diffusor in control room yes or no?!

[guy]

Hi,
in many pictures of studios you can c clearly diffusors on the back wall of the control room,saying this, I read that some acoustic designers are against this use, what do you think?
where should i place diffusors in the live room? why?
thanx
guy

 

[John Sayers]

Here's my take on this one

If you are in a small control room - like less than 15ft (5m) deep I wouldn't put in a diffuser as it will react with the listening position of the engineer by giving confusing rear reflections that will effect the perception of the stereo spread.

Alternatively if the room is bigger - 15ft + - I would as the sound at the rear of the room will have died and will need a diffusor to keep it alive at the rear of the room.

You see - for me - the rear diffuser is for the others in the control room - not the engineer.

As for a diffuser in the studio - it's whether you are wanting a live room or a dead room. If it's a live room have a diffuser to make the reverberation more diffuse.

cheers
John