How much damper is needed

[MrObtuse]

I have look for an answer to this question and still have not answer. I want to know if you use dampers to cut signal bounce and parity problems with your EQ would a room that kills all FRQS be the best to mix in. I only ask this because some studios I have seen have very little in stuff on the walls and other have carpet and capture boxes and foam all over the shop. Is there any real reason not to kill all the waves lengths etc?

 

[Steenamaroo]

For mixing, I suppose the drier the better.
The thing to avoid is foaming the place up and ending up with low frequency problems only.


Maybe it's a preference issue, but my favourite mixing rooms have been very very dry.

There are some real pros around here with years of mastering experience though, so I'd hold out for their responses.

 

[Massive Master]

Most studios without a lot of visible treatment have plenty of material where you can't see it... And the design of the room itself of course - The 'right' room doesn't necessarily need as much trapping as (for example) a rectangle.

To some extent, it's preference -- I don't like "dead" spaces for much of anything - although I'm sure that if I were building a studio today, there would be a small booth somewhere (maybe in the 100 sq ft range) that would be as neutral as possible (exposed studs filled with rockwool, buildups in the corners, etc.).

For "mission critical" areas (mixing / mastering / "real" booths where you're shooting for raw but natural accuracy of the source), "highly controlled but naturally live" is a favorite. I absolutely hated the LEDE craze from back when (although I was guilty of designing an audio complex with a semi-LEDE control room myself because I didn't realize how much I hated it yet).

This room (for example) has the equivalent of roughly 36 2'x4'x4" 703/705-type traps. It's very well controlled but at the same time it doesn't sound alien to the ears (anyone who's ever made the mistake of covering walls with foam knows what I mean by "alien to the ears" which usually translates to unnatural sounding recordings as well).

Sticking to the basics -- You will never, ever regret getting the low end under control before you concentrate on anything else. You will never control the low end perfectly -- But getting it in decent shape can very easily yield a room that needs no additional treatment anyway.

 

[MrObtuse]

Thank you for your input, great stuff. Steenamaroo I really didn't consider the problems with the high end. Massive Master you cleared up lots, I know what you mean about alien to the ear I was in one studio that it was very strange to stand in sounded wrong. Thank you all for your assistance.