room size vs. unparallel walls

[rogernumber2]

for a tracking room just for vox: given the option of losing area to build an angled wall would you take it in an already small room(9'x11')?

[spm_gl]

I guess it depends, what you want to achieve by angling the wall. It won't help the bass at all, and the room is too small to actually reflect the sound to anywhere sensible, so you're probably better off saving the space.

[rogernumber2]

as I understand: angling a wall would prevent the same reflection bouncing back and forth in the same spot repeatedly. I do have acoustic panels but some sound get's through and reflects regardless, correct?

i prob should have posted this in the adjacent forum

[spm_gl]

Yes, so-called flutter echoes, but considering the amount of panels/traps/resonators you need to get such a small space reasonably linear, there won't be much untreated wall left for the sound to bounce back and forth between. With some clever spacing of panels, you should be able to eliminate just about all echoes. And if you're mainly tracking vocals, you know where in the room the sound originates.

[Josh Rose]

Build it with parallel walls, and then if you need to fix one of the dimensions, you can do so very easily with some acoustic foam, or even a piece of particle board. That will give you flexibility and not commit you to one thing or another.

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by rogernumber2

given the option of losing area to build an angled wall would you take it in an already small room(9'x11')?

No, leave the walls parallel. The loss of space is worse than parallel walls which are easily treated.

--Ethan

[Glenn Kuras]

I agree with Ethan. Keep it as large as possible and use absorption for the early reflection points.

[rogernumber2]

ok thanks

[Bflat]

Since this is related, what if you will be setting monitors/daw in an attic where the walls on one side bend in (because of the roof.) Is it better to setup my monitors closer to that angled wall or the flat wall opposite? After the room is acoustically treated, will it matter?

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by Bflat

Since this is related, what if you will be setting monitors/daw in an attic where the walls on one side bend in (because of the roof.) Is it better to setup my monitors closer to that angled wall or the flat wall opposite? After the room is acoustically treated, will it matter?

You want to fire the monitors down the longest wall. I am assuming the flat wall is the shortest wall so face that one.

[JB872]

Hi Glenn

A related question to the one above. How would you go about treating an A shaped attic if you wanted to use it for tracking drums?

thx
Jason

[audiothings]

Jason,

i am not glenn, so please forgive me for butting in.

firstly, i'd suggest... move your drums around the room and listen from different positions... if you find magic happening at a certain combination of where the instrument is placed and where your ears are, you are already doing well. put your primary mics where your ears are. sometimes the anomalies of a room work in favour of your situation.

if you are running a commercial studio with different things to record every session, i'd suggest that you (start a new topic, and) give us more details on the dimensions, angles and materials of the walls in your room.
.02,

[JB872]

Originally Posted by audiothings

Jason,

i am not glenn, so please forgive me for butting in.

firstly, i'd suggest... move your drums around the room and listen from different positions... if you find magic happening at a certain combination of where the instrument is placed and where your ears are, you are already doing well. put your primary mics where your ears are. sometimes the anomalies of a room work in favour of your situation.

if you are running a commercial studio with different things to record every session, i'd suggest that you (start a new topic, and) give us more details on the dimensions, angles and materials of the walls in your room.
.02,

I haven't built it yet! I'm considering using my attic for recording and was wondering how one would go about treating an "A" shape so it's useable for tracking.

[Glenn Kuras]

As said you would need to move around to see, but I would start by setting them up in the back 1/3 of the room and treat the wall behind the drums and the peak above. You may find that treating some of the curved wall areas is necessary also. For the bass traps I would just put them along the floor, straddling the floor the wall corner.

[JB872]

Originally Posted by Glenn Kuras

As said you would need to move around to see, but I would start by setting them up in the back 1/3 of the room and treat the wall behind the drums and the peak above. You may find that treating some of the curved wall areas is necessary also. For the bass traps I would just put them along the floor, straddling the floor the wall corner.

thx Glenn!

[Bflat]

Originally Posted by Glenn Kuras

You want to fire the monitors down the longest wall. I am assuming the flat wall is the shortest wall so face that one.

Does that mean the monitors should project toward the angled wall and I should face the flat wall? Many thanks!

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by JB872

wondering how one would go about treating an "A" shape so it's useable for tracking.

You should also hang traps under the peak to avoid the inevitable focusing, as shown below.

--Ethan

[JB872]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

You should also hang traps under the peak to avoid the inevitable focusing, as shown below.

--Ethan

Should I only be concerned about the peaks? What about the reflections coming off the rest of the "A" ceiling?

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

You should also hang traps under the peak to avoid the inevitable focusing, as shown below.

--Ethan

Glenn Wrote:

As said you would need to move around to see, but I would start by setting them up in the back 1/3 of the room and treat the wall behind the drums and the peak above. You may find that treating some of the curved wall areas is necessary also. For the bass traps I would just put them along the floor, straddling the floor the wall corner.

Should I only be concerned about the peaks? What about the reflections coming off the rest of the "A" ceiling?

See above.

[JB872]

Originally Posted by Glenn Kuras

Glenn Wrote:







See above.

Ah. I missed the part about covering some of the ceiling. I imagine treatment above the drum foot print would be best.

[Glenn Kuras]

Well that would be the main part but covering the length of the peak will provide bass trapping.