FALKEN
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well, I have experimented with my room treatment for several months now, almost a year, in various situations and combinations. right off the bat I can say it made a huge difference in mixing. I can confidently say that a lot of my mixing issues in the past had to do with room problems that are now "fixed" by the treatment. Of course, having more experience and knowing exactly what I want out of a mix and going right for it helps a lot too, but I think without the treatment I might not have ever progessed to this level, where I am making creative choices, instead of just trying to "get it right".
In tracking, however, my experience has been sort of different. It is often repeated on ethan's site and in these threads that you want to absorb sound in order to reduce a room's decay time until it is even across the frequency range and within a certain time frame. The bass traps definitely help to get the frequency response of the room more even, without a doubt. But I am now questioning the time dimension of my room (the 4th dimension?)
You see, I have recorded in good rooms with mediocre gear and gotten amazing sound. rooms with wood floors or vaulted ceilings or high ceilings or some combination of the above. My room is much more unfortunate and does not have any of these qualities. And so I treated it hoping to get "there". I probably haven't treated it enough, I admit. But 7 of the 8 feet in each of the corners are covered, with a 4x2 panel and a 3x1.5 tube. Plus there are 4 more panels along one wall and some blankets covering a window on the opposite wall. so, 8 panels and 4 large tubes. I would have to say that the room is much, much better. But it is still not "there". The frequency response sounds really good to me. My issue is with the timing of it.
I am not sure if the decay is still too long. I admit, this might be the problem, and I have not calculated the decay times or tried to time them. Or even remember what those times are. But, it seems to me that the problem is not with the decay time, but rather with the first reflections. A high ceiling has a different sound than a low one. in my small room, it is only a few feet to the ceiling and back for a drum overhead. And when you listen to a recording on speakers, you can "hear" the 8' ceiling. When I go out to restaurants that have a high ceiling I am now much more aware of the sound of the room and how much better it is. Likewise with wood floors, I believe the first reflection off of the floor is absorbed and reflected in a way that is superior to tile or carpet.
It seems to me that even with all of the acoustic treatment in the world, you are not going to make up for these first reflection sounds.
One thing that I did want to try though ( I have not given up yet ) was to put some treatment on the ceiling above the drumkit. I do have one panel hanging above my mix position but hanging one panel is not the same as hanging 3 or 4 from the ceiling. If anyone has any thoughts on how to do this effectively and semi-impermanently I am all ears.
I think that the sound of having treatment on the ceiling will probably improve the situation however the sound might be "unnatural". is anybody doing this and would they like to share their thoughts?
In tracking, however, my experience has been sort of different. It is often repeated on ethan's site and in these threads that you want to absorb sound in order to reduce a room's decay time until it is even across the frequency range and within a certain time frame. The bass traps definitely help to get the frequency response of the room more even, without a doubt. But I am now questioning the time dimension of my room (the 4th dimension?)
You see, I have recorded in good rooms with mediocre gear and gotten amazing sound. rooms with wood floors or vaulted ceilings or high ceilings or some combination of the above. My room is much more unfortunate and does not have any of these qualities. And so I treated it hoping to get "there". I probably haven't treated it enough, I admit. But 7 of the 8 feet in each of the corners are covered, with a 4x2 panel and a 3x1.5 tube. Plus there are 4 more panels along one wall and some blankets covering a window on the opposite wall. so, 8 panels and 4 large tubes. I would have to say that the room is much, much better. But it is still not "there". The frequency response sounds really good to me. My issue is with the timing of it.
I am not sure if the decay is still too long. I admit, this might be the problem, and I have not calculated the decay times or tried to time them. Or even remember what those times are. But, it seems to me that the problem is not with the decay time, but rather with the first reflections. A high ceiling has a different sound than a low one. in my small room, it is only a few feet to the ceiling and back for a drum overhead. And when you listen to a recording on speakers, you can "hear" the 8' ceiling. When I go out to restaurants that have a high ceiling I am now much more aware of the sound of the room and how much better it is. Likewise with wood floors, I believe the first reflection off of the floor is absorbed and reflected in a way that is superior to tile or carpet.
It seems to me that even with all of the acoustic treatment in the world, you are not going to make up for these first reflection sounds.
One thing that I did want to try though ( I have not given up yet ) was to put some treatment on the ceiling above the drumkit. I do have one panel hanging above my mix position but hanging one panel is not the same as hanging 3 or 4 from the ceiling. If anyone has any thoughts on how to do this effectively and semi-impermanently I am all ears.
I think that the sound of having treatment on the ceiling will probably improve the situation however the sound might be "unnatural". is anybody doing this and would they like to share their thoughts?
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