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Room acoustic analysis for your studio: Is it worth it? Have you done it?
Just spent some fun YouTube time, going through a tutorial on measuring room acoustics using RoomEQ Wizard. All seems pretty straight forward and not too expensive. Well, at least I'm preparing to spend a fair amount of money on getting the room prepped, and getting DAW software and some other hardware, so in the big picture, the cost of buying a few acoustic analytic tools would seem to be well worth while.
https://youtu.be/dYOlC1onguI Wondering if you have done this for your own home studios? Also, I've been following the discussion that seems to crop up frequently between Martin Maniac and some of you on the virtues of acoustic treatment, vs. mics, use of foam, etc... Wouldn't this type of measurement provide good factual reference to help push these discussions further toward resolution? I'm planning to do this for myself as I start putting together my recording studio/guest bedroom. I like measuring stuff. I'm quite eager to look at before and after acoustic signature profiles with each change to the room. I'll post results when I get going on the project, some time next year. |
#2
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I did it with my space. The resulting treatment improved the room.
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#3
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I used ETF back when I did my room, I don't think RoomEQ Wizard was available then, but it's the same idea. It was quite helpful and enlightening. You can also get some generic info from simple room mode calculators. I posted all the measurements and so on that I did on my web site. It's been quite a while and it was a lot of work, but I think it was worthwhile.
As far as "does room treatment make a difference?" I'd say it depends, you might just accidentally be blessed with a great sounding room, in which case, you're all set. Most of us are not, so it can make a big difference. Here's the difference room treatment made for me, in my garage - a mono recording with 1 mic 18 inches away: Empty garage: http://www.dougyoungguitar.com/mp3/1..._bare_room.mp3 And then exact same position, when I was about 3/4 done with treating my room: http://www.dougyoungguitar.com/mp3/F...3_18inches.mp3 The foam vs 703 or other materials is just a matter of math. You can look at the absorption coefficients, and if you have measured your room, you'll know what you need. Foam absorbs mostly highs. if that's what your room needs, it will work great. Most rooms need broadband treatment, or even mostly lower frequencies tamed, and foam would not address that. I have a tiny bit of foam in my room - it's strictly for cosmetics - it looks cool, which is what it does best :-) The real work is done by the equivalent of about 30 OC-703 panels and corner bass traps. Someone mentioned in another thread about the difference between recording and mixing, and that plays a role, too. I do my You Tube videos in an untreated room. With close micing, a basic carpeted spare bedroom works "ok". I wouldn't record a CD there, but it's good enough for you tube. But I mix those videos in my treated room where I can hopefully hear better.
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Music: Spotify, Bandcamp Videos: You Tube Channel Books: Hymns for Fingerstyle Guitar (std tuning), Christmas Carols for Fingerstyle Guitar (std tuning), A DADGAD Christmas, Alternate Tunings book Online Course: Alternate Tunings for Fingerstyle Guitar |
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Percentage of acoustic absorption coverage of wall and ceiling more important that exact location of the absorptive devices, though you get a greater effect per square foot of absorption material when used in the corners of the room. Four inch thick rockwool panels are pretty effective, though for the ceiling I kept it at two inch panels. Trickier if you want to rely on the natural ambiance of your recording space versus more heavily deadening the space and adding artificial ambiance in post recording.
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Derek Coombs Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love To be that we hold so dear A voice from heavens above |
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Doug, thanks for the comparison test, what a difference.
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http://www.roomeqwizard.com/ The only expense would be an omni mic if you do not already have one the Behringer ECM 8000 is $60 on Amazon is an inexpensive choice and will work fine. Couple more video's I think are worthwhile are by GIK acoustics this on the using the room EQ wizard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4uSR3cUUSY And this on some practical home studio acoustics basics and gets into absorption diffusion bass traps etc . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbQEBVDAY74
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Enjoy the Journey.... Kev... KevWind at Soundcloud KevWind at YouYube https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...EZxkPKyieOTgRD System : Studio system Avid Carbon interface , PT Ultimate 2023.12 -Mid 2020 iMac 27" 3.8GHz 8-core i7 10th Gen ,, Ventura 13.2.1 Mobile MBP M1 Pro , PT Ultimate 2023.12 Ventura 12.2.1 |
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The room I record and mix in is way too big for me to treat it with acoustic panels. Not only that, but I wouldn't like the look and neither would my wife.
So I made half a dozen 2 X 4 foot, 4" thick panels and surround the musician with them when recording or move them into my mix area when doing that. I surrounded the 703 with 3/4" X 4" wood, covered them with burlap front and back, and made legs that attach with velcro to get them to various heights off the floor. The legs can quickly be unattached so I can store everything under the stairs. Jim |
#8
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play music!
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2014 Martin 00015M 2009 Martin 0015M 2008 Martin HD28 2007 Martin 000-18GE 2006 Taylor 712 2006 Fender Parlor GDP100 1978 Fender F65 1968 Gibson B25-12N Various Electrics |
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Quote:
Article: http://realtraps.com/art_spaces.htm
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Derek Coombs Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love To be that we hold so dear A voice from heavens above Last edited by rick-slo; 10-28-2016 at 07:56 AM. |
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Quote:
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Chuck 2012 Carruth 12-fret 000 in Pernambuco and Adi 2010 Poling Sierra in Cuban Mahogany and Lutz 2015 Posch 13-fret 00 in Indian Rosewood and Adi Last edited by ChuckS; 10-28-2016 at 10:13 AM. |
#11
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There's just a 3/4 " X 4'' frame around the perimeter and a small triangular piece in each corner. I notched the 703 for the triangular blocks. I also made a few awhile back that hung on the wall that did have a 1/4" piece of MDF on the back. I've never compared the closed back panels standing out in the room to the open backs but from what I've read, the closed backs are more reflective, which in my room is not beneficial. Jim |
#12
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In the past I used one of those foam and corrugated steel reflection filters behind the mic. I suppose they could be helpful for some situations but I stopped using it right away when I noticed pretty strong comb filtering. Before I made the acoustic panels, I'd hang blankets over a screen a couple feet behind the mic and behind me when recording ac. guitar. That sounded better than the reflection filter. I've found the acoustic panels are a lot more useful for mixing than recording but still use them more often than not to help control the reverb I get from the large room. |