Room Acoustics Overhaul (Control Room)

danjokill

I am planning an overhaul of my control room room acoustic's. It's never really been treated proper and is in need of some TLC. I've have attached a basic schematic.

I am open to suggestions comments etc on how to tackle this. Auralex or DIY or other ? Where to place what .... etc etc

Cheers Guys


danjo!

anders

First try to pinpoint the problems, then try to fix those specific problems. Don't ask me how though. I'm trying to do the same and I'm in the middle of trying to find the major problems. It's not that easy... I've found some problem frequencies using Fuzz Measure http://www.supermegaultragroovy.com/products/FuzzMeasure/
Now I need to figure out what to do about them...

Good luck!

PaulBrewer

In my experience Measurements are only of use if you actually know what you're measuring and know what to do with that info. (That's not to imply you don't Anders!)

However their are good general rules to follow that work.

1. Bass trapping. Always placed in corners as that's where bass 'accumulates'.

2. Symmetry - I usually find that on both the side walls absorption is necessary - usually around head height. Depending on the height of the room the ceiling will probably need treatment. In higher rooms a 'cloud' of absorption is sometimes flown down to regular ceiling height.

3. Diffusion - depending on the amount of absorption needed in the room diffusion is sometimes installed at the back of the room to reintroduce some liveness - but 'good' liveness.

Have a look at http://www.acoustics101.com/ for some good info .

Despite what is sometimes implied it ain't Rocket Science, however it IS science.

iquinn

some more useful info here:

http://www.realtraps.com/articles.htm

and useful forums to trawl through:
http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/index.php
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/studio-construction-acoustics/

i57dwun4yb1pt8

you need to get a radio shack spl meter and

http://www.hometheatershack.com/roomeq/

and a pc


I got my room flat at the mix position from 50 to 500 hz +- 6 db
using this to measure the room , and adding a ****e load of bass trapping
particularly in the corners .


no mean feet for a 8 by8 by 7.5 high room


but now at least my mixes translate well .

i57dwun4yb1pt8

I would bass trap all 4 corners wall to ceiling and in the corners .
at minimum - and on the back awall

put the desk and monitors at the live room end , about a meter from the wall - but not enough to force the mix position into the room center

this needs to be about 38 % down the lenght of the room and about 38 % off the floor / or ceiling

you will need to float a cloud of material , cos the ceiling is high and cover the wall early reflection areas.

id say your room could use some diffusion in the air and back as well.

PaulBrewer

DaDumTish wrote: »

I would bass trap all 4 corners wall to ceiling and in the corners .
at minimum - and on the back awall

put the desk and monitors at the live room end , about a meter from the wall - but not enough to force the mix position into the room center

this needs to be about 38 % down the lenght of the room and about 38 % off the floor / or ceiling

you will need to float a cloud of material , cos the ceiling is high and cover the wall early reflection areas.

id say your room could use some diffusion in the air and back as well.

Where did the 38% figure come from Tony?

PaulBrewer

DaDumTish wrote: »

you need to get a radio shack spl meter and

http://www.hometheatershack.com/roomeq/

and a pc


I got my room flat at the mix position from 50 to 500 hz +- 6 db
using this to measure the room , and adding a ****e load of bass trapping
particularly in the corners .


no mean feet for a 8 by8 by 7.5 high room


but now at least my mixes translate well .

What's the accuracy of the SPL meter? How many positions measured?

danjokill

Thanks for all the tips so far and keep them coming.
Going to make a start at it this evening. Will keep you posted.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

its some rule i got from the guys on gear slutz about placing the mix spot 38 %
down the room along the longest room axis and 38 % either from the ceiling or the floor in height.

meter is omni miced - 40 hertz to 10 k

the software has a claibration file for this meter as well.

the software sweeps sine waves and pink noise from over whatever range you want ( usuually 20 hz to 500 hz )

i did loads of sweeps at the proposed mix spot - adjusting speaker positions and bass traps and speaker contours until it came good .

i have to sit low to the floor though ( lucky i can turn to the drums behind me easy ;-) )

note - in my room my speakers are right against the bass trapping along the wall and corner - im not a meter away from the wall - as i dont have any space

and i had to put the monitors on thoer sides with all bass contours at normal ( instaed of wall , or corner )

its not perfect , but it elminated most of the bass issues i had and music sounds amazing now at the mix spot.

i have heavy bass traps all over the room ( its basically a padded cell ;-)