What Else Does My Room Need?

[blackscot]

Please open the attached floorplan.pdf .

This studio is in the proverbial spare bedroom. Upper level of a 2-story stick-built house. Walls are conventional sheetrock with 8-foot ceiling made of same. Tongue-n-groove pine flooring.

Floor-to-ceiling base traps in corners made of 4-inch rigid fiberglass, 3-foot wide on side toward workstation, 2-foot wide in alcove area near door. (Homemade units based on feedback gained here earlier - HUGE improvement from before - thanks guys!)

Other acoustically active elements: braided rug partially covering floor, closet FULL of various heavy fabric items, and pine cupboard also full of similar materials. Utility table has open stretcher-type legs (kinda needs to stay for various domestic duties).

Monitors and amp are stand mounted at about waist height. Strat (see avatar) is played free-standing around center part of room.

No other modifications to room so far. Already sounds much better than before bass traps, but still open to suggestions. Anything needed for floor or ceiling? Something more along the walls?

Must however be non-permanent to room, LOW-budget, and preferably do-it-myself.

Thanks for any (further) knowledge. (This site is SO great!)

[gummblefish]

How about a lava lamp!

[Myriad_Rocker]

broadbands over the first reflections and over the windows....

[blackscot]

Originally Posted by Myriad_Rocker

broadbands over the first reflections and over the windows....

What type of treatment is appropriate to address this?

[bpape]

OC 703 in 1 or 2" will work fine in those applications depending on what the room needs.

Some people like to fill the window cavities with thicker absorbtion which will add some bass control but not change the mid/high absorbtion over 2"

Bryan

[dementedchord]

i might think aboutdoing something with the ceiling.... if that tongue and groove is what they used to call bead board you lucked out a little (it has groove work along the edges so would help difuse a little not flooring type) but its still pretty hard and reflective and short distance.... so... ya might want to tyry what some refer to as clouds.... dont just go off and hang soft shit everywhere though you want to controll the reflectios and distribute around more than simply killing them.... check out room acoustics threads.... good luck

[HapiCmpur]

Originally Posted by blackscot

Anything needed for floor or ceiling?

You might try something like this on the ceiling, assuming you've got enough clearance for it: http://www.hp-h.com/p/hapicmpur/clouds.htm.

Also, read this if you haven't already done so: http://www.ethanwiner.com/acoustics.html, especially the side bar titled "Hard Floor, Soft Ceiling."

(This site is SO great!)

I couldn't agree more.

[blackscot]

Originally Posted by dementedchord

.... if that tongue and groove is what they used to call bead board you lucked out a little (it has groove work along the edges so would help difuse a little not flooring type) but its still pretty hard and reflective and short distance....

The pine floor is in 5-inch wide lengths, and DOES have half-inch deep V grooves between each length.

Is the braided rug messing up the benefit of the floor? Should I leave the pine entirely bare?

Looks like "clouds" are the next best thing for me to add. I've actually got just enough material left from making the bass traps to build two more panels, which I'll plan on ceiling mounting with one toward the end with the workstation and the other toward the closet/alcove end (an air outlet is at the very center of the ceiling and must remain unblocked). Should these panels parallel the floor, or would it be better to angle them slightly to face the center of the room?

Thanks for the feedback folks.

[HapiCmpur]

Originally Posted by blackscot

Is the braided rug messing up the benefit of the floor? Should I leave it entirely bare?

You're probably okay leaving the rug where it is, especially if it's not too difficult to roll it out of the way when necessary. When you record guitars and other stringed instruments, try recording them on the wood flooring instead of on the carpet. You might get a more pleasant sound. If not, try recording over the carpet. In short, keep some options open.

I've actually got just enough material left from making the bass traps to build one more panel, which I'll plan on ceiling mounting close to the center of the room.

The center of the room might not be the best spot for your cloud, especially if you're only going to have one. The best place for a single cloud would be either

1) directly over the spot where the musicians will be performing, or
2) above your mixing position, about halfway between your ears and the monitors.

I can't say which of those two is your best option, but perhaps somebody with more experience than I have will see this and offer an opinion.

[blackscot]

Originally Posted by HapiCmpur

.....The center of the room might not be the best spot for your cloud, especially if you're only going to have one.....

Sorry, I edited the post just above after going over my stuff and seeing I actually have enough for TWO panels, so neither will be centered on the ceiling (can't anyway because of the air vent).

Originally Posted by HapiCmpur

.....When you record guitars and other stringed instruments, try recording them on the wood flooring instead of on the carpet. You might get a more pleasant sound.....

I just recorded a 12-string part yesterday WITH the rug in-place. It's a minor background part (just strumming chords) so I'll probably let it go as-is. Will try rolling up the rug next time I record something having a more prominent part though.

Like your "homespun" site.