Treating My Room

[Fishybob]

Crackin! That's pretty much how things are panning out over here. Except that because the room is only slightly (2') longer in one direction. I have set it up to best effect by rotating your design 90 degrees so that the speakers are along the longest wall. This may sound wrong, but due to a hollow wall behind my listening position acting as a bass absorber, problem frequencies actually travel further back than the rear wall. A little mid range absorbtion on that wall should also solve any splash back from the wall ( I already have my bookcase acting as a diffuser on the rear wall).

I've actually had a bit more luck with bass too. I needed somewhere to store spare bedding while my bedroom was being redecorated and just packed it under my desk (away from any cables). There is a section about 3' square under my desk (away from my feet too). It is a really tight squeeze and is actually working in a similar way to a sofa in that it takes in a huge amount of bass/low mid energy. Lokks like it's staying there for the time being.

Seems like luck is on my side... now if I can only find second hand panels...

 

[Autist]

How well do your mixes translate?

Have you tried it with the hollow wall behind the console/monitors? I would have to try that in your situation because bass absorbtion is always a good thing. Without it the bass just bounces back and forth and piles up in often odd and annoying ways. Since I would be fairly close to the monitors when mixing anyhow (about 4 ft. away here), I would just let the bass that gets to that hollow wall travel on it's merry way. My thought is that the hollow wall is just one less bass trap that has to be bought.

One thing I wonder about is the placement of the spare bedding and whether, or not it is simply absorbing bass reflections that have already traveled round trip from the monitors back to your ears. I would try that behind me as well to see if that made a difference.

You might want to look into diffusion panels also. They almost always seem to be recommended for back walls, but in long rooms.

 

[Fishybob]

In truth I only changed it around last night. But the mix that I did sounds much clearer now. Far less lower mid. The desk that I use is pretty large and an open type (as in, not a normal computer desk) so the bedding is really near one corner and absorbs bass from all angles.

The Bookcase on the rear wall seems to make a small difference (in a good way). I can't have the hollow wall behind my monitors due to location of the door, and this way seems fine for me now.

I do want bass absorbers for the front corners next - behind the monitors. I think that should control enough low end.

 

[Autist]

It always boils down to what works best for you and what is most ideal. Not everyone has the ability to have a room custom built for sound and not everyone can afford to follow all of the recommendations. Just because many experts recomend setting the room up a certain way does not mean it is always practical, or possible. A well thought out room is going to be better than one that is not thought out at all, no matter how it is oriented and it seems to me that you have been putting a lot of thought into yours. My room has some odd design characteristics that dictate where I can place things also (doors, can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em).

I would stick with the Auralex traps in the corners (I think that the 4 I have (not the ones on stands) were about $120.00). I am not familiar enough with the Foam by Mail ones to be able to recommend them, but my Auralex Lenrds are fine. Sure, there may be something better, but that would cost more and probably be less practical for me.

 

[NickSpringfield]

Alright, I feel like an ass having my room set-up this way for almost three years, but here it is. I drew a pretty basic diagram of the room and where I currently have things placed. It is, of course, not to scale, but the deminsions that I included are pretty accurate (but the two desks are bigger than they are in the pic in scale to the room).

I drew a dotted line where I had initially intended on boxing off as a "recording booth." The heater by the windows is not movable and the windows are covered with blankets.

If any of you have any suggestions of where I could move stuff around and where I can place foam etc. please let me know. I am already extremely greatful of the time you took out so far to help me out.

Thanks again,

-Springfield

 

[Autist]

Alright, I feel like an ass having my room set-up this way for almost three years, but here it is. I drew a pretty basic diagram of the room and where I currently have things placed. It is, of course, not to scale, but the deminsions that I included are pretty accurate (but the two desks are bigger than they are in the pic in scale to the room).

I drew a dotted line where I had initially intended on boxing off as a "recording booth." The heater by the windows is not movable and the windows are covered with blankets.

If any of you have any suggestions of where I could move stuff around and where I can place foam etc. please let me know. I am already extremely greatful of the time you took out so far to help me out.

Thanks again,

-Springfield

I am going to modify your picture with a suggestion... may take a few minutes.

 

[Autist]

My first thought was messed up by the door, which I didn't notice at first...

But here is my current thought on placement. The gray areas are treatment. The boxes represent bass traps and the lines, panels. I think you would be best with the stand mounted Lenrds and a MaxWall. You could position them anywhere you needed them. Notice that I moved the console away from the wall to get it out of that corner.

 

[Autist]

If the heater is just something that is low to the ground you could consider putting 2 of the bass traps back on those corners instead of closer to the mixing position. I think the dotted line threw me off a little bit. Also, if you leave the door open when you mix the bass will have an escape route in that corner.

 

[Autist]

Another possibility, if you used the MaxWall...

 

[Autist]

You could just move the wall to get to the recording area and the wall itself will act as a wall for your booth.

 

[NickSpringfield]

Thanks. I'm gonna look into getting that maxwall even though it'll take some time to save the dough. So you think the console facing the corner can stay? I was hoping so, because if I move it too much around, it kind of clutters up the room. I understand your saying move it out more, but thats no prob.

What about secluding that area from the dotted line to the right to make it sort of a vocal booth? Any thoughts on that? It's kind of shaped perfectly so that I can place a barrier there and it wont effect any of my desks. Just a thought.

Thanks again. Big help, really.

-Springfield

 

[NickSpringfield]

Damn, you post two replys before I can post one. Yeah, that second diagram looks like it may work. I am no seriously considering that maxwall. So if I were to get a maxwall and four basstraps, what'll that run me? Like $800 or could I get by for less?
I'll check the site more thoroughly right now, but if you know off the top of your head, let me know.

 

[Autist]

Thanks. I'm gonna look into getting that maxwall even though it'll take some time to save the dough. So you think the console facing the corner can stay? I was hoping so, because if I move it too much around, it kind of clutters up the room. I understand your saying move it out more, but thats no prob.

What about secluding that area from the dotted line to the right to make it sort of a vocal booth? Any thoughts on that? It's kind of shaped perfectly so that I can place a barrier there and it wont effect any of my desks. Just a thought.

Thanks again. Big help, really.

-Springfield

Well, the second diagram I posted may solve a lot. It partitions off the vocal booth with acoustic treatment and gets you out of the corner. You may want some panels on the wall near the keyboard (?), but I forgot to add them in. If you wanted to keep the console in the corner you could still find ways to partision off that booth. Either with a MaxWall, or by making a movable wall and gluing acoustic foam to it. The MaxWall is just so easy to move around though. You could make a booth out of some MaxWall panels alone. I would definitely move the console out as much as possible to get the monitors out of the corner.

 

[Autist]

Damn, you post two replys before I can post one. Yeah, that second diagram looks like it may work. I am no seriously considering that maxwall. So if I were to get a maxwall and four basstraps, what'll that run me? Like $800 or could I get by for less?
I'll check the site more thoroughly right now, but if you know off the top of your head, let me know.

Both the MaxWall and the stand mounted Lenrds together would cost about $600.00, not including shipping if you can't find them locally. It would be less if you got the regular Lenrds, but you don't seem to have have many places to mount them. You could move the stand mounted ones around until you found the spots that work best.

 

[NickSpringfield]

Thanks, appreciate it. I'm browing their site now.

 

[Autist]

You are welcome. Let me know how things work out.