How to warm up the acoustics of a living room or bedroom?

[sctt_stone]

How to warm up the acoustics of a living room or bed room for vocal recordings using acoustic treatment?
I currently have 90%of the Bedroom covered in Mattress foam. It is dead but not warm.
The floors are carpeted.
The bed room is a 20 x 15 space with 8 foot ceilings.
The living room is a large L shape About 900 square feet total.
Its actually a dining room on one side of the L.
Still 8 foot ceilings.
This space will be used for acoustic guitar and vocals.
Thanks.

[NorseHorse]

Set a fire. Duh.

Tee hee hee.

TapeWorm says: "A few well placed large mirrors can also help increase reflections (no pun intended)."

[sctt_stone]

Thanks. just gotta find my lighter.

Originally Posted by NorseHorse

Set a fire. Duh.

Tee hee hee.

TapeWorm says: "A few well placed large mirrors can also help increase reflections (no pun intended)."

[Tapeworm]

Originally Posted by NorseHorse

Set a fire. Duh.

Tee hee hee.

TapeWorm says: "A few well placed large mirrors can also help increase reflections (no pun intended)."

My pun detector is ringing.

[NorseHorse]

I actually don't really know what you mean by "warm" when talking about a room.

I tend to think of rooms as having ranges of reverberation, but it sounds like you are talking about a whole different dimension here. Could you elaborate?

Thanks.

[adpz]

Originally Posted by sctt_stone

How to warm up the acoustics of a living room or bed room for vocal recordings using acoustic treatment?
I currently have 90%of the Bedroom covered in Mattress foam. It is dead but not warm.
The floors are carpeted.
The bed room is a 20 x 15 space with 8 foot ceilings.
The living room is a large L shape About 900 square feet total.
Its actually a dining room on one side of the L.
Still 8 foot ceilings.
This space will be used for acoustic guitar and vocals.
Thanks.

So the room is dead - which means you have little reverberant energy.

The room isn't warm - which sounds to me like you have too much low-mid absorption going on - no? When you sing in the space, do you feel like the volume is being sucked out of you? Like you have to sing harder?

I don't think the size of the room makes much of a difference in this case. Unseen, it sounds like between the foam and the carpet you have too much absorption going on and at the wrong frequencies.

You might try using one of those plastic mats that goes under rolling desk chairs - you know - to protect the floor. You can get them for like $10 at Ikea. One of two of those under you as you record will give you back some of the early reflections that seem to be lacking.

I would try something like that; if it starts to work than at least you will have a "diagnosis" of why the sound is not working for you. From there, you might go and pull down some of the foam and/or increase your early reflection opportunities.

BTW - be careful - that mattress foam is flammable!!! Don't let anyone smoke it there; your room and house could go up in flames in a matter of two minutes!!!!!! At the very least, install a smoke detector - ESPC if you sleep there. tutt And if I were you I'd also get a little fire extinguisher from Costco or something.

[sctt_stone]

Exactly. Before I put the foam up it sounded like crap. And now it sounds lifeless.
I do know that I have crazy bass buildup in the room. Thanks for the warning and advice.
I do not smoke and will not let people smoke around my gear! I am an asshole like that.

Originally Posted by adpz

So the room is dead - which means you have little reverberant energy.

The room isn't warm - which sounds to me like you have too much low-mid absorption going on - no? When you sing in the space, do you feel like the volume is being sucked out of you? Like you have to sing harder?

I don't think the size of the room makes much of a difference in this case. Unseen, it sounds like between the foam and the carpet you have too much absorption going on and at the wrong frequencies.

You might try using one of those plastic mats that goes under rolling desk chairs - you know - to protect the floor. You can get them for like $10 at Ikea. One of two of those under you as you record will give you back some of the early reflections that seem to be lacking.

I would try something like that; if it starts to work than at least you will have a "diagnosis" of why the sound is not working for you. From there, you might go and pull down some of the foam and/or increase your early reflection opportunities.

BTW - be careful - that mattress foam is flammable!!! Don't let anyone smoke it there; your room and house could go up in flames in a matter of two minutes!!!!!! At the very least, install a smoke detector - ESPC if you sleep there. tutt And if I were you I'd also get a little fire extinguisher from Costco or something.

