I remember an episode on This Old House a few years back where the homeowner was a musician and he did some kind of special treatment and paint that worked with the surface. Maybe you can search an archive and find what they used or possibly e-mail them.
Acoustic ceiling paint???
Has anyone heard of such a thing? I will be painting my listening/living room soon and am wondering if there's a textured acoustic ceiling paint. Unfortunately, my wife has a strong influence on the room aesthetics otherwise acoustic panels would be used. I am looking to treat the ceiling with both absorption and difussion properties. In other words I'd like to soften the sound slightly. I also plan on treating the upper corners with cornerbusters.