Do I REALLY need bass traps for what I'm doing?

[antispatula]

I record accoustic guitar and high vocals. That's just about it for right now. Do you think placing bass traps in the corners of my room really would do much?

Oh, and one more question. I have a huge living room with like 20 foot slanted ceilings. It's a big room. Would this be good for accoustic guitar? I'd try it myself but don't want to move around all my equipment, especailly my 80 pound recorder. Oh, and if you're "supposed" to treat huge rooms, I can't, so keep that in mind.....

[hrwmusic]

Originally Posted by antispatula

I record accoustic guitar and high vocals. That's just about it for right now. Do you think placing bass traps in the corners of my room really would do much?

Oh, and one more question. I have a huge living room with like 20 foot slanted ceilings. It's a big room. Would this be good for accoustic guitar? I'd try it myself but don't want to move around all my equipment, especailly my 80 pound recorder. Oh, and if you're "supposed" to treat huge rooms, I can't, so keep that in mind.....

Well, how small is the room your recording in? I do the same thing in a relatively small room, but have used well placed heavy old desks, or wooden speakers that do minor dampering on bass. There may be bass problems in your room because of your guitar, but ounce again, its not like its a bass or a drum set. My issue was early reflections, because my room is so live and small. but with alittle carpet (i wanted too keep some of the live effect) on the floors and two space matresses (lol) that i stand long-side-up, im set.

Bass traps are essentially solid, just absorbent enough to taken in bass, while reflecting higher frequencys. While you can go crazy with equiptment, if your on a budget you can make do. Mess around with mic placement. That will get you your sound. Dont record in the center of the room, and if your looking for somthing dry, and you have a cardioid pic up patter on your mic sing with the mic infront of somthing absorbent, like a mattress.
Always expeariment!

And yes, the open room can have a nice effect. Play guitar in the room. Sing in it. Try different areas, and have some one else play guitar and have yourself move around untill you like the sound your getting. Then drag your equiptment there!


Hope this helps man,
harry w.

[daav]

I always struggle with taming boominess in acoustic, even with some moderate bass trapping in my space. That would seem to be your one area of concern. if you like your recordings of acoustic and don't find the bass to be hyped, or get any flutter or anything, you could be fine. Also, different mics, placement and patterns can really affect the room impact, one of the reasons i really like LDD for smallish rooms.

Daav

[SonicClang]

I tend to agree with daav. I've tried recording acoustic guitar in a small room without any bass trapping and it has always come out boomy. The smaller the room, the more boomy it will tend to sound. So if you're not looking to do any treatment, it sounds like your living room would be a good place to do some recording. Especially since you've probably got a couple couches, an entertainment center, pictures, random stuff, etc... around the room to reduce flutter echo and the like. Sit in the middle of the room and it probably won't turn out too bad at all.

But to answer your question about whether you need bass trapping for an acoustic guitar, I'd say yes, at least some. So if the room you're talking about is pretty small, like less than 10 X 10 X 8, I'd try in the living room.

[Shout It Out]

after receiving my 703 today, the answer is yes...not much of a difference, but there has been a significant improvement!!

[studiomaster]

More bass traps, the better.

[antispatula]

Originally Posted by SonicClang

I tend to agree with daav. I've tried recording acoustic guitar in a small room without any bass trapping and it has always come out boomy. The smaller the room, the more boomy it will tend to sound. So if you're not looking to do any treatment, it sounds like your living room would be a good place to do some recording. Especially since you've probably got a couple couches, an entertainment center, pictures, random stuff, etc... around the room to reduce flutter echo and the like. Sit in the middle of the room and it probably won't turn out too bad at all.

But to answer your question about whether you need bass trapping for an acoustic guitar, I'd say yes, at least some. So if the room you're talking about is pretty small, like less than 10 X 10 X 8, I'd try in the living room.

excellent, clear suggestion, thanks!

[COOLCAT]

here's a acoustic - guitar pic, maybe an idea.

[hrwmusic]

Originally Posted by COOLCAT

here's a acoustic - guitar pic, maybe an idea.

HEY!
we have the same guitar!