Evaluate current state of room and treat as best I can

[Melgueil]

Construction finished. It is what it is. Like most home studios, I took what real estate I could (in this case converted some garage space). The good news is from an isolation standpoint I did a better than expected job. Unless we're way down in the deep bass / sub bass category - sound doesn;t get through. Neighborhood dogs, wife watching TV at loud volume, kids screaming, washing machine next door - all ok - very vry faint if I hear them at all. Nearly silent. Life is good - or is it ? So far, so good. Next ...

I now need do make some decisions:
1) Analyze the room for frequency distributuion and room nodes. I believe there is software ( I am on Mac platform), that will allow me to see how my room is responding. I don't mean simulation - I mean taking a measuement of my actual room. If someone can point me in the right direction, grateful.
2) Room is 3.2m x 3.0m x 2.4m(H) -not ideal. It's a control that doubles for some tracking (voice, flute, acoustic guitar, sax etc).
3) It has a bit of an odd shape (the doorway protrudes in a bit - will need to show photos or draw that out.
4) Furniture. here is an 88 key electric keyboard controller in there, two desks.

Q: How far can I theoretically take this, given the room dimensions if I spend the time and money resources - or is it a lost cause ?
Q: In terms of Bass traps - the room is not that big to begin with. Can I get away with smaller traps (even the dreaded Aurelex faux bass traps). Space is tight.
Q: Should I just try and go all the way for a for a "dead" or null room - treat the whole thing ? Apply feeling of space with reverb ...?

I don't want to throw money away, but I will spend a reasonable amount to get to a decent place - as long as it is feasible.

Any expert advice welcome before I take the plunge ......
cdlt

[Ethan Winer]

For room measuring, here's my standard list of links:

Room EQ Wizard, Windows and Linux and Mac OSX 10.4+, Freeware
ETF, Windows, $150
FuzzMeasure, Mac, $150
Using ETF explains how I use ETF, but the principles apply to all such programs.
Comparison of Ten Measuring Microphones

Bass traps need to be large and thick. Period. But you can be creative and put traps in the wall-ceiling and wall-floor corners too. In a small room like that you should aim for totally dead. For mixing that lets you hear more clearly, and for recording you'll add reverb later when mixing.

--Ethan

________________
The Acoustic Treatment Experts

[Melgueil]

Ethan, thank you for the quick response. So you would vote for trying to attain a "dead" room. That was one option (perhaps the only one).

As for traps, in such a small room it sounds like you are suggesting 3 per corner (wall/wall, wall1/ceiling, wall2/ceiling) ? - all intersections, in all corners ?

I am fortunate in that perhaps 50% of what I do is DI. Mixing with headphones is good as a checkpoint but i's never been my experience that it is in any way a substitute for a tuned/treated room and good pair of monitors.

Would be intersted in hearing from some other folks who may have found themsleves in a similar situation. I think I've got some homework to do as I am unwilling to compromise after investing in quality equipment, it's value will be diminished if I do not get this part right.

cdlt

[Melgueil]

Follow up thought.....What is the consensus (if here is one) on the effectivness of gobos, portable folding walls etc ? I have heard these "may" work on vocals if the singer is more or less surrounded on three sides and the microphoone itself is placed inside (within) the enclosure.

Vocals ?
Acoustic Guitar ?
Flute ?

Does this make any sense ?
thanks in advance
Cdlt

[Glenn Kuras]

Yep.. Something like this.

[Melgueil]

Thanks Glen,
If you have what is essentiually a room that will never work, are these "gobos" large enough to wrap up an acoustic guitar performance. Or, would there be some leakage and the isolation or "protection" as it were be less than complete ?.

I get that for voice the raw area of projection can be contained. Acoutsic guitar seems like it would disperse a bit more - thus my concern around incomplete coverage. What are your thoughts on this ? How large woudl this have to be in order to be effective ?

If I were to determine that real mixing will just be too challenging in the 3 x 3 meter room I have, I might just not mix there or simply use as a secondary check via headphones while mixing elsewhere. I would still want to track there. Can I get away with that in your estimation ?
Cdlt

[Weasel9992]

Originally Posted by Melgueil

How large woudl this have to be in order to be effective ?

I think a couple of panels just like Glenn showed in the picture above would work really well for acoustic guitar. That should bring the room sound pretty well under control I would think.

[Melgueil]

Thanks Frank, I will be putting in some traps, foam, etc, but this room like so many will have shelves a window and so forth. It is also small. So I will treat it as best I can, but if I could just make it "go away", that would be ideal.
cdlt