So, after posting in the Recording Forum about the possibility of buying new mics or preamps, I got a lot of feedback that perhaps treating my room was the top priority.

Here are some pics of the room:


SW Corner:


NW Corner:


NE Corner:


SE Corner:

It's a pretty typical bedroom in a 2 story condo. The ceiling is vaulted pretty heavily, from about 6' on the West end to 10-11' on the East. Typically, I setup mics pretty close to my desk so that I can have easy access to the computer for the thousands upon thousands of takes I tend to do.

Upon seeing the pictures, are there any obviously offensive areas that I need to take care of? Or, might you advise me on how to discover these areas on my own? I've never really looked into this stuff, so some guidance would be great.

One thing to keep in mind - I make my living teaching lessons in this room, so any treatments need to look at least semi-classy.

Also, it'd be great to hear about both traditional ($) and more inventive (cheap) treatments that might work for me.

Thanks much.

And apparently I'm retarded.

SW Corner:

NW Corner:

NE Corner:

SE Corner:

Nice looking space.

The first thing that I notice is that you need to get out of the corner of the room. Your left speaker will build up more bass in the corner and your imaging will be off.

If you could center yourself at the 11' wall with the speakers facing the shorter wall so the ceiling would slope in the direction behind you, I think that would be the most open positioning (this is wrong, follow the next suggestion of centering on the shorter wall in front of the window). If not then centered on the short wall with the window sloping in the other direction. Right now you have a lower ceiling above your left speaker than the right, plus the offset corner, not good.

Just rearranging the room like this can make a huge difference even before adding room treatment.

Also, measure the distance between your speaker center points and how far back from that point you sit. They should be the same to create a triangle, which I'm sure you've heard. But also measure the distance from the floor to the point between the speaker and tweeter. This should be the same as the distance from the floor to you ear level sitting in the mix position. Also measure to make sure the the monitors are in the same place on each side of the desk and from the wall.

This stuff really makes a big difference in being able to make good mix decisions. I can vouch for this from my own experiences with placement. If these basics are off, no treatment in the world will help.

Hope this helps,

Lucio

I agree with lucio on every point except that on which wall you should be facing. Based on every major studio i've been in, the slope of the ceiling should be such that it is lower infront than behind you, this will help to minimize reflections at the mix position. second, i would buy some owens corning 705, its a rigid fiberglass which comes in 2'x4'x4" panels
cover these in burlap and mount them across all four corners of the room, preferably from floor to ceiling. Next, buy some 703 panels and mount those on the side walls about half way between the monitors and yourself... after this, if you feel the room needs more work, try adding some panels above the mix position. I'm far from an expert on this subject, but these same practices have greatly improved my mixes.

spandexstallion,

Yeh, I wasn't 100% sure, which was why I gave him an either or choice. I thought maybe having the open area above the speakers would be a good thing, but it makes more sense to let the sound expand behind you.

Thanks for clearing that up.

Lucio

I just did my 12 X 20 room using several home made Owens Corning 705 acoustic panels and placing them according to the diagrams I found here I have an extra one on the ceiling, plus a sofa, some bookshelves, a twin mattress, an 8x10 polydeflector and finally a somewhat controversial wooden platform for recording acoustic instrument tracks.

Go to here and read posts by John Mark Painter.

I haven't done a lot of mixing since I installed the treatment, but my individual acoustic instrument tracks seem clearer and brighter...in some cases a little harsh. Once I find the sweet spots for miking instruments, I'll decide where the mixing area should be. I might make some more portable panels to place around me when mixing.

quote:

One thing to keep in mind - I make my living teaching lessons in this room, so any treatments need to look at least semi-classy.

http://johnlsayers.com/

Click on wall units on the home page for plans and a diagram of where they go. Then check out the rest of his site for some awesome examples and ideas. You can do this probably within the budget you mentioned on the other post. Also, check out Ethan Winer's articles as well as everything on John Sayers' site. Hope this helps.

Lance

What is that thing behind the wooden chair?
What are those walls made of?

Why are your guitars leaning on each other with no stand?

quote:

Originally posted by nbarts:
What is that thing behind the wooden chair?
What are those walls made of?

Why are your guitars leaning on each other with no stand?

What is the air speed velocity of an unladen sparrow?

mud

quote:

Originally posted by MudBean:
What is the air speed velocity of an unladen sparrow?

mud

About 24 m/hr. Thanks for the question.

quote:

Originally posted by nbarts:

quote:

Originally posted by MudBean:
What is the air speed velocity of an unladen sparrow?

mud

About 24 m/hr. Thanks for the question.

Is that European or African?

mud

quote:

Originally posted by MudBean:
Is that European or African?

mud

Why, does it make any difference?

quote:

Originally posted by nbarts:

quote:

Originally posted by MudBean:
Is that European or African?

mud

Why, does it make any difference?

Sorry, my Monty Python is coming out ...

http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/mphg/mphg.htm

and, it's swallow - not sparrow ... sorry again.

mud

quote:

Why are your guitars leaning on each other with no stand?

OMG! Are they mating? Down South, we don't much take to rosewood fraternizing with mahogany.

Hey Mud, if you think I was trying to sound like smart ass or something else you wanted to let me know, you can just shoot it strait. Sorry, I'm not going to read linked page, too much reading for someone like me.

quote:

Originally posted by nbarts:
What is that thing behind the wooden chair?
What are those walls made of?

Why are your guitars leaning on each other with no stand?

There's a massive closet in the room that used to have wooden doors attached. I removed the doors and hung burgundy velvet curtains instead. Sexy, no?

Those are my "teaching guitars". All my stands were still in the car from a gig.

quote:

Originally posted by nbarts:
Hey Mud, if you think I was trying to sound like smart ass or something else you wanted to let me know, you can just shoot it strait. Sorry, I'm not going to read linked page, too much reading for someone like me.

Actually, I was the one being a smart ass ... no reason, just my obtuse sense of humor. Guess you're not a Monty Python fan ... no worries.

mud

quote:

no reason, just my obtuse sense of humor.

OK

quote:

just my obtuse sense of humor.

Hey, Mud! That went over like a swallow laden with a coconut.

I appreciated it and think you are wise in the ways of science.

quote:

Originally posted by wretchasketch:

quote:

just my obtuse sense of humor.

Hey, Mud! That went over like a swallow laden with a coconut.

I appreciated it and think you are wise in the ways of science.

Hah! Thanks, wretch. I do float, and I weigh more than a duck ... but, lets not bicker and argue about who killed who - back to business.

I have a new room!! Dimensions: L = 18' 8", W = 12' 10", Height = 6' 9" at front and back, 9' 0" at center peak.



I have (2) 2' x 4' x 6" 703 insulation absorbers and (3) 2' x 4' x 4" 703 insulation absorbers (purchased from Nick Fournier). I also have (2) 2' x 4' pegboard panels covered with Auralex foam. I'm planning on building (4) cylindrical bass traps in 3 foot sections for the front corners ...



I'm also planning on building a diffusor panel for the back wall.

Suggestions on best usage for my 703 absorber panels?

mud