs there will be bass build up so I can maybe use some sort of bass trap or bunched up blankets to help with flutter back to the front. Or just jam slme boxes i never touch and throw a moving blanket over them.

Running cable under the door sweep would probably be quicker too until I decide I like it enough.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

4 inch panels will stick out way too much so they'd have to be the rigid stuff 1.5 to 2 inches thick. I think it would still work though. It is a small space though, lots of pressure build up. Like my kick drum in this studio space...it's a damn nuclear Canon. Sounds UUUge.

 

[7704A]

One of the things you could do to eliminate comb filtering like @Greazygeo mentioned would be to use a boundary microphone on the wall opposite the cab instead of a mic right on the cone. The short story is that with the boundary mic, the reflections off the wall the mic is mounted to and the direct sound from the cab will be in phase across the audio range so no comb filtering that you can hear. The walls at the long ends of the room might still cause trouble though. Also if you don't like the sound of boundary mics (usually pretty darn flat, possibly with a smooth rise in the 10kHz region for crispness), then this obviously isn't a good idea either. Also, boundary mics of the sort you'd stick on the wall like that are usually hemispherical or half-hemisphere pickup patterns, which combined with the space between the mic and cab may introduce a bit of ambience/reverb into your sound, which could be undesired.