front wall: diffusers, absorbers, curtains...?

Ciaccona · 15th December 2008

Hi dear people,

I've currently started estimating the acoustic preparation of a room at my flat. the back of my room is having heavy curtains due to three big window doors behind them and I hope they'll do at least a bit job of handling some high frequencies but I was wondering which would be the best way to prepare the massive front (about 2 feet thick) wall about 20 inches behind my monitors?
could curtains do the job (I've seen many places having curtains in front of the mixing position) or if I'd better attach acoustic foam at that part of the wall?

also, do you have any recommendations for professional traps and panels (I'm in Germany?)

Ethan Winer · 15th December 2008

Curtains are not very good absorbers for music because they're not thick enough to absorb to low enough frequencies. Also, the front wall is one of the last places to worry about because your speakers don't face that way. Here's some "easy" reading to get you started:

Small room treatment
How to set up a room
Front Wall Absorption

--Ethan

Ciaccona · 21st December 2008

thanks a lot Ethan, that is great information you offer on your site!

Let's see if I can adapt some of that to my room!

still not sure about suppliers over here in Europe.
probably I'll have to do DIY traps/panels...?

Glenn Kuras · 21st December 2008

Do some reading here
Learn what is SBIR (Speaker Boundary Interface Response).
So yes you may find treating the front wall with thick absorption helps. But as Ethan said it is generally better to start with the main parts. Bass trapping in corners and panels for the early reflection points.

Glenn

Ciaccona · 24th December 2008

Thanks Glenn,

yes of course the main problems need to be fixed first, however, I didn't feel comfortable with the thick wall in front of me.

tomdarude · 24th December 2008

There are lots of great quality commercial traps & professional acoustic advise available in Germany!

treating the front wall will def. help, but there´s also the possibility of panels mounted on movable stands etc. and many other custom solutions!

you got some good advice from ethan and glenn already, make sure you read the FAQs on their websites, lot´s of great info!

If you need more information drop me a PM, I used to do studio-design for a living here for a few years and still know what´s availlable

cheers tom

15th December 2008	#1
Ciaccona Gear addict Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Germany, Europe Posts: 355 Thread Starter	front wall: diffusers, absorbers, curtains...? Hi dear people, I've currently started estimating the acoustic preparation of a room at my flat. the back of my room is having heavy curtains due to three big window doors behind them and I hope they'll do at least a bit job of handling some high frequencies but I was wondering which would be the best way to prepare the massive front (about 2 feet thick) wall about 20 inches behind my monitors? could curtains do the job (I've seen many places having curtains in front of the mixing position) or if I'd better attach acoustic foam at that part of the wall? also, do you have any recommendations for professional traps and panels (I'm in Germany?)

15th December 2008	#2
Ethan Winer Gear Guru Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: New Milford, CT, USA Posts: 12,050	Curtains are not very good absorbers for music because they're not thick enough to absorb to low enough frequencies. Also, the front wall is one of the last places to worry about because your speakers don't face that way. Here's some "easy" reading to get you started: Small room treatment How to set up a room Front Wall Absorption --Ethan __________________ Ethan's audio book is coming!

21st December 2008	#4
Glenn Kuras Gear Guru Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 11,003	Do some reading here Learn what is SBIR (Speaker Boundary Interface Response). So yes you may find treating the front wall with thick absorption helps. But as Ethan said it is generally better to start with the main parts. Bass trapping in corners and panels for the early reflection points. Glenn __________________ Glenn Kuras GIK Acoustics USA GIK Acoustics Europe 770 986 2789 (USA) +44 (0) 20 7558 8976 (UK) See the NEW Soffit Bass Trap

24th December 2008	#6
tomdarude Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: germany Posts: 1,555	There are lots of great quality commercial traps & professional acoustic advise available in Germany! treating the front wall will def. help, but there´s also the possibility of panels mounted on movable stands etc. and many other custom solutions! you got some good advice from ethan and glenn already, make sure you read the FAQs on their websites, lot´s of great info! If you need more information drop me a PM, I used to do studio-design for a living here for a few years and still know what´s availlable cheers tom __________________ "You'd be surprised that "f*ck it!" can be a profound philosophy." picksail; 28th August 2008, 08:55 AM "The best sounding sluttiest gear of all time... is a great song" --Greg Wells http://www.hi-endgear.com http://www.audio-import.de

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