Treating a Square room. Acoustics help.

[Realziment]

Was going to title this "treating a room for hip hop" but i figured some wouldnt even open it haha, just playing. I just moved and i now have an extra room for a studio. thank god!

The room is pretty much square, its small. When you walk in theres a window straight ahead i was planning puttin my monitors up the way facing away from the window. Theres another door to the right leading to the bathroom and then theres and sliding glass closet im going to use as the booth.

Any advice for treating and placement of acoustic tiles etc. Im really a no brainer in that area, the room has hardwood flooring and right now its pretty reflective.

All help, info an tips appreciated also for the closet/booth. And if there are some rules of thumb such as no picture with glass frames etc? I want to put pictures up but im thinking its a bad thing?? And i have put some boxes (software, hard drives etc) on top of the closet im going to use for booth will the do any harm in there? LOL

Sorry but i really have no expierence with acoustics, when i treated my studio back home i literally just put acoustic tiles everywhere behind where the speakers faced, above the speakers and then on the wall by where the mic was..

Thanks guys!

[Biggsheff]

RealTraps - Home Google is your friend. Read until your tired of reading, then read more.

[Realziment]

thanks.

[BacSpin]

I have 12 of the Ready Traps. I did the DIY bags...

[Realziment]

Originally Posted by BacSpin

I have 12 of the Ready Traps. I did the DIY bags...

whats the deal with the prices it says 1-9 pieces of the mini for like 149 but then says each, so im unsure, anyone know?

[BacSpin]

idk. I just bought the bags. don't have a clue what a mini is.

[robstercraw]

Originally Posted by Realziment

whats the deal with the prices it says 1-9 pieces of the mini for like 149 but then says each, so im unsure, anyone know?

if you buy between 1 and 9 of them they are 149 each. if you buy more the price per piece goes down.

[wreckingstuff]

There are untold threads like this in the acoustics and studio build forum with some really useful information in them.

[phillysoulman]

Use the closet for hanging clothes....only.

[NaturalBlack]

How I built my bass traps...

shaman´s absorber build thread

Treating Studio Rooms - pictures added

if you want to save some cash you can DIY. I just got a new place as well going to order the stuff for my panels in a couple weeks and hope to finish the room by months end.

[ncoak]

i second not recording in the closet, that goes double if you're using condenser mics. i'd check in the acoustics section for detailed tips on square rooms, but you'll be wanting to cover your window and the glass door with something absorbant off the bat...moving blankets if you're broke.

[Realziment]

Originally Posted by robstercraw

if you buy between 1 and 9 of them they are 149 each. if you buy more the price per piece goes down.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by wreckingstuff

There are untold threads like this in the acoustics and studio build forum with some really useful information in them.

Sorry i completely forgot we even had one of those!

Originally Posted by phillysoulman

Use the closet for hanging clothes....only.

Why do you say this? I plan on treating it, like full acoustic tiles? Its like a walk in closet, if you know what i mean? It has to be better than out in the open right? but if im lucky i want be doing much tracking Lol!

Originally Posted by NaturalBlack

How I built my bass traps...

shaman´s absorber build thread

Treating Studio Rooms - pictures added

if you want to save some cash you can DIY. I just got a new place as well going to order the stuff for my panels in a couple weeks and hope to finish the room by months end.

Thank you! Please let me know how you get on and how your progressin and what your doing with yours etc, that would be cool!

Originally Posted by ncoak

i second not recording in the closet, that goes double if you're using condenser mics. i'd check in the acoustics section for detailed tips on square rooms, but you'll be wanting to cover your window and the glass door with something absorbant off the bat...moving blankets if you're broke.

Again, why do you not recommend the closet? Read my response to PSM. The speakers are not facing the window, but still cover it you say? It has blinds is this enough or should I get a curtain also. Thanks!

[ncoak]

in a square room, you'll be dealing with lots of waves cancelling each other out from bouncing off all the parallel surfaces. reflective surfaces like glass are especially bad for this, in addition to windows being a good source of noise from outside.

this same effect is magnified in a small room like a closet, especially with a sensitive mic like a condenser - the vocal recording won't have any air/space to it and will sound boxy, even with the walls completely deadened. if possible (accounting for noise from your computer/equipment) i'd treat the room as a whole (incl. ceiling) and record there. closet should be a last resort. of course if you're recording with a dynamic you'll be able to minimize the effect, in which case the closet may not be your worst option.

if the closet is big enough though (esp. height-wise), the pros of isolation might outweigh the cons of the treated main room.

[Realziment]

Thanks man, the closet is pretty big. I just dont understand how you mean it will sound boxy etc as opposed to a vocal booth. I understand the vocal booth is built with quality and correct materials buts absorbent and pretty much dead. Sorry just trying to understand it a little better.

