Huge bass problem! Please help!

prslespaul · 8th April 2009

I just moved my studio from STL to Nashville Area. The room I was in previously was maintained well under control. The new room i have now is a mess. In my case, i have no bass at all. Literally from 125hz and below i get almost nothing. The monitors i use have pretty huge bottom end to them. My only suggestion is that im having horrible phase issues. I made a diaphragm to kind of show you what i have going on as of now. The Bass Traps are about 4 inches thick and are 30"x48". By themselves they haven't did anything at all really. My next plan is to put foam on the walls (lets say 36"x36") to the left and right side of me to reduce phase issues getting to me from the walls. My next idea was to build a diffuser and put it along the backside of the wall. My problem there is the awkward shape of the room. And still keeping access to my closet door on the black left. Any Ideas for that? After that if i still have no bass, I was thinking of buying a bass trap (6'x2.5') and putting it against the wall/ceiling right in front of me and behind the desk. Let me know if you guys have any ideas? Help is very much appreciated.

Smithcok · 8th April 2009

Can you post some dimensions? (including ceilings)

From your drawing, the mix position looks awfully close to the dead center of the room. That's typically a really bad place to sit. Also, with the back wall so divided with different lengths, there is a possibility that is causing some general funkiness, not just limited to the bass frequencies.

Also, assuming that room is typical construction, that's likely not close to enough bass trapping to really tackle modal issues.

Ethan Winer · 8th April 2009

Yes, dimensions will help, and Yes, being near the center front to back is a problem. However, having a stepped rear wall like that is a Good Thing for bass. The main problem I see is you have nowhere near enough corner bass traps. Assuming the drawing is reasonably to scale, you need at least a dozen corner traps for a room that small, and even 20 is not too many.

--Ethan

prslespaul · 12th October 2009

13x13x16. 16' would be where the extended area, that comes out an extra 3x4 feet.

prslespaul · 12th October 2009

The also noticed that when i stand back in the extended rear part. I would like it to sound like that everywhere. In my old studio thats how my whole room sounded, it is quite amazing how much a room can drastically kill sound.

Glenn Kuras · 13th October 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by prslespaul

The also noticed that when i stand back in the extended rear part. I would like it to sound like that everywhere. In my old studio thats how my whole room sounded, it is quite amazing how much a room can drastically kill sound.

It is going to be hard to get every part of the room sound the same(if not impossible), but the more you treat the closer you can get.

prslespaul · 13th October 2009

What parts do you recommend treating? And should i use Bass traps or diffusion or what? I am not even close to know where to begin.

Glenn Kuras · 13th October 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by prslespaul

What parts do you recommend treating? And should i use Bass traps or diffusion or what? I am not even close to know where to begin.

Corners, back wall and ceiling. I would focus on the mix spot and get that as good as possible.

prslespaul · 19th October 2009

I put 6 more traps in and put them between the ceiling and wall, all around the room and it helped so much. I always thought there was some special science to getting a flat response, but like ive read just throw them in corners and its that easy. Thanks for the help guys!

Glenn Kuras · 19th October 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by prslespaul

I put 6 more traps in and put them between the ceiling and wall, all around the room and it helped so much. I always thought there was some special science to getting a flat response, but like ive read just throw them in corners and its that easy. Thanks for the help guys!

I must admit that sometimes people over thing this stuff, but there are key area you want to be aware of and how it might influence the acoustics. Glad to hear you had success!!!!!!!!thumbsup

8th April 2009	#1
prslespaul Gear maniac Joined: Oct 2008 Location: St. Louis Posts: 189 Thread Starter	Huge bass problem! Please help! I just moved my studio from STL to Nashville Area. The room I was in previously was maintained well under control. The new room i have now is a mess. In my case, i have no bass at all. Literally from 125hz and below i get almost nothing. The monitors i use have pretty huge bottom end to them. My only suggestion is that im having horrible phase issues. I made a diaphragm to kind of show you what i have going on as of now. The Bass Traps are about 4 inches thick and are 30"x48". By themselves they haven't did anything at all really. My next plan is to put foam on the walls (lets say 36"x36") to the left and right side of me to reduce phase issues getting to me from the walls. My next idea was to build a diffuser and put it along the backside of the wall. My problem there is the awkward shape of the room. And still keeping access to my closet door on the black left. Any Ideas for that? After that if i still have no bass, I was thinking of buying a bass trap (6'x2.5') and putting it against the wall/ceiling right in front of me and behind the desk. Let me know if you guys have any ideas? Help is very much appreciated. Attached Thumbnails

8th April 2009	#3
Ethan Winer Gear Guru Joined: Oct 2002 Location: New Milford, CT, USA Posts: 12,333	Yes, dimensions will help, and Yes, being near the center front to back is a problem. However, having a stepped rear wall like that is a Good Thing for bass. The main problem I see is you have nowhere near enough corner bass traps. Assuming the drawing is reasonably to scale, you need at least a dozen corner traps for a room that small, and even 20 is not too many. --Ethan __________________ Ethan's audio book is now available!

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8th April 2009	#2
Smithcok Lives for gear Joined: Oct 2007 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 1,112	Can you post some dimensions? (including ceilings) From your drawing, the mix position looks awfully close to the dead center of the room. That's typically a really bad place to sit. Also, with the back wall so divided with different lengths, there is a possibility that is causing some general funkiness, not just limited to the bass frequencies. Also, assuming that room is typical construction, that's likely not close to enough bass trapping to really tackle modal issues.

12th October 2009	#4
prslespaul Gear maniac Joined: Oct 2008 Location: St. Louis Posts: 189 Thread Starter	13x13x16. 16' would be where the extended area, that comes out an extra 3x4 feet.

13th October 2009	#7
prslespaul Gear maniac Joined: Oct 2008 Location: St. Louis Posts: 189 Thread Starter	What parts do you recommend treating? And should i use Bass traps or diffusion or what? I am not even close to know where to begin.

19th October 2009	#9
prslespaul Gear maniac Joined: Oct 2008 Location: St. Louis Posts: 189 Thread Starter	I put 6 more traps in and put them between the ceiling and wall, all around the room and it helped so much. I always thought there was some special science to getting a flat response, but like ive read just throw them in corners and its that easy. Thanks for the help guys!