Ideal shape for control room

[noisewreck]

Right now, I'm in the process of looking to purchase land to build a house on. Since I'm going to be starting from scratch, I want to get an idea what would be ideal shape/size for a control room that would be capable of handling frequencies down to say at least 35-40Hz. The "control room" will be the main composing, writing, performing, recording, mixing room (electronic instruments), perhaps with a secondary addition of a vocal booth. But the MIDI/control room is the focal point.

I've been reading that one usually wants to avoid parallel surfaces, to aleviate the issue of standing waves. Does this mean that for example a pentagon shaped room would be better suited? Or would it still be better to go with a rectangular room as it's easier to analize its modes, thus making it easy to figure out the necessary treatments?

I'm quite a ways off from building, so right now I'm just doing preliminary research to also find the suitable location.

[chris-from-ky]

Try here. http://www.saecollege.de/reference_material/index.html Click on the "Studio Plans" link on the left menu bar and scroll down to the ideal control room.

[Ethan Winer]

> a control room that would be capable of handling frequencies down to say at least 35-40Hz <

Even a closet can "handle" frequencies that low. It is a myth that rooms must be some minimum size to allow a given low frequency.

> I've been reading that one usually wants to avoid parallel surfaces, to aleviate the issue of standing waves. <

That's another myth. Standing waves occur in all rooms regardless of their shape.

> Does this mean that for example a pentagon shaped room would be better suited? Or would it still be better to go with a rectangular room as it's easier to analize its modes, thus making it easy to figure out the necessary treatments? <

Either approach can work well. If you're looking for a known good design, see THIS article from EQ magazine.

--Ethan

[noisewreck]

Thank you both for the quick replies.