Cheers

[NaturalBlack]

Originally Posted by Realziment

Thanks man, the closet is pretty big. I just dont understand how you mean it will sound boxy etc as opposed to a vocal booth. I understand the vocal booth is built with quality and correct materials buts absorbent and pretty much dead. Sorry just trying to understand it a little better.

Cheers

Even a big closet has a lot of early reflections. Just stand in the middle and clap your hands real loud. The room Im gonna treat is about 12x15 and with the clap test I get very nasty early reflections. sounds kind of like the digital noise they use in the transformer movies

[chris carter]

Who cares what the closet sounds like, it's not like you are going to get any kind of actual sound isolation in there. The walls aren't going to do much and they probably aren't even insulated. And "sliding glass door"? Fugetaboutit. You are stuck monitoring on headphones regardless, so might as well record in the open room where it will sound better.

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by Realziment

Thanks!



Sorry i completely forgot we even had one of those!



Why do you say this? I plan on treating it, like full acoustic tiles? Its like a walk in closet, if you know what i mean? It has to be better than out in the open right? but if im lucky i want be doing much tracking Lol!



Thank you! Please let me know how you get on and how your progressin and what your doing with yours etc, that would be cool!



Again, why do you not recommend the closet? Read my response to PSM. The speakers are not facing the window, but still cover it you say? It has blinds is this enough or should I get a curtain also. Thanks!

The closet is so ghetto its a shame.
PLEASE dont do it,bro,
Its a very bad idea and no matter what you do,it will sound like you are in a closet.
But hey,its YOUR world.

[Realziment]

Originally Posted by chris carter

Who cares what the closet sounds like, it's not like you are going to get any kind of actual sound isolation in there. The walls aren't going to do much and they probably aren't even insulated. And "sliding glass door"? Fugetaboutit. You are stuck monitoring on headphones regardless, so might as well record in the open room where it will sound better.

True, I will be stuck monitoring trough headphones. In all honesty I do not plan on doing much tracking. At least I don't want to. lol.

Originally Posted by phillysoulman

The closet is so ghetto its a shame.
PLEASE dont do it,bro,
Its a very bad idea and no matter what you do,it will sound like you are in a closet.
But hey,its YOUR world.

Yea i know its hella ghetto, but i was hoping you guys had some advice about maybe investing into turning it into an actual booth. I mean i really dont want to do a lot of recording there but sometimes im forced to. If the open room sounds better, after i treat it a little i guess that would be the better option. I just thought the closet may get rid of some of the computer noise, you know?

[CityDump Records]

I paid an acoustical engineer to design my room and send me the schematics. Best investment I have made yet. I would seriously consider it. If you want his info PM me and I will send it to you. You can prolly get a really good price for a smaller space. I asked him to design mine with a majority of products from lowe's and he made it happen and I love my space. My space is a little bigger but it was a big square priity much 10x15 with 10ft ceilings. I got all my friends together and about 2 months 70+ sheets of drywall, 2 lays or flooring 2 new walls and a bunch of puddy, sanding and sawing later it was done.

[Realziment]

Originally Posted by CityDump Records

I paid an acoustical engineer to design my room and send me the schematics. Best investment I have made yet. I would seriously consider it. If you want his info PM me and I will send it to you. You can prolly get a really good price for a smaller space. I asked him to design mine with a majority of products from lowe's and he made it happen and I love my space. My space is a little bigger but it was a big square priity much 10x15 with 10ft ceilings. I got all my friends together and about 2 months 70+ sheets of drywall, 2 lays or flooring 2 new walls and a bunch of puddy, sanding and sawing later it was done.

Sounds good, was it pricey to have it designed?

[phillysoulman]

Originally Posted by Realziment

True, I will be stuck monitoring trough headphones. In all honesty I do not plan on doing much tracking. At least I don't want to. lol.



Yea i know its hella ghetto, but i was hoping you guys had some advice about maybe investing into turning it into an actual booth. I mean i really dont want to do a lot of recording there but sometimes im forced to. If the open room sounds better, after i treat it a little i guess that would be the better option. I just thought the closet may get rid of some of the computer noise, you know?

Get yourself a Shure sm7b , a Reflection Filter and a decent pre.
Build a baffle and you should be ok.

[Realziment]

Originally Posted by phillysoulman

Get yourself a Shure sm7b , a Reflection Filter and a decent pre.
Build a baffle and you should be ok.

Already have the reflection filter, SM7B is on my wanted list. And baffles i do need. So thank you! Oh and a pre also. I think i want to settle here so i may ship over my gear from Ireland. And start building up my studio, in time i could move from the room to the garage which could be more ideal i just dont have spare cash now to starting building dry walls etc etc, and i figure any treatment material i get can still be used later wherever i decide to move. Hopefully i get to a point where i can build or buy a full on commercial studio!

Anyways thanks for all the input guys.

[jrides]

Put your computer in the closet. Use monitor and keyboard extensions. No fan/HD noise in your vocals.