13 ft ceiling

[TML]

What do you guys think of a liveroom with a 13 ft. ceiling. I have as much space as I need....20x30... 30x40 what would you suggest I do for size versus height. Will I need to trap the ceiling with panels? I know there are golden ratios out there....I'm gathering data on setting up rooms... have all the "good books". Considering a designer.....but contemplating a do-it yourself deal.......any input appreciated...
Tim

[Whitehouse]

Hey there....if its any consolation, I have 13' ceilings in my main room. The dimensions of the room are approx. 25'w x 27'l x 13'h. I have had extremely great luck in this room. Its woody sounding and great for certain types of drums. Not All! Any way, I would strongly advise a reflective floor with a treated ceiling. It's amazing how the drums open up when there's no rug (Garbage) or carpet under the kit!

I did the whole studio on my own after reading all the books like your doing. If money is not an object, then definately get the designer...a good one! If money is tight, I think doing it yourself can get some very good results. Other than a decent hump around 400 Hz in my room, I wouldn't change anything about it. Regards.

M

[Scott R. Foster]

Play around with this calculator - read the notes

http://www.bobgolds.com/Mode/RoomModes.htm

be sure to explore this link at the bottom

http://www.bobgolds.com/Mode/RoomMod...References.htm

Here are some other thoughts:

http://www.acoustics.salford.ac.uk/a...om_sizing3.htm

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/reports/1993-08.pdf

http://www.rpginc.com/cgi-bin/bytese.../roomsizer.pdf

Bigger is usually better - make it big, then trim only as needed to get good ratios.

Like Wihtehouse sez, for a tracking room reflective surfaces counterpoised with boradband absorption as needed to adjust the reverb field strngth is generally most pleasing to the ear.

Once you have a preliminary plan you might want to post it here for some feedback:

http://forum.studiotips.com

Good Luck!

[djui5]

13' sounds like heaven to me

[Ethan Winer]

Tim,

> what would you suggest I do for size versus height. <

See this page on my company's site:

www.realtraps.com/modecalc.htm

Besides the detailed explanations, there's a Windows program you can download, which lets you experiment with various dimensions to see how the modes are distributed. Your main goal is to distribute the room resonances evenly, though having a larger room is useful generally, and that reduces the importance of having "good" mode spacing. In a shell that large you're already starting off a lot better than most folks.

I also feel compelled to point out that there's a huge amount of misinformation and outright bad advice about room modes all over the 'net. So be wary of what you read from so-called "experts" in forum posts. Other than my expert forum posts, of course!

> Will I need to trap the ceiling with panels? <

At 13 feet high the problem of early reflections and comb filtering are not as severe as with a lower ceiling. But you'll still need a fair amount of absorption up there for a few reasons:

1. Overhead microphones above a drum set will still be close enough to the ceiling that reflections are considered "early" and thus damaging.

2. With a reflective floor, which you probably should use, you need absorption on the ceiling to avoid flutter echo.

3. The ceiling is a good place for general broadband absorption because it's up and out of the way, and careless/drunk band members and their roadies won't bang into it.

--Ethan

[thenoiseflower]

main live room here is 13' x 20' x 30' ,we love it! sounds like music

our other room 13' going to 15' x 45' x 60', that sounds wonderful too.


I had 17 foor ceilings in another spot, and 9 foot in another (a home)

these rooms sound better, I think 13 is a good height.

BUT.....

ethan knows much more than I... :)