Sound treatment (especially around the drums) in basement studio

[manuel_vdn]

I've got a 2-room space in my basement which I transformed into a rehearsal/DIY studio. The small room is my studio setup, the big room (from which you see photos underneath) is the space where we rehearse with my bands. And where drums and guitars get recorded. The walls are all covered in OSB panels with behind it an air gap of 5cm (2 inches). The only other treatment I did was made myself some bass traps for the corners (which already made a huge difference).

What I want to do next is some more treatment (acoustic panels, diffusers,...). But I'm not sure where I need to put what exactly to make the biggest difference. These are the things that I want to improve in the future, I know not all can be solved entirely with only sound treatment. But some guidance and what treatment I should put where for which of these working points, would be a real big help.

1. Especially drums feel like they resonate and ring out long and loud.
2. In the room the balance between instruments sounds good, but when we do a quick recording of a jam with a Tascam DR05X. Cymbals are way more present than how we experience them live, should I treat the higher frequencies for this?
3. You can hear drums rather loud upstairs (don't think there's a lot to do about it, without building a room in a room?).
4. If we use distorted-effects on vocals, feedback happens rather quick, and it's hard to hear vocals over our drummer. So I should kill as much bouncing waves from the mics as possible, right? If yes, what is the best way to do that?

I was already thinking about hanging an acoustic curtain covering the entire wall behind the drums. And/or hanging some small acoustic panels or diffusers to the left and the right side of the drums. Would this be a good idea?

Here are some dimensions and pictures of the room.
Drums -> walls on the side: 110cm (43 inches)
Drums -> wall behind the drummer: 65cm (26 inches)
Drums -> ceiling: 80cm (31 inches)
Floor -> ceiling: 210cm (83 inches)
Width of the room: 400cm (157 inches)
Length of the room: 740cm (291 inches)

Thanks in advance, hope to learn some new stuff here and improve my room.

 

[markmann]

I don't see any mic's on the drums or amp so what are you using for mic's?

 

[manuel_vdn]

I don't see any mic's on the drums or amp so what are you using for mic's?

Didn't think that was important, since I'm mostly talking about how it sounds in the room and not specific on recordings. (also: there's a bass amp and a vox ac15 in the room as well, but you can't really see them on the pictures.)

But still:
Bass: DI
Guitars: Shure SM57
Vocals: Shure SM58 (when live)
Vocals: Behringer B-1 (when everything is recorded separate)
Snare: Shure SM57
Kick: A specific mic for lower frequencies such as bass and kick (can't find the name at the moment)
Rest of drums: Behringer BC1200 drum mic-set

 

[markmann]

Gotcha. I muffle drums that ring too much but never had issues with cymbals in the room. Keep in mind that when you treat for high frequencies you will also kill the high end for everything else. I would use treatment to reduce all room reflections. I am not an expert on room dimensions so I can only give general ideas. Good luck.

 

[Track Rat]

If you can, I'd move the kit a couple of feet away from the back wall. It can only help with reflection

 

[mjbphotos]

Put 2"-4"thick acoustic panels above the drums and on side walls (rockwool or compressed fiberglass). With that low ceiling, of course the drums and cymbals are going to be ringing out.
Consider using headphones or in-ears for practice, forget the PA system, in a small room, competing with amps and drums, you are always going to have a volume issue.

 

[manuel_vdn]

If you can, I'd move the kit a couple of feet away from the back wall. It can only help with reflection

I can maybe move it one foot to the front, but not much more (since it will be blocking the way to the other room), so looking for another, better solution

Put 2"-4"thick acoustic panels above the drums and on side walls (rockwool or compressed fiberglass). With that low ceiling, of course the drums and cymbals are going to be ringing out.
Consider using headphones or in-ears for practice, forget the PA system, in a small room, competing with amps and drums, you are always going to have a volume issue.

Thanks! Great answer. Going to look into some acoustic panels tonight.
The low ceiling is indeed the biggest flaw of this room. It doesn't have to be the most professional studio ever (since for real albums we go to other studios). But trying to get it as good as possible for preproduction/demo's and rehearsals is the goal here.

About the panels: should I try to cover the entire wall as much as possible. Or are there specific locations that I should keep in mind?

 

[mjbphotos]

About the panels: should I try to cover the entire wall as much as possible. Or are there specific locations that I should keep in mind?

Usually they are 2'x4' size, with a room that size I'd try at least 4 on each long wall and a couple behind the drummer.

 

[Supercreep]

None of that treatment is going to make the drums quieter. Different heads and a drummer with finesse can though.

 

[rob aylestone]

Almost everything in that room reflects, all six surfaces. It’s a great space, but you have to kill reflections. Surrounding the kit might be a good start though but try a few duvets on mic stands first before you spend real money.

 

[jamesperrett]

I'd put a couple of panels on the ceiling above the drum kit as well as on the walls. However, make the panels removable if possible so that you can give yourself a more lively space when that would be appropriate.