Newbie Designing a Small Control/Tracking Room

[jaygriz]

I’ve got a room in my basement I wanna use as a control + solo tracking room. It’s:

89" x 122” 78H
a.k.a
7' 5" x 10' 2" x 6'6" H

The ceiling is “acoustic.” The floor is carpet. The walls are stucco on cement blocks (they’ll need some treatment, I’m sure). Is there a big difference between putting my monitors on the short wall or the long wall?

I’m partial to this room vs. the rest of my finished basement because it has no ventilation – hence, no HVAC noise. I can keep the heat or cooling rolling in the rest of the house.

What kind of wall panels will I need at a minimum??

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

I’ve got a room in my basement I wanna use as a control + solo tracking room. It’s:7' 5" x 10' 2" x 6'6" H

What kind of wall panels will I need at a minimum?

Kind? Rigid fiberglass...Owens Corning 703. However, by the time you treat it for Low frequency, you won't have very much "room" left.

big difference between putting my monitors on the short wall or the long wall?

Typically, you want the monitors facing the long axis.

I’m partial to this room vs. the rest of my finished basement because it has no ventilation – hence, no HVAC noise.

Or air.
hmmm, all the musicians I know need oxygen.

[Dogbreath]

JayDude!

Welcome man....

and yeah...your room is a tad small. What that means is bass traps (DIY 703 maybe??)

With a room that small, the bass waves are gonna crush your efforts at mixing and tracking because bass waves are stronger. It can be done but you'll need quite a bit of bass trapping.

And usually, you'll want the length of the room to your back when placing monitors.

Luck man...........Kel

[jaygriz]

1 decision down: I'm gonna put the monitors on the short wall! How close can they actually be to the wall - i mean how much room "behind" them?

So you guys think I'll need bass traps in the 2 corners opposite the monitors, or all 4? I guess 2'x4' (x4") traps would do it since the room is only 6.5' tall. Should I center them between the floor & ceiling? Is there a big diff between 2" vs 4" thick traps? I ask, cause the room is, yes, quite small.

Which walls will need the most treatment? ex: the monitor wall, back wall, 2 side walls.

I'll either DIY with 703's, or maybe use this site:
http://www.atsacoustics.com/cat--ATS...nels--100.html
Thier prices are somewhat south of ridiculous.

Ventilation - Yeah, I plan to keep the door open except for critical times. Is spend a lot of my "studio time" transcribing and practicing - not just tracking and mixing. Maybe my lungs will strengthen, and I can be a Navy Seal.

[Dogbreath]

Hey dude...(got your note, btw )

The general rule is to have your mixing station at a little over 1/3 of the way into the room. Basically, getting your monitors off the walls. Mine didn't work out that way very well but you get to the point where you know your room and monitors and how they'll translate. It's not perfect but do-able.

So...as much as ya can...bring your desk out from the walls and [I]start[I] with a large bass trap in each corner to the left and right of your desk. Bass freqs and corners wreak havoc.

Check out Ethan Winers "how to set up a room".....I'd do it but I'm a lazy bastard.

Let us know how it goes......
and PICS! We Need Pics mister!


Peace mang.........
Kel

[Dogbreath]

oh yeah...4" traps will work better.

and I would think in all 4 corners......to start.