| Freeport™ Frequently Asked Questions |
| Will Freeport
turn my room into a perfect studio?
A perfect studio costs thousands of dollars to build. Freeport is designed to control the near-field environment and create a better, more comfortable listening environment. Because Freeport is also portable, you can create a more repeatable and familiar workspace, thus resulting in greater consistency of the resulting mix. Best oif all, Freeport is affordable! Can I use Freeport to stop sound? Freeport will effectively absorb sound energy from 500Hz and up. Sound travels through air by compressing air molecules. As a result, sound goes wherever air travels. Freeport will not stop sound that goes around it but will control the sound in the direct field. If you truly want to stop sound, you must create a separate room and build it in such a way that sound energy will not escape or transmit through wall or substrate vibrations. Can I use Freeport for field recording? Yes. Freeport is ideal for field recording especially if you have the luxury of being in a separate room where you can be isolated from the performance or event. By setting up Freeport in a familiar arrangement, you immediately transform the new room into a ‘familiar sounding’ room. Your monitors will sound more natural thus making decisions such as mic placement easier. Ultimately, this means that you will do less guessing during the recording process and you will enjoy much more predictable results in preparations for the final mix. Is Freeport available in a choice of colors? No. Freeport has a black back panel and charcoal foam. The charcoal coloration is achieved by introducing a carbon pigment into the foam mix. Carbon is a natural UV (ultra-violet light) inhibitor and as such, the gray charcoal color will not fade as quickly as colored foams. This is why telephone wires are black. If they were colored, they would look pretty but would have to be replaced often. Can I paint Freeport? Go ahead! We suggest you test the paint in a spot where it will not be seen as some paints contain solvents that could eat away at the foam. Note that when you paint foam, you create a thin crust that can be damaged by rough handling. The hard thin crust will cause high frequencies to reflect while it will trap some additional bass. If you intend to paint Freeport, a light dusting is recommended so that you do not fill the important open cells that allow Freeport to work. Does Freeport come pre-assembled? Yes and no! The main acoustical panel and internal frame is completely assembled while the stand needs to be put together. It should take no more than about 5 minutes for a 1st time user to assemble the stand. Just be careful and take your time. Although very robust, Freeport is deliberately made of light-weight polymers and should be treated with care! Can I permanently glue the stand together? You can glue the stand together by using a PVC adhesive however in doing so, you are no longer able to store Freeport in the original box when not in use. We feel that pressure fitting the stand together is sufficient for most applications. Please consult your local hardware store on selecting the right adhesive. Can I shorten the Freeport stand's legs? Of course! Any hacksaw should do the trick! If you mess-up, you can buy the same type of PVC material at a hardware store. We have checked around and it costs about $30 for a 20ft length. You can also paint the PVC if you want but keep in mind that painted plastic is easily scratched. Where can I buy Freeport? Most professional studio supply houses and larger music stores either carry or can order Freeport on your behalf. If you need the name of a dealer, please send us an email or call our order desk. We can hook you up with a professional that can assist you with Freeport or any other Primacoustic product needs. |