So,
The whole point of these Mini Traps is to combat the "bare walled office sound" I was getting in this room. I sound proofed the space to prevent the sound escaping and organized non parallel walls where I could but up to this date hadn't done anything about its 'internal' acoustics. OK I've been recording rock drums for 20 years now, and I WAS able to make them sound good in there, but the fact of the matter was, the close reflection sound was KILLING ME!
If you clapped your hands in the room it sounded VERY loud. A month ago on a trip to the legendary Abbey Rd Studio 2 (documented here on Gearslutz) I noted that a hand clap in there sounded remarkably QUIET and almost no 'decay' was audible..I thought that both odd and 'interesting' for such a LARGE room. In one of my favorite drum rooms (The "Barn" at Stanbridge Farm UK) I loved the fact that mic's set up on a kit in a large room sounded 'close' EVEN when very compressed - there was no 'hearing the walls' - this is my goal with my drum room. I dont want 'variable acoustics' I dont want control room acoustics, i just want a great kit sound, where I cant 'hear the walls' on the close mic's & overheads. I also want to be able to do 3 mic drum recording and have it withstand HEAVY compression and not - reveal 'the walls'.
I know that if I put mic's the other side of the room and compress them, I can make any place this size sound like an "aircraft hangar with a cannon being fired in it" (all well and good and handy on some productions) but I need TIGHT drums for modern rock productions.
Anyhow, after putting up the Mini Traps a hand clap in the room now sounds - quiet (and bright) and I can't "hear the walls" - I can't wait to try it! Just from the clap it sounds reminiscent of an expensively built 'tight & bright" 70's recording space.... so far so good!
The first clients to use the space are a retro '80's' style act and they require a tight 'disco' sound - perfect guinea pigs!
We like the "Barberella" look it has given the place too!
I will keep you 'posted'!
