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Step 8Sound treatment case study
I decided to focus entirely on low frequencies -- the only thought I gave to the mid to high range frequencies was to make sure I did not absorb too many of them.
Wood panels: these were another find. A vendor at one of the big exhibits at the Javit's center had these mahogany panels custom built for the show, then needed to get rid of them quickly. I got them from him for one twentieth of the original cost. They were hollow, so I removed the back, rewired them (they plug in to the outlet on the wall, then I use their built-in outlets), filled them up with Ultratouch and then stapled fabric on to keep the insulation in place (the fabric came from the trash: a church down the street was throwing a away a huge bolt of perfectly clean, perfectly good fabric which I didn't need but couldn't pass up. After sitting in my closet for a couple years I finally put it to great use here!). The wood on the back was also mahogany veneer, so I used it to build the desk you can see in the studio shots. These panels work really well as bass traps. The wood reflects the higher frequencies, and since the panels are placed at a slight angle, not only does it improve the bass performance (the farther removed from the wall, the better), but it prevents the reflected sound waves to return to the mixer's sweet spot.
Absorption panels. As I mentioned in step 4, I found these on Craigslist for much less than it would have cost to buy or build them new. However if you can't find any second hand, this instructable will teach you how to build your own. Placement is important. Each corner is a bass trap opportunity -- including the corners between the walls and ceiling. Normally you will try to place panels on the spot of first reflection. Sit at the mixing spot, and move a mirror on the wall till you see your monitor: that's where you want the panel. However since we already had our wall/bass trap there, and it was placed at an angle we didn't need to bother with that one. Don't forget your ceiling! It's like another wall. Instead of putting the panels right up against the wall or ceiling, leave as much air space in between as you can spare. This will help for the lower frequencies.
Diffusion. Once again through Craigslist I found 4 skyline diffusors. They were pretty beat-up and ugly, plus they would also get horribly dusty, so I mounted them on the rear wall with a frame which I covered with the identical acoustically transparent fabric used on the absorption panels.
Floor. Avoid using carpet for 2 reasons: First, it will put your room off balance. Carpet will only absorb high to mid frequencies. If you have enough bass traps (which will absorb high frequencies too) you don't need that. Second, our ears are accustomed to hearing with a "live" reflective floor. Your recording or mix might sound OK when you're in the room, because your ears and brain will be compensating, but when you leave your space it probably won't sound as good as you thought it was. I used cork because it was cheaper and thinner than hardwood. This is not the same cork as the stuff used for absorption in walls and as underlayment. It is denser, and with the polyurethane coat it is reflective, so it feels and sounds good.
After all was said and done, and I'd spent many hours contorted in the closet hooking up all the equipment, we tested the room. Our frequency response chart came out beautifully flat, with a dip at a single low frequency: that was from the room size which we could not control, and since it's just a single frequency it's easy to fix with software EQ.
Speaking of hours spent contorted in an equipment closet: a very useful tip I can share is to hang a mirror on the wall behind your computers. When the space is so tight you can only fit your arm behind the equipment it is VERY helpful to be able to see where you are plugging all the cables.
If you'd like to hear some of the music composed and mixed in this space, go to www.johnmdavis.com In addition to John Davis' music and filmography you will be able to watch two very rare (and wacky) silent films.
Wood panels: these were another find. A vendor at one of the big exhibits at the Javit's center had these mahogany panels custom built for the show, then needed to get rid of them quickly. I got them from him for one twentieth of the original cost. They were hollow, so I removed the back, rewired them (they plug in to the outlet on the wall, then I use their built-in outlets), filled them up with Ultratouch and then stapled fabric on to keep the insulation in place (the fabric came from the trash: a church down the street was throwing a away a huge bolt of perfectly clean, perfectly good fabric which I didn't need but couldn't pass up. After sitting in my closet for a couple years I finally put it to great use here!). The wood on the back was also mahogany veneer, so I used it to build the desk you can see in the studio shots. These panels work really well as bass traps. The wood reflects the higher frequencies, and since the panels are placed at a slight angle, not only does it improve the bass performance (the farther removed from the wall, the better), but it prevents the reflected sound waves to return to the mixer's sweet spot.
Absorption panels. As I mentioned in step 4, I found these on Craigslist for much less than it would have cost to buy or build them new. However if you can't find any second hand, this instructable will teach you how to build your own. Placement is important. Each corner is a bass trap opportunity -- including the corners between the walls and ceiling. Normally you will try to place panels on the spot of first reflection. Sit at the mixing spot, and move a mirror on the wall till you see your monitor: that's where you want the panel. However since we already had our wall/bass trap there, and it was placed at an angle we didn't need to bother with that one. Don't forget your ceiling! It's like another wall. Instead of putting the panels right up against the wall or ceiling, leave as much air space in between as you can spare. This will help for the lower frequencies.
Diffusion. Once again through Craigslist I found 4 skyline diffusors. They were pretty beat-up and ugly, plus they would also get horribly dusty, so I mounted them on the rear wall with a frame which I covered with the identical acoustically transparent fabric used on the absorption panels.
Floor. Avoid using carpet for 2 reasons: First, it will put your room off balance. Carpet will only absorb high to mid frequencies. If you have enough bass traps (which will absorb high frequencies too) you don't need that. Second, our ears are accustomed to hearing with a "live" reflective floor. Your recording or mix might sound OK when you're in the room, because your ears and brain will be compensating, but when you leave your space it probably won't sound as good as you thought it was. I used cork because it was cheaper and thinner than hardwood. This is not the same cork as the stuff used for absorption in walls and as underlayment. It is denser, and with the polyurethane coat it is reflective, so it feels and sounds good.
After all was said and done, and I'd spent many hours contorted in the closet hooking up all the equipment, we tested the room. Our frequency response chart came out beautifully flat, with a dip at a single low frequency: that was from the room size which we could not control, and since it's just a single frequency it's easy to fix with software EQ.
Speaking of hours spent contorted in an equipment closet: a very useful tip I can share is to hang a mirror on the wall behind your computers. When the space is so tight you can only fit your arm behind the equipment it is VERY helpful to be able to see where you are plugging all the cables.
If you'd like to hear some of the music composed and mixed in this space, go to www.johnmdavis.com In addition to John Davis' music and filmography you will be able to watch two very rare (and wacky) silent films.
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Mar 12, 2009. 7:10 AMendolith
says:
Do you have a plot of the frequency response?
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Mar 12, 2009. 8:22 AM
belsey (author)
says:
belsey (author)
says:
No, not on hand. We did the test a while ago and didn't print or save it. I just remember it was nice and flat with just one dip at a single frequency (but I can't remember which). Sorry. If we ever do it again I'll let you know.
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