Help with treating tracking room!

[jacksonburn]

I've attached a Sketchup picture that show the dimensions of the room in my house that we will use for tracking. Here are some specifics:

• The entrance door is on the angle wall
• There are narrow french doors with windows on the back wall that lead to my bedroom
• The right wall door is a closet door. It is spaced roughly 3" from the back wall
• The left wall has a window
• The room has wood floors and plaster walls with semi-gloss paint
• There is a ceiling fan in the center of the room that hangs down roughly 12"

I currently have 36 - 8' x 4' x 1" panels of OC703. I have tons of Ponte fabric from Hancock fabrics. I also have a control room that I will start another thread about that I will need to use some on. I can always get more and I can get the Knauf equivalent of 703 with FSK on it if it would be useful.

I already have 2 - 2' x 4' x 4" thick 703 panels in each of the wall to wall corners on the left wall (the one with the window) and 2 - 2 x 4 x 4" thick 703 panels running side by side above the drum kit. They are spaced about 6" apart and run long ways from the left wall to the right wall. All of this can be moved/rearranged as necessary.

My questions for you experienced guys are:

• What insulation (OC703 vs Knauf FSK) do I use in what areas of the room (or do I even need to get the FSK stuff for a room this small?)?
• Do I need to frame the traps or can I simply make pillow style cases out of the Ponte?
• What thickness of traps should I use where?
• If frames are needed, should there be an air between the insulation and the back of the frame? Also, should holes be drilled in the frame sides to allow for better absorption?
• Do you have a suggestion for placement of instruments? Right now drums are where they are said to be above? Guitar amps are lined up along the wall behind the drums on the window wall.

If you have any additional questions or want additional pics, let me know. Thanks for all the great knowledge! - Matt

[jwl]

For tracking rooms, you still want bass traps (make them with FRK facing if possible) in the corners.

You also want absorption on the ceiling, particularly above any key recording areas (I'd do the entire ceiling if it was my room).

I also like to use movable panels in tracking rooms, both to reduce bleed while tracking bands, and also to adjust room acoustics.

If you have the budget for it, diffusion on the walls can really help a tracking room.

Many of your questions have been answered in your other control room thread.

[jacksonburn]

Thanks again, jwl!

Again, I assumed FRK would make for a nightmare in such a small room.

Much like the control room, would a movable corner bass trap(s) for the corner with the closet door work since the door prohibits permanent installation of traps there?

Would diffusion be useful for a room this size? If so, what type would you go with and where? I looked at the Real Traps Diffusor, but it looks like 1 is more than I paid for all 1152 sq ft of 1" 703!

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by jacksonburn

Thanks again, jwl!

Again, I assumed FRK would make for a nightmare in such a small room.

No FRK is fine in a small room.

Much like the control room, would a movable corner bass trap(s) for the corner with the closet door work since the door prohibits permanent installation of traps there?

Sure any corner you can hit is good.

Would diffusion be useful for a room this size? If so, what type would you go with and where? I looked at the Real Traps Diffusor, but it looks like 1 is more than I paid for all 1152 sq ft of 1" 703!

Diffusion is always welcome in a live room. The smaller the room gets though the more absorption is needed. I think for your room I would start with absorption and add diffusion as icing on the cake.

[jacksonburn]

Thanks Glenn!

On your D1 Diffusor, it says a space is available in the rear for insertion of rigid fiberglass. Does this mean that the diffusor (or 2 based of the dimensions) could fit over an existing 2' x 4' broadband panel? Or would you recommend the Elite Poly Diffusor instead?

[jwl]

Originally Posted by jacksonburn

Thanks again, jwl!

Again, I assumed FRK would make for a nightmare in such a small room.

Much like the control room, would a movable corner bass trap(s) for the corner with the closet door work since the door prohibits permanent installation of traps there?

Would diffusion be useful for a room this size? If so, what type would you go with and where? I looked at the Real Traps Diffusor, but it looks like 1 is more than I paid for all 1152 sq ft of 1" 703!

No problem, glad to be of help.

FRK will have 2 effects: it will increase the bass absorption, and it will restore some high frequency reflectivity, so your room isn't overdamped/too dead.

Movable traps in a door corner is a good idea. Alternatively, you can attach panels directly to the door and/or the wall adjacent to the door, preferably spaced out from the wall/door a few inches.

Diffusion would definitely be useful in a room that size, if you have the budget for it. Unfortunately our diffusors are by far our most expensive panels, because they are very labor intensive to build.

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by jacksonburn

Thanks Glenn!

On your D1 Diffusor, it says a space is available in the rear for insertion of rigid fiberglass. Does this mean that the diffusor (or 2 based of the dimensions) could fit over an existing 2' x 4' broadband panel? Or would you recommend the Elite Poly Diffusor instead?

The D1 has space in the back to put fiberglass if you would like, but the Poly is build with the fiberglass in it already. Honestly there A LOT more space in the poly so if you want a mix of absorption/diffusion then look at the poly.

[jacksonburn]

Thanks guys! Where would you recommend putting diffusors in the tracking room?

Would diffusors also be useful in the control room? If so, where?

[jwl]

In the tracking room, I recommend them on pretty much as many walls as you can manage.

In the control room, generally I like them on the rear wall only.

If it's a one room design, or a really long control room, you can put them on the side walls at the rear of the room.

Don't use diffusors at reflection points, though. Especially in a small room.

Also, don't use diffusors on the ceiling, unless you have really tall ceilings.

[Glenn Kuras]

I agree with JWL, but I really like to use it also on the back side walls (talking control rooms) and ceiling. It seems to really open up the room sound in a NICE way.

Glenn