Treating My New Room

[bdam123]

So for the past week I've been trying to soak up as much knowledge as I can about treating room acoustics. Unfortunately, the more I read and learn the more I feel like I know nothing. I was hoping some of you guys could help guide me in the right direction and answer a few minor questions. The room will be used for mixing and recording vocals. Thanks in advanced.

My Current Plans:

My room is 18' L x 13.5' W x 8' H. Obviously my work station will be facing the short wall. Opposite of that, on the other short wall are two windows that I plan on covering.

I plan on having panels at the first reflection points (either side and above the listening position), a bass trap centered where the front wall meets the ceiling, and bass traps in all four corners floor to ceiling.

My Questions:

1) Will 3.5" Roxul with a 2" air gap be sufficient for the first reflection panels?

2) I plan on making the bass traps 6"-7" thick. Should I superchunk the corners?

3) Should I cover the rear windows with 3.5" panels or the 6"-7" panels?

4) Could my room use Diffusors? I was thinking the back wall between the windows. Should I put diffusors over the windows instead of panels?

5) I read somewhere that one should only use 2D Diffusors on the ceilings and 1D for back walls? Thoughts?

I honestly have only been doing my research for about two weeks so I don't have a clue about any of the charts and data one can accumulate pertaining to a room. I feel like if I was going to learn all of this stuff before I worked on the room, it wouldn't be built for a year due to all the thing I'd have to learn. So my apologies for being such a noob.

 

[bdam123]

bump

 

[DM60]

It is the weekend so some of the real experts may be doing other things. From first impressions, this looks like a really good start. For a newb like myself, I would start with your approach (just remember Bass traps from top to bottom. Use your reflection panels to tame the highs. Give it a quick recording and listen then you can adjust from there.

Others will have much better information, but since you "bumped" it, thought I would give you a quick response.

 

[JimmyS1969]

So for the past week I've been trying to soak up as much knowledge as I can about treating room acoustics. Unfortunately, the more I read and learn the more I feel like I know nothing. I was hoping some of you guys could help guide me in the right direction and answer a few minor questions. The room will be used for mixing and recording vocals. Thanks in advanced.

My Current Plans:

My room is 18' L x 13.5' W x 8' H. Obviously my work station will be facing the short wall. Opposite of that, on the other short wall are two windows that I plan on covering.

I plan on having panels at the first reflection points (either side and above the listening position), a bass trap centered where the front wall meets the ceiling, and bass traps in all four corners floor to ceiling.

My Questions:

1) Will 3.5" Roxul with a 2" air gap be sufficient for the first reflection panels?

2) I plan on making the bass traps 6"-7" thick. Should I superchunk the corners?

3) Should I cover the rear windows with 3.5" panels or the 6"-7" panels?

4) Could my room use Diffusors? I was thinking the back wall between the windows. Should I put diffusors over the windows instead of panels?

5) I read somewhere that one should only use 2D Diffusors on the ceilings and 1D for back walls? Thoughts?

I honestly have only been doing my research for about two weeks so I don't have a clue about any of the charts and data one can accumulate pertaining to a room. I feel like if I was going to learn all of this stuff before I worked on the room, it wouldn't be built for a year due to all the thing I'd have to learn. So my apologies for being such a noob.

You are likely the most educated noob I have ever seen.

3.5" Roxul? Not sure I have seen that. Superchunks have been used by many, but testing results have shown that you would be better off with a 4" thick 4' panel from floor to ceiling, with the air space behind filled with the fluffy pink stuff. Much cheaper as well. As far as your reflection points, some get away with 2" thick panels, but I went with 4" myself. Can't really tell you if it better or not, but it works for me. Don't forget about the cloud overhead.

Are the rear windows on the far side of your desk location? I am not sure you have much issue there with the length of your room, but then you can not really treat a 'Mixing' room too much.

Your room is similar to the size that I have. Mine is only 5 feet longer, and that has an entertainment center, PA and a couch.

I spaced 4"x2'x4' panels along the walls to stop reflections. There are some pix on my website (I think). Haven't updated the photos in quite a while.

 

[bdam123]

You are likely the most educated noob I have ever seen.

3.5" Roxul? Not sure I have seen that. Superchunks have been used by many, but testing results have shown that you would be better off with a 4" thick 4' panel from floor to ceiling, with the air space behind filled with the fluffy pink stuff. Much cheaper as well. As far as your reflection points, some get away with 2" thick panels, but I went with 4" myself. Can't really tell you if it better or not, but it works for me. Don't forget about the cloud overhead.

Are the rear windows on the far side of your desk location? I am not sure you have much issue there with the length of your room, but then you can not really treat a 'Mixing' room too much.

Your room is similar to the size that I have. Mine is only 5 feet longer, and that has an entertainment center, PA and a couch.

I spaced 4"x2'x4' panels along the walls to stop reflections. There are some pix on my website (I think). Haven't updated the photos in quite a while.

I wanted to go with 4" but all I could find was 3.5" at Lowes here.

What do you mean by 4" thick 4' panels? And is the fluffy pink stuff you are referring to, regular wall insulation?

The rear windows are behind the listening point on either side. My back would be facing the empty wall space between the two windows.

 

[bdam123]

bump

 

[mjbphotos]

4' x 2' panels are easy to stack, hang and move around. The 3.5" Roxul will work. All I have seen is 2" and 4".
Pink fluffy stuff = standard spun fiberglass insulation.