Seeking advice regarding my small tracking room

[Bix]

So I am pretty sure, my situation is not the healthiest alternative, but at the risk of being told off, here's my situation. I have a 10' x 10' room with a 8' ceiling and concrete floor, in my basement. The room has not been finished and is all exposed studs and joists. I placed r-19 fiberglass insulation in every joist and stud cavity around the room at approx 6" deep. The room sounds very dead, i'm sure there is bass reflections given the density of the r-19, but i don't know how to measure this. I use this room to record vocals and acoustic guitar, all other instruments are recorded direct or via VSTi's... So how bad of a situation is this? Am I really losing quality or is this merely a health issue? or is this perfect? I know it can't be, so please let me hear your thoughts and recommendations.

Thanks
Mike

[Glenn Kuras]

First off there is no health issue with fiberglass. Do a search here on GS and you will see. As far as the room itself, how does it sound? Are you still getting room sound in your recordings? The problem with a room that size is that "bowing" sound you get and the only way to solve it is to make it as dead as possible.

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by Bix

i'm sure there is bass reflections given the density of the r-19, but i don't know how to measure this.

Yes, six inches of fluffy fiberglass in the ceiling only is not sufficient for a small square room. Depending on what else you plan to record, you'll benefit from adding a few corner bass traps. As for measuring, it's not terribly difficult and it doesn't have to be expensive:

ETF, Windows, $150
FuzzMeasure, Mac, $150
Room EQ Wizard, Windows and Linux, Freeware
This article explains how I use ETF, but the principles apply to all such programs.
Comparison of Ten Measuring Microphones

--Ethan

[Bix]

Ethan

Thanks for the feedback, however, i wanted to point out that notj ust the ceiling has fiberglass insulation, but all of the walls are treated with r-19 as well. I will check into the links you offered.

Thanks
Mike

[Bix]

Glenn

Thanks for the heads up on the health front. How does it sound... I think it sounds pretty decent. I can link to a recording i've done, but perhaps I don't have a good frame of reference for a 'good' room. However, I don't know what you mean by 'bowing', could you define this more clearly?

Thanks again.
Mike

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by Bix

Glenn

Thanks for the heads up on the health front. How does it sound... I think it sounds pretty decent. I can link to a recording i've done, but perhaps I don't have a good frame of reference for a 'good' room. However, I don't know what you mean by 'bowing', could you define this more clearly?

Thanks again.
Mike

bowing is a low/mid sound that you get in a small room. It is just a sound and don't know how to explain it any better. If the room is sounding good then maybe you are good to go.

[Ethan Winer]

The word is b o i n g except if you spell it without the spaces you get this:

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

The word is b o i n g except if you spell it without the spaces you get this:

lol.. thats why I keep having to spell it that way!!!!!!!!!!!! lol lol lol

[Ethan Winer]

How about boyng?

[Bix]

Pretty funny! I don't hear the , or bowing, or boyng! So either i don't what i'm listening for, or I'm not getting the issue.

Anyway, it does sound pretty good... I might add some more r-19, especially since there doesn't seem to be any health concerns in the corners to make sure I'm treating them the way the should be.

Thanks again for the input guys.

Mike