good ol' 38% rule...

[cassiopamusic]

how important is it to have your mixing positon applied to this rule? if i set my mixing table to this rule, im taking up alooot of space and making things alot more crammed. im going to have alot of bass traps up in the room soon and remodeling it and thinking about ditching this rule to help make more space and look better. bad idea? ok idea? im just wondering if it makes a difference like night and day to use this rule or not.

[jwl]

Only one answer matters: try it and see.

The 38% rule is a theoretical starting point developed by Wes Lachot, in a rectangular room it represents a very good place in the room in terms of avoiding nodes (peaks and nulls) in the low end. Every little bit helps. With adequate bass trapping it won't be as big of a difference, but I think you'd likely be able to hear the difference.

Can you somehow make things a bit moveable? Put your desk on wheels or something, so you can slide it out when you need to do critical listening, and then slide it against the wall when you have a band in for tracking?

[cassiopamusic]

Originally Posted by jwl

Can you somehow make things a bit moveable? Put your desk on wheels or something, so you can slide it out when you need to do critical listening, and then slide it against the wall when you have a band in for tracking?

thats a really good idea, im going to look into the desk on wheels things. thanks!

[Glenn Kuras]

Wes Lachot also stated to me IN PERSON that the 38% rule is for sofit mounted speakers, so it really can move up or back within a room.
I like the wheel idea. Not sure how to work all the cords, but cool idea.

Glenn

[davet]

I tried this last night. A mix I've been working on immediatly changed character. Made some EQ changes, re-blanced some instruments. I think it's better. I need to try out the mix in the car tonight, see if it's any better.

DaveT

[SixAndChange]

In my situation, I had an almost worst possible situation scenario bedroom project studio going on. Incredibly hard to work with by all means, yet I made it effective through trial and error.

I have a custom made which is 10' long and 4' deep. My room was typical rectangle shaped, but I was forced to set up my mix position facing sideways (as in not long ways down the room). After my desk was put all the way up against the walls, and the speakers were nearly a foot from the wall itself, putting a chair behind the desk put me 5 feet into the middle of the room. Exactly in the middle of the room on all points, including the ceiling which was 8 feet high.

A liberal amount of bass trapping, knowing my set up, and familiarizing myself with the room and how it would translate, I came up with some pretty damn good sounding mixes and recordings.

38% rule is a good one. So is "never mix red and white wines", yet, I wouldnt say that everytime anyone that mixes the drinks are going to end up with the same results. Go ahead and screw around, build some traps, move some stuff, listen to some music and just jam the **** out.

[Eric Desart]

Originally Posted by Glenn Kuras

Wes Lachot also stated to me IN PERSON that the 38% rule is for sofit mounted speakers, so it really can move up or back within a room.
I like the wheel idea. Not sure how to work all the cords, but cool idea.

I saw that Wes became member here.
Hence I hope he jumps in and explain the why.

In as far as I understood from Wes years back this 38% 'rule of thumb', results from a good compromize of the 1st 4 or 5 (can't remember exactly) length axial modes (ignoring the rest, but seeing these length modes as generally dominant parameters).

Since position of the speakers can alter the energetic coupling with the modes but not these modes themselves, I should appreciate some more explenation from Wes.

Wes, if you read this ....

[jayfrigo]

Internet discussion groups sometimes get hung up on on-size-fits-all "rules." The 38% rule is not a rule at all, though it does have some relevance. There are many variables, but one thing that we can all agree upon is that it is generally best not to be in the dead-center of the room (exactly half way between front and back). Also, a typical project studio will usually be easier to set up if you have enough space so that it is practical to get in front of the half way point rather than close to the rear wall. Still, even that is not a rule if you design appropriately for it. Depending on a great many factors, your actual position may vary, but 38% gives you a rough starting point if you are doing this in a DIY situation by trial and error.

[mingustoo]

listening position is 38% and centred. Speakers are an equilateral triangle with your head....That still leaves and axis (near to far) that the speakers can be placed on. How do you decide how far away to place the speakers? A: Listen....of course, but any other thumbs have rules on them that apply?
... d

[bpape]

Yes. It's just a starting point. It may not be the perfect place but it attempts to get you out of the major axial issues in the room length. To expand it a bit, I have found that somewhere between 33 and 38% usually ends up being the best compromise in many rooms (not all).