drum room treatment question

[jrubbernek]

Hey guys, I have a drum room with the dimension = 3.10meters(w) x 4.80meters(l) x 3meters(h)

I use this room to record all my acoustic instrument, and amps, and vocals
I've already put 4" bass traps on all 4 sidewall corners..

I have 4 prime 7 QRD diffusers I have made my self ready to be installed about 1.20meter x 0.60meters in dimension, I have a hard concrete floor, a slanted ceiling, a poly deflector on one side of the wall hollow on the inside ( so guess it also acts as somekind of bass trap), two glass windows.
Just don't know how to treat the rest of the area and such without making the room sounding too dead.

Any advice anyone? Thanks

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by jrubbernek

Just don't know how to treat the rest of the area and such without making the room sounding too dead.

A room that small cannot be made live sounding and also good sounding unless it is literally lined with diffusors. It's just too small. So make it dead, then add reverb etc when mixing. Problem solved. Or build 20 more diffusors.

--Ethan

[Glenn Kuras]

I agree with Ethan, but I am sure you could mix it up with both diffusion and absorption. If you don't want to over absorb the high end then use FRK on the front of the bass traps that would go into the corners.

Glenn

[jrubbernek]

Originally Posted by Glenn Kuras

I agree with Ethan, but I am sure you could mix it up with both diffusion and absorption. If you don't want to over absorb the high end then use FRK on the front of the bass traps that would go into the corners.

Glenn

No, I would like to have an option of abit of liveness in the room. But where else should I be placing these broadband/bass traps? I've already put traps on the sidewall corners.

Any advice?

[jrubbernek]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

A room that small cannot be made live sounding and also good sounding unless it is literally lined with diffusors. It's just too small. So make it dead, then add reverb etc when mixing. Problem solved. Or build 20 more diffusors.

--Ethan

Hey ethan, I watched your video titled "the ultimate home studio", I noticed that you placed many diffuser on one side of the room I'm really heading towards that idea. so far I have treated my sidewall corners with 4" stradling corner bass traps made of rock wool, but I covered the whole corner from floor to ceiling.
Also thinking about adding alot of broadband bass trapping on my ceiling...
But when I do make these diffusors, where would I place them?

Thanks alot for your replies..

ps. your videos are awesome. very helpful info for me.

[Ethan Winer]

Thanks, I'm glad you find my videos useful. As for diffusor placement, in a small drum room you could put them anywhere and everywhere. My partner Doug has had diffusors in his drum "corner" for a few months now, and he loves them there even though they are very close to the drums and drummer.

My best advice is to make 4 to 10 diffusors to start, and try them around the drum set. You'll probably agree that they make the room sound larger and more lifelike no matter where they are.

--Ethan

[jrubbernek]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

Thanks, I'm glad you find my videos useful. As for diffusor placement, in a small drum room you could put them anywhere and everywhere. My partner Doug has had diffusors in his drum "corner" for a few months now, and he loves them there even though they are very close to the drums and drummer.

My best advice is to make 4 to 10 diffusors to start, and try them around the drum set. You'll probably agree that they make the room sound larger and more lifelike no matter where they are.

--Ethan

sweet!! I have 4 diffusors right now...as for the placement of diffusors, how high should they be? Would I put them right behind where the drummer is sitting? or the sides?

[Ethan Winer]

For listening rooms I suggest putting diffusors at ear height. By the same logic you'd center them vertically at the drums and cymbals and microphones. So maybe from a height of two to six feet, assuming four foot tall diffusors.

--Ethan

[jrubbernek]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

For listening rooms I suggest putting diffusors at ear height. By the same logic you'd center them vertically at the drums and cymbals and microphones. So maybe from a height of two to six feet, assuming four foot tall diffusors.

--Ethan

OK I get the picture now, oh yeah is it OK to put some kind of absorption next to a diffuser, or a bass trap next to a diffuser?

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by jrubbernek

OK I get the picture now, oh yeah is it OK to put some kind of absorption next to a diffuser, or a bass trap next to a diffuser?

Oh yes people do that all the time. One piece of advice. Depending on the depth of the diffusor a good rule of thumb is to be 1' away from the diffusor for ever inch of depth. So if the diffusor is say 6" in depth you really need to be 6' from it to get is full impact. This is only a rule of thumb and rules though are made to be broken.