Corner Theory

[nate_dennis]

I've been wondering about this for a long time now. And now that I've decided to finally become "a man" and buy some tools and get into woodworking (partly out of neccesity and partly out of fun) I thought I'd ask the question. So here it is . . . .

If corners are what cause standing waves and bass build up, why not design studios with rounded corners. I'm not talking about a "round room" I"m just saying if the corners were rounded off, wouldn't that elliminate the need for bass traps? This would drop the expense of finishing the studio since OC703 is expensive.

Maybe I'm dumb, and I'm thinking about this all wrong. Maybe it's a common thing and we only talk about converting spare rooms instead of purpose built facilities. Anyway, just thought I'd get your thoughts on it.

 

[miroslav]

Well...corners just tend to trap/focus bass waves more than other types of waves...but not having corners doesn't make the excessive low-end go away. You would still need bass trapping to reduce the low-end *in the room*.

 

[pandamonk]

I've been wondering about this for a long time now. And now that I've decided to finally become "a man" and buy some tools and get into woodworking (partly out of neccesity and partly out of fun) I thought I'd ask the question. So here it is . . . .

If corners are what cause standing waves and bass build up, why not design studios with rounded corners. I'm not talking about a "round room" I"m just saying if the corners were rounded off, wouldn't that elliminate the need for bass traps? This would drop the expense of finishing the studio since OC703 is expensive.

Maybe I'm dumb, and I'm thinking about this all wrong. Maybe it's a common thing and we only talk about converting spare rooms instead of purpose built facilities. Anyway, just thought I'd get your thoughts on it.

Concave rounded corners would be just/almost as bad. One other reason for trapping corners is the air-gap behind the trap.

 

[nate_dennis]

Well...corners just tend to trap/focus bass waves more than other types of waves...but not having corners doesn't make the excessive low-end go away.

Concave rounded corners would be just/almost as bad.

So what is it that causes bass build up? If it's not the 90 degree angles? (Please don't read that as arrogant posturing . . . its an honest question; I want to know.)

Thanks guys.

 

[miroslav]

LF waves are long/slow and they don't dissipate as quickly as HF waves...so they fill smaller studios that much easier....and build up.

If you can find Ethan Winer (Real Traps) around the HR forum (PM him if need be)...he's one of the authorities on bass trapping around here...he can give you the math & science in great detail.

 

[pandamonk]

So what is it that causes bass build up? If it's not the 90 degree angles? (Please don't read that as arrogant posturing . . . its an honest question; I want to know.)

Thanks guys.

It's not just 90 degree angles. It's any angles.

There are problems close to any boundary, but in the corners there are two boundaries. So the wave is able to reflect onto itself in both directions and cause peaks and nulls (as below). This is happens more-so with bass frequencies as they are omnidirectional and far more powerful (they last much longer in a room).