How small can a Mix room go?

[Monobasser]

How small can a mix room go?

I know that the proportional dimensions are as much of a factor as overall size.. but I'm looking to buy a new house in the next year and I'll be looking out for very small rooms which I can use for a mix studio. (think UK small here.. broom closets )

I have a pair of PMC TB2-As which are hardly suited to a small room.. but that won't be changing.

[Monobasser]

Sorry I put this in the wrong forum, if someone could move it to the studio construction forum that would be appreciated.

[Weasel9992]

Until it does, here's the answer:

The smaller a room is, the more control is required in terms of absorption. At a certain point the room becomes so small that in order to make it useful you have to fill it so full of treatment that you can't move around...making it useless.

Practically speaking I'd say the smallest room size that you could make work would be 8'x10x8'...and that'll take a heck of a lot of work. Anything smaller than that just isn't all that workable.

Frank

[Monobasser]

For the sake of argument, if the space was more like 8'x7'x8'.. what would be the major compromises ?

(I mean assuming that a big enough space to move around in is taken as priority over the sound)

[Weasel9992]

Originally Posted by Monobasser

For the sake of argument, if the space was more like 8'x7'x8'.. what would be the major compromises ?

(I mean assuming that a big enough space to move around in is taken as priority over the sound)

The HUGE compromise is that it's very nearly a cube...very, very bad acoustically because the modes along all three axis will reinforce one another. Is it *impossible* to work in? No...nothing's *impossible*, but it'll never be easy. You'll always have to check your work extensively on outside systems. As long as you're willing to go into it with realistic expectations, then go for it.

Frank

[Tomer1]

If taking into consideration that you want to treat the room properly,then the minimum size should be according to the space needed for extenssive treatment.

I say get a place with enough ceiling space for 40 cm absorption and overall length-width ratio to pack some serious thickness in the corners.

[aussie_techie]

Work out the ratios given a standard ceiling height, if there is a standard ceiling height anyway

If you had a 2.4m ceiling

with a ratio of
1:1.28:1.54
you would be looking at a room 3.07m by 3.7m

Ratio of
1:1.14:1.39
room 2.74 by 3.34

I know its not broom closest small but thats where i would start.

[Monobasser]

Thanks all it's very useful info.

Frankly it'll be a lottery what room I get, I think anyone who knows the UK housing market will understand