Making a small room "bigger"

[Grandflash13]

I was trying to think of ways to make my small room seem a bit bigger. I've been trying to do some research and came across something I think might work and wanted to get your guys ideas on this or maybe get a different idea that I hadn't thought of yet.

I was thinking of building some of these http://www.auralex.com/partscience/spacecoupler.asp

What I'm not sure of is if these things are a certain size for a reason or if you could actually adjust the size to better fit the room. If so, what would be the calculations in doing so? Also, is it possible to put too many of these in or if I only put them on one side, would it really mess with the stereo imaging if I was to record something and they were on the left or right side of what I'm recording.

My room is 10' by 12' with 9' ceilings. I currently have some acoustical egg crate type foam on the wall that I got for free from work. I work at a TV station and we redid a couple rooms so they were throwing out the old stuff. The room has come out a bit deader(is that a word?) then I was hoping, which is probably good for that size room, so I was hoping I might be able to do something to make it appear bigger.

Thanks for whatever help you can lend me.

Rob

 

[hrwmusic]

I was trying to think of ways to make my small room seem a bit bigger. I've been trying to do some research and came across something I think might work and wanted to get your guys ideas on this or maybe get a different idea that I hadn't thought of yet.

I was thinking of building some of these http://www.auralex.com/partscience/spacecoupler.asp

What I'm not sure of is if these things are a certain size for a reason or if you could actually adjust the size to better fit the room. If so, what would be the calculations in doing so? Also, is it possible to put too many of these in or if I only put them on one side, would it really mess with the stereo imaging if I was to record something and they were on the left or right side of what I'm recording.

My room is 10' by 12' with 9' ceilings. I currently have some acoustical egg crate type foam on the wall that I got for free from work. I work at a TV station and we redid a couple rooms so they were throwing out the old stuff. The room has come out a bit deader(is that a word?) then I was hoping, which is probably good for that size room, so I was hoping I might be able to do something to make it appear bigger.

Thanks for whatever help you can lend me.

Rob

im alittle confused, egg cartons are used to absorb high frequencys and that would deaden the room atleast alittle bit(it depends on how many egg cartons). If you want a "live feel" then your on the wrong track with egg cartons. But i dont suggest trying to go for a live feel in a room that small. Now those couplers on the other hand might change that. But id rather have someone whose used them give you their opinion on them.

hope this helps alittle!

 

[HapiCmpur]

I was trying to think of ways to make my small room seem a bit bigger.
My room is 10' by 12' with 9' ceilings.

From what I've been told, you can't really make a room that size sound bigger with diffusion, which I think is what you're suggesting. In general, diffusion is for much larger rooms and is likely to cause problems in small spaces.

It seems to me that your best bet would be to get a lot of absorption in there, which, in a sense makes the room "bigger" from an acoustic standpoint. By absorbing sound waves instead of letting them bounce right back into the room, it's as if you've knocked out the walls (kind of) and are letting the sound waves fly off into space. Once you get some good bass traps and broadband absorbers in place, you can use effects such as delay and reverb to create the ambience of whatever size room you want, even a stadium.

By the way, what do you plan on doing in that room -- tracking, mixing, or both?

 

[Grandflash13]

Sadly, using it for recording and mixing. Trying to set it up mainly for mixing but need to be able to record in it.

By egg crates, I'm just trying to describe the style or shape of the acoustic foam. I understand that it's more for the mid-high to high level absortion. I am currently working on making some bass traps as well.

I was concerned that the diffusors might present a bigger problem then fix but I was hoping.

Should I maybe get rid of the foam and get better broad-band absortion in place instead? Obviously price is a major sticking point, hence the free foam in use now, but I'm trying to make the best acoustical room I can with what I have, so I might be willing to actually shell out a little bit.

 

[Shout It Out]

your foam should be fine for what it is being used for. Id suggest instead of buying for stuff for highs and mids, that you just put it into more bass traps. As they will do the same thing wit hsuperior bass absorbtion

 

[HapiCmpur]

Sadly, using it for recording and mixing. Trying to set it up mainly for mixing but need to be able to record in it.

Don't sweat it, man. This is a home recording forum; most of us are in the same situation. Click on the Homespun Studio link below to see my humble one-room "studio." After that, you won't feel so bad.

Should I maybe get rid of the foam and get better broad-band absortion in place instead?

Don't ditch the foam; just don't rely on it too much. Use rigid fiberglass for your most important applications, such as the corners of the room and the points of first reflection from your monitors. Then use the foam for spot treatments.

Obviously price is a major sticking point, hence the free foam in use now, but I'm trying to make the best acoustical room I can with what I have, so I might be willing to actually shell out a little bit.

You can't beat the price of free foam, that's for sure, but you can still get a lot of absorption for your money with rigid fiberglass. It's worth the investment.