Bruce gets a letter from Martin Kantola about the "Attack Wall"...

Bruce Swedien · 8th September 2006

My Gearslutz all....

Here is a letter I just recieved from my old pal Martin Kantola. As you may recall I asked him to talk about listening and mixing in my control room with my "Attack Wall".

Bruce,

I'd be more than happy to share some thoughts on my Attack Wall Experience.

My first impression and something I always listen for is the (phantom) center mono image between the speakers. Tells me a lot about the accuracy of the system, both spectral and temporal... (sorry if I'm inventing new words here...)

There's no doubt that the Attack Wall played a major role.

In your studio, the center image was razor sharp and very stable. Incredible, considering that there's a whole console and other gear around. I have never heard such accuracy in a studio before. For the first time, the huge importance of careful panning in a mix became obvious to me!

As for stereo images (real and surreal), I think I even said something like "what's the idea with 5.1, I'm already surrounded in 360 degrees!)

It was honestly also the first time I instantly felt right at home with the frequency balance. Apart from being able to trust the overall frequency spectrum (so that the mixes never give you nasty surprises when played on other systems) I felt it also enabled a very creative and accurate use of EQ. Moving sideways from the center mixing position (to another channel or so) didn't alter the sound as much as it usually does (which can be a very frustrating thing).

The amount of applied reverbs and delays can be difficult to judge if there's smearing from the room reflections. With the Attack Wall the results were never too dry or wet, just right. This is important, since too much absorbtion would create a very misleading and unnatural soundfield.

Most importantly, listening to the Music was always a joy in that environment, and ear fatigue was never around the corner. I've later listened to the mixes even in some very high-end systems and they always sound just right!

Martin

Folks... Isn't that great??

Bruce Swedien

Naren · 8th September 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Swedien

My Gearslutz all...

Folks... Isn't that great??

Bruce Swedien

Hi, Bruce, great to see you here. I bought about 18 of those ASC traps (plus monitor stands) more than a decade ago. Your endorsement in the product literature aced my decision. I love using them - what a difference the "attack wall" makes. Obviously, I also use them for recording to eliminate my sometimes less than stellar recording spaces or to create an enhanced space.

Often I will surround a vocalist with these traps. I seem to remember that you do something similar. I'm curious: do you face the reflective sides towards the vocalist or just use the absorptive side? If the former, do you record with an omni pattern in order to maximize the early reflection effects?

Thanks for your contribution to this site. I'm a big Duke Ellington fan, and keep meaning to put in an appearance in that thread, and soon will. Regards.

-Naren

dasoundjunkie · 11th September 2006

Most importantly, listening to the Music was always a joy in that environment, and ear fatigue was never around the corner. I've later listened to the mixes even in some very high-end systems and they always sound just right!

Martin

Folks... Isn't that great??

Bruce Swedien

For a long time I was looking at doing the attack wall in my studio but it was financially undo-able . I'm hoping to do it when I make my new control room, I've never heard anything but praise for this system, aaaah someday
*sigh*
Leo alvarez
Sound Junkie Recording
I'm out

8th September 2006	#1
Bruce Swedien Viking Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 418 Thread Starter	Bruce gets a letter from Martin Kantola about the "Attack Wall"... My Gearslutz all.... Here is a letter I just recieved from my old pal Martin Kantola. As you may recall I asked him to talk about listening and mixing in my control room with my "Attack Wall". Bruce, I'd be more than happy to share some thoughts on my Attack Wall Experience. My first impression and something I always listen for is the (phantom) center mono image between the speakers. Tells me a lot about the accuracy of the system, both spectral and temporal... (sorry if I'm inventing new words here...) There's no doubt that the Attack Wall played a major role. In your studio, the center image was razor sharp and very stable. Incredible, considering that there's a whole console and other gear around. I have never heard such accuracy in a studio before. For the first time, the huge importance of careful panning in a mix became obvious to me! As for stereo images (real and surreal), I think I even said something like "what's the idea with 5.1, I'm already surrounded in 360 degrees!) It was honestly also the first time I instantly felt right at home with the frequency balance. Apart from being able to trust the overall frequency spectrum (so that the mixes never give you nasty surprises when played on other systems) I felt it also enabled a very creative and accurate use of EQ. Moving sideways from the center mixing position (to another channel or so) didn't alter the sound as much as it usually does (which can be a very frustrating thing). The amount of applied reverbs and delays can be difficult to judge if there's smearing from the room reflections. With the Attack Wall the results were never too dry or wet, just right. This is important, since too much absorbtion would create a very misleading and unnatural soundfield. Most importantly, listening to the Music was always a joy in that environment, and ear fatigue was never around the corner. I've later listened to the mixes even in some very high-end systems and they always sound just right! Martin Folks... Isn't that great?? Bruce Swedien

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11th September 2006	#3
dasoundjunkie Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2006 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 1,260	Most importantly, listening to the Music was always a joy in that environment, and ear fatigue was never around the corner. I've later listened to the mixes even in some very high-end systems and they always sound just right! Martin Folks... Isn't that great?? Bruce Swedien For a long time I was looking at doing the attack wall in my studio but it was financially undo-able . I'm hoping to do it when I make my new control room, I've never heard anything but praise for this system, aaaah someday sigh Leo alvarez Sound Junkie Recording I'm out