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cuba1956

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Hi guys,

After doing some research over the last few weeks, I've decided to invest some time and money into acoustic treatment. Seeking to improve recording live amp (stereo + ambience) and create a proper workplace for mixing. Room is 5m x 4m x 2.7m with asymmetrical window and door placement. 3 walls are concrete, back wall is drywall with some insulation. I'm waiting for Yamaha HS7 to arrive, so I didn't have made any measurements yet but I wanted to outline my intentions, and this is the plan I came up with so far.

I've already ordered all panels, but if necessary I can order more. Sketches are very (I mean VERY) close to what I have in a room. I'm happy to hear any suggestions. Also I have a few questions and concerns I'm seeking help with. I'm happy to move things around if you suggest better configuration, but I'd love for all of the furniture and TV stay. If it's really necessary, I probably can get it off, but I would rather not to. :-) Drums are electronic — they look like real, but they are actually converted to e-drums. I'm not going to record any acoustic drums there.

Here's how my project looks like:
Right side: https://www.dropbox.com/s/sfilednu1rfhfk1/Screenshot 2016-02-05 05.16.24.png
Left side: https://www.dropbox.com/s/lxrtnka9potycty/Screenshot 2016-02-05 05.17.05.png
Top: https://www.dropbox.com/s/uu8mx45yt6hpa9s/Screenshot 2016-02-05 05.17.55.png
Back Left: https://www.dropbox.com/s/51w09jnzmuweifw/Screenshot 2016-02-05 05.18.47.png
Back Right: https://www.dropbox.com/s/wwmdefp9zppejil/Screenshot 2016-02-05 05.19.13.png

Here're the details for the panels and placements:
6 Yellow Panels: EQ Acoustics Spectrum Studio Tile 50L NT - Thomann UK — 50mm gap from the wall and ceiling. Treating early reflections.
12 Bass Traps: the t.akustik CBT-37 (2pcs) - Thomann UK — 3 in a stack. Most affordable, probably not ideal, but I'm struggling to spend more.
4 Diffusers: the t.akustik OG Diffusor - Thomann UK — also, best I could afford and that actually looks great. My idea is to make the back of the room airy and retain some reverb. Will diffusers work?
19 foam panels on the back: https://www.thomann.de/gb/eq_acoustics_classic_wedge_foam_tiles_grey.htm — 2 packs of these.

So here're my questions:
1. Would it make sense to mount panels with a bigger gap? More than 50mm?
2. Will the drums standing where they are screw the acoustic picture too much?
3. Is it a problem that a window is asymmetrical behind the monitors?
4. Can I keep monitors THAT close to the window?
5. Are guitars on the walls a problem?
6. Is the glass in the door a problem?
7. Is it a good place for diffusors? Would it make sense to add more (2 x 4 for example)?
8. Is there anything I need to reconsider?
9. If I would seek for improvement, what should I look into first?

My monitors haven't arrived yet, so I haven't made any measurements yet, but I'm planning to get the omni mic to actually try that. But honestly, I don't know what would I do with a ****ing thing. :-) I'm yet to dig into this.

Little bit of background:
I've been playing guitar for several years and only recently with a buddy of mine, we started jamming and wanted to record a few tunes. I've bought an SM57 and started recording. Don't get me wrong, It sounded pretty good — pretty close to how actual Bassman sounds, but I would like to record with a few mics and capture some ambience as well. I have a limited budget, so I decided to invest in acoustic treatment before I buy better interface and mics. I would probably end up with great mics picking up my crappy room fantastically well anyway. I've read A LOT of documentations, watched most videos I could find about acoustic treatment and picked up a lot of great examples.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting some amazing state of the art sound. I don't have a luxury of spending a lot of money also. I'm pretty realistic and down to earth with my expectations and plans — not going to build floating floors or ceilings, but I would gladly consider reasonable additional investments.

So, feel free to comment and I'd be glad to hear your suggestions. Appreciate your time.

Thanks.
 
First - the 'yellow panels' - no details on what these are? What is the 'absorbing material' in them? If its not rockwool, then its the wrong stuff.
The bass traps - no. These are foam. You need rockwool.
Diffusor - probably not needed in a room that small.

You've got the layout figured correctly - corner bass traps (or superchunks), point-of-first reflection panels and cloud over the mixing position, just the wrong materials.
 
Thank you for your input.

1. Yellow traps don't have much information, but on the EQ website it says 65kg/m3 and I have read it's a fairly decent spec. I still wonder it's rockwool of glass fiber though. I'll email EQ just out of curiosity.
2. Thanks, I agree I could've take it up a notch and order something more decent, but I didn't have much to spend so I've ordered the most affordable, thinking it can't be much worse than without them, right? Should I upgrade them first thing? How crappy do you think these bass traps are going to be?
3. I have read on many occasions, that diffusors help small rooms sound bigger and airier, so I though I'd at least try. Wasn't sure where to put them though, so I figured I'll start with ceiling at the back of the room for now.

Thanks for your help, I'm glad I at least figured the placement right.
 
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