[adpz]

Originally Posted by sctt_stone

Exactly. Before I put the foam up it sounded like crap. And now it sounds lifeless.
I do know that I have crazy bass buildup in the room. Thanks for the warning and advice.
I do not smoke and will not let people smoke around my gear! I am an asshole like that.

I once had a band come over to mix in my studio/living room and one of the band members passed out (!) on the floor, on one of my couch pillows, and drooled - and I mean droooooled - all over it. Bleech! Turns my stomach. Had to throw the pillow out . . .

Yeah, if you also have bass build-up then you've got some major issues going on. You might consider taking down some of the foam that's at "head-height" so that while you sing you've got some early reflections coming back from the wall. Too, at the very least, you should string two bass traps (DIY if need be) across the corners where you mix (meaning the corners behind the speakers). Bass problems might wreak havoc with the low end of the guitar - making it sound sort of jittery. If that's also the case, try to find one spot in the room where the low-end of the guitar seems most stable - avoid the exact center of the room!

[sctt_stone]

Would I be better of setting up shop in the large L room?
by he way I have the money to buy REAL acoustic treatment. I had hoped that I could get by with being a cheap skate. I like spending money on other stuff liek instruments mics and amps
Is it really any better?

Originally Posted by adpz

I once had a band come over to mix in my studio/living room and one of the band members passed out (!) on the floor, on one of my couch pillows, and drooled - and I mean droooooled - all over it. Bleech! Turns my stomach. Had to throw the pillow out . . .

Yeah, if you also have bass build-up then you've got some major issues going on. You might consider taking down some of the foam that's at "head-height" so that while you sing you've got some early reflections coming back from the wall. Too, at the very least, you should string two bass traps (DIY if need be) across the corners where you mix (meaning the corners behind the speakers). Bass problems might wreak havoc with the low end of the guitar - making it sound sort of jittery. If that's also the case, try to find one spot in the room where the low-end of the guitar seems most stable - avoid the exact center of the room!

[nas]

check these out - I have a few and they are excellent broadband treatment:

RealTraps - Home


a bit pricy, but a worthwhile investment that won't be out of date in six months!

[adpz]

Originally Posted by sctt_stone

Would I be better of setting up shop in the large L room?
by he way I have the money to buy REAL acoustic treatment. I had hoped that I could get by with being a cheap skate. I like spending money on other stuff liek instruments mics and amps
Is it really any better?

I have Real Traps too - 11 of them - they work really, really well - much better - and with much less - than Auralex.

I hear you - it feels strange at first to spend $ on acoustic insulation because it's hard to notice if anything is wrong with your space - you get used to it. However, everyone on this board lusts over the gear that all the pros have access to; and ALL the pros most certainly have fantastic acoustic environments to work it.

I saw another post a few days ago that was so true: that we all spend our money on gear and then we keep coming back to places like GS - looking for a better sound - until, finally, we realize that it all starts with the acoustics.

Anyway, whatever route you take, you will be pleased. Good acoustics are not just about cutting down RT60; a lot of it ends up being very un-subtle. You know you've done it right when you start kicking yourself for not having done it sooner.

[3rd&4thT]

Just for the helluvit, go to the hardware store and get a large plastic tarp. Your bass problem will remain, but it will liven up and diffuse your top end. Decca and Delos did it all the time, spreading plastic sheeting over seatbacks in dead auditoriums.

3rd&4thT

[nas]

Originally Posted by adpz

I have Real Traps too - 11 of them - they work really, really well - much better - and with much less - than Auralex.

I hear you - it feels strange at first to spend $ on acoustic insulation because it's hard to notice if anything is wrong with your space - you get used to it. However, everyone on this board lusts over the gear that all the pros have access to; and ALL the pros most certainly have fantastic acoustic environments to work it.

I saw another post a few days ago that was so true: that we all spend our money on gear and then we keep coming back to places like GS - looking for a better sound - until, finally, we realize that it all starts with the acoustics.

Anyway, whatever route you take, you will be pleased. Good acoustics are not just about cutting down RT60; a lot of it ends up being very un-subtle. You know you've done it right when you start kicking yourself for not having done it sooner.

Absolutely! agree 100%