6 quick questions...

[yvesa]

The room is rectangle - 20' X 14' , 8' high.
layout
This room is used for recording (drums, guitar, bass and vocals) and mixing.

I've been searching and I keep reading different opinions on some of these...

Questions:
1- Wood paneling on the walls, yes, no?
2 - Wood floors or carpet?
3 - Bass traps - needed for a room like this?
4 - Diffusers - how do I know where and how many to have?
5 - Mixing area, in a corner or in a semetrical space?
6 - Should I divide the space with curtains or something?

Thanks in advance.

 

[yvesa]

Well, I bought my wood paneling for the walls, so I'm down to 5 questions.

Just to add, is a concrete floor good for recording/mixing?

 

[mixsit]

We non-pro Acoustic Designers(yeah, right would be well advised not to try to tell you to build except on any of the most basic seat of the pants stuff.
Wood panel has a rep for nice low attenuation (if it's allowed to flex). It'll still need reflection control.

Wood floors or carpet? More reflective on one wants more absorbent on the other.
Bass traps - We are taught all rooms need it.
Diffusers - no comment. You have bigger fish to fry first.
Mixing area, in a corner? Risky?
Should I divide the space with curtains or something? I see two rooms in the print. Do you want to split the big room?
Wayne

 

[yvesa]

Thanks for the reply, the room at the top of the picture is the studio, the rest of the space will be a playroom.
I was asking if I should seperate the top room in half.
Thanks

 

[mixsit]

Ah, I caught that up at the top now.
I guess it depends then on how you see it working. You would end up with some fairly small areas to work in obviously. And if they aren't really isolated well what would be the point? If not you could do as well with the route I have taken which is to have some moveable panels that double as room control and sectioning as needed. (I've also done double layers of packing blankets in the doorways occasionally when we spread into our two or three rooms, but it won't keep low end out by any means.)

The big down side is not having true track monitoring until play back. In that sense it's less efficient time wise. For me it's working out fine and worth the trade not having to be boxed in.
A few other points to consider, in a larger room you have the option to monitor near-field or step back mid-field (or room for others to do the same), and it can start off a little closer to sounding like a normal room.

Me, I'd have my eye on both rooms...

 

[SRR]

There is nothing wrong with making the kids play in the street, that way you have one 20'x14' control room and one large tracking room, heck build a vocal booth too.

 

[yvesa]

Thanks for the replies

The big down side is not having true track monitoring until play back. In that sense it's less efficient time wise.

I see your point, I will be leaving it open. Time isn't an issue for me, a space that is comfortable is more important.

There is nothing wrong with making the kids play in the street, that way you have one 20'x14' control room and one large tracking room, heck build a vocal booth too.

lol
Well, they also have the back yard to play in.