need suggestions for sound absorption - see diagram

[sheepforwheat]

I need suggestions for sound absorption for my home studio (room is dedicated to studio).

SEE DIAGRAM:
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...wing-plain.gif

As-is the room sounds pretty good. But i would like to take it to the next level. When i play music and walk around the room, most frequencies sound pretty consistent with the bass building up near the walls and corners. But again, i am a pretty new to this, my ears aren't too experienced, and i've never been in a "real" studio.
Here are some of my concerns
A) The floor is carpeted. Should i switch to hardwood? I don't really like the looks of the carpet, but i'm thinking it might be helping to dampen the reflections. Maybe hard wood floor would sound more lively?
B) The ceiling is low. I am 5'6" and i can reach up and touch it. It's probably about 7' or 7' 1/2" high. Also, the ceiling has this textured stuff on it. I think that might be helping to diffuse the sound a bit??
C) most of the walls are diagonal wood paneling. I like the look. I assume it reacts better to sound than drywall would.
D) my biggest concern is that above the mixing desk, there is some ductwork. The ducts are covered, but if i tap on it i can hear the hollow duct sound. How can i deal with this? The ducts are only used for heating, so in the summer they aren't used. When i playback music or even just sit in front of my desk and speak, i hear a mid-low freq ringing. I'm not sure if that's caused by the ductwork.
E) the stairway has some flutter echo
I'd like to try to stay around $500-$1000 to spend. I am considering using a mix of manufactured panels for bass trapping as well as acoustic foam (auralex) for higher freq control, and for its appeal to clients.

[willerichey]

I would first suggest moving your set up over in front of the window, that would be my first suggestion. I am new to studio acoustics, but there is a LOT of information on the subject all over the internet.

[Glenn Kuras]

"A) The floor is carpeted. Should i switch to hardwood? I don't really like the looks of the carpet, but i'm thinking it might be helping to dampen the reflections. Maybe hard wood floor would sound more lively?"

Yes taking up the carpet would be the best thing to do. The carpet is only going to absorb the high end in the room. The best thing to do is to build a cloud on the ceiling above the mix spot and any drums you might have going on in the room.

"B) The ceiling is low. I am 5'6" and i can reach up and touch it. It's probably about 7' or 7' 1/2" high. Also, the ceiling has this textured stuff on it. I think that might be helping to diffuse the sound a bit??"

The textured ceiling is not diffusing at all. Diffusion takes wells that are MUCH deeper.

"C) most of the walls are diagonal wood paneling. I like the look. I assume it reacts better to sound than drywall would."

Both are reflecting about the same.

"D) my biggest concern is that above the mixing desk, there is some ductwork. The ducts are covered, but if i tap on it i can hear the hollow duct sound. How can i deal with this? The ducts are only used for heating, so in the summer they aren't used. When i playback music or even just sit in front of my desk and speak, i hear a mid-low freq ringing. I'm not sure if that's caused by the ductwork."

I would doubt it is coming from the duct work. What you have is just bass ringing which happens in all rooms without proper bass trapping

"E) the stairway has some flutter echo"

I am sure it does!! You may need to build a door in front of it or treat the stairway. All and all I would focus on the rest of the room first and see how bad it is after. We treat a lot of rooms and what might seem like a problem now is not much when the room is done right.

"I'd like to try to stay around $500-$1000 to spend. I am considering using a mix of manufactured panels for bass trapping as well as acoustic foam (auralex) for higher freq control, and for its appeal to clients."

I think that is good plan. If you are going to use foam for the high end just make sure you put enough bass trapping in to go along with it. I see so many rooms with way to much foam on the walls and barely enough bass trapping. It can really get the room out of whack

I do also agree with willerichey about moving the mix spot. You should be facing the longest wall and sitting about 38% of the rooms length back.

Hope that helps you get started!!!!!!

Glenn

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by sheepforwheat

I need suggestions for sound absorption for my home studio (room is dedicated to studio).

See this:

Acoustic Treatment and Design for Recording Studios and Listening Rooms

It's a fair amount to read, but it will answer all you asked so far, and a few things you haven't asked yet.

--Ethan

[wrgkmc]

I did mine with the undermatting used for rugs and saved a bundle. I coverd the walls and ceiling of a 2 car garage. Its a total dead zone for recording like being in a coffin. When we rehurse there is NO reflectivity whitch takes some getting used to. They recomend covering 2 out of 4 walls. I eventually put up moveable reflective surfaces for the drums over the matting to balance acoustics for recording. Drums love reflectivity. The stuff is real cheap and comes in several thicknesses and colors. You can buy the pyramid foam sheets also but it wont prevent sound leakage through the walls like the undermatting does. They sell it in sheets cheap for bed cushins at local wallmart type places. Even there it would be half the cost of pro foam.