How To Use The Z12 & Z14 Kits

Z12 and Z14 kits consist of several acoustic foam components that are built-up into wall treatment blocks.

The Primacoustic Z12 and Z14 kits consist of a series of high performance acoustic foam components. These foam components will tame your room acoustics while making it more enjoyable and easier to mix. The London Z12 and Z14 room kits achieve this by neutralizing some of the most annoying acoustic problems. This page will explain basic mounting and discuss placement in your room.

The whole idea behind Primacoustic room kits is to create a relatively neutral recording environment. A neutral acoustic environment will help you produce good recordings that will translate well to other playback systems and listening rooms. So if your are playing back your mix in the living room, kitchen, car or on a boom-box it will sound as good as it does on your studio monitors.

Primafoam studio kits are made up of foam components such as Z-Foam panels, foam wedges and the Australis bass traps. The system is designed to allow the user to create their own 'look' by arranging the acoustical foam components into patterns. Below, you will find a selection of patterns that can be used, or if you prefer, you can create your own pattern.

Basic Mounting Procedures

1.
Use a level and mark the wall with straight guide lines. Mount a dry wall corner bead across the bottom to build on.

2.
Locate center point and build wall outward, one side at a time.

3.
Glue foam kit components one at a time. Apply adhesive around perimeter and in the center of the larger panels.

4.
With adhesive applied to the back, press the component onto the wall while it rests on the straight edge.

5.
Start at the center and work out toward an edge.

6.
A finished Primafoam front wall assembly.

Tips for Installation

• Before installing try laying out the components on the floor and experiment with different patterns.


• Once you have a pattern in mind use a light pencil line and draw out guides on the wall with a straight edge.


• Drywall corner bead is an inexpensive straight edge to build on and it can be found in any hardware store.

The front wall assembly is a broadband acoustical absorber that's ideal for the recording studio or control room. The wide assembly of foam components effectively absorbs offending primary reflections, 'front to back' standing waves, slap echo, and room flutter for improved imaging and reduced ear fatigue.

72" x 36" x 3" (1.85m x 1m x 76mm)

The side wall assemblies are multi-function, full bandwidth anechoic absorbers that provide effective absorption from 500Hz and up. Set up as pairs at 'ear-level' on side walls adjacent to the mix position, these combine for excellent side-wash control of primary reflections and will reduce side-to-side flutter and offensive standing waves caused by parallel surfaces.

Each assembly: 36" x 36" x 3" (1m x 1m x 76mm)

Scandia Scatter Blocks are a series of strategically placed acoustical foam wedges that provide an effective solution to rear-wall reflections, standing waves and slap echo while introducing a concept we call Soft Diffusion™. Scandia's Soft Diffusion allows energy to be reflected back into the room, while some is absorbed, resulting in a room with more 'air' and a more natural, open sound. This provides a viable alternative to true wood diffusion without the high cost that is generally associated with wood construction.

Twenty four 12" x 6" x 3" wedge blocks
(304mm x 152m x 76mm)

Australis bass traps can be placed in the front or rear room corners. Made entirely from a solid block of 100% high-density, open-cell acoustical polyurethane foam, the Australis provides maximum absorption in the least amount of space. The unique 'wedge' design allows easy placement in corners or on walls, offering tremendous flexibility. For even greater bass absorption, Australis can be stacked, grouped to form a wall cluster, or placed edge-to-edge at the wall and ceiling seam.

Z12 Kit: Two 12" x 12 " x 36" corner traps.
Z14 Kit: Four 12" x 12 " x 36" corner traps.