Real Traps --- One month later.

[JohnPaulJones]

A few months ago a project I was working on paid out and I found my self with 1800 uncommitted bucks to spend on my project studio as I pleased. I researched nearly everything: mics, converters, preamps, compressors, eqs, monitors, daws. Any of these choices would have been an improvement, but <2k is only enough to buy one or two good compressors/pres/whatever. I was banging my head against a wall until I read a few posts here about Real Traps.

For me, the appeal of sound treating a studio was the improvement across multiple levels. Instruments aren’t flavored by the sonic discrepancies of the room as much when treated, yielding better tracking, writing, and practicing. Monitors are more accurate, yielding better mixing, mastering and just plain old listening. In theory at least, this all sounds great, so I went ahead and ordered the room kit from Ethan about a month ago.

The customer service has been first class. I called on four occasions before ordering, Ethan picked up the phone himself each time and patiently answered my newbish questions, all of which I am sure he has heard 10 million times by now. The traps were delivered within 4 days of the order. The packaging was first class, resulting in no damaged traps in spite of an obviously rough trip judging by the banged up exteriors of the boxes.

The first thing I did was rest the traps against the walls as close to where they would eventually be mounted as possible. Next, I started going through some of my recent mixes. I immediately noticed a few things and began remixing on the spot (keep in mind that the traps were not even mounted yet):

1. 70% pan left or right now actually sound like 70% pan left or right. Before I had to get close to 90% before I could really tell a substantial difference.
2. I no longer have to crank the bass to be heard in the mix. Even better, subtle adjustments in bass level are audible.
3. A little reverb now goes a long way, before I had to jack the reverb to hear it at all, now minor tweaks are all that is needed.
4. Playing drums in the room is now a joy. The snare cracks instead of booming, and tuning the drums is a must as they no longer sound like one big boomy bleeding mess.

Last week I put about 6 hours in to mounting 5 of the traps, nothing on the ceiling yet but I got my wall first reflection points and front corners. After playing around with mixing and tracking a bit, all of the above observations remain true, but even more so. I again find myself readjusting nearly all of the levels and verbs of recent mixes. In addition, the mixes are sounding good in the car first or second time out, it used take 10+ trips.

In closing, Real Traps, or any sound treatment for that matter, has the best cost/performance ratio I know of, you won’t regret it.

--Paul

[Ethan Winer]

Paul,

Excellent, and thanks very much!

1. 70% pan left or right now actually sound like 70% pan left or right. Before I had to get close to 90% before I could really tell a substantial difference.
2. I no longer have to crank the bass to be heard in the mix. Even better, subtle adjustments in bass level are audible.
3. A little reverb now goes a long way, before I had to jack the reverb to hear it at all, now minor tweaks are all that is needed.

Yes, those points especially match my own experience, and the experience of our customers. I hear things all the time on records and live concerts that I'm sure would never have made it to the final mix if only the mix engineers could hear with the same clarity I enjoy in my two well-treated rooms.

--Ethan

[mixerguy]

welcome to the club!

congrats

MixerGuy

[Jason Poulin]

I think the best feeling is when you go into the car and listen to your mix and realize that the bass is right on the money.



Jason

[edham]

I used to own a really nice multiroom studio. Sold it two years ago.
This past year I found an apartment with a basement bedroom that is a perfectly terrible sounding room that has been my workspace.

I called Ethan and bought the mondo room package. Best money I spent last year.
My mixes are the best work I have ever done and no one believes that its coming out of my little basement room. The low end is dead on and there are no surprises at mastering time. Translation is correct.

When I get a chance I will post some pics but I can only add that anyone who needs to deal with the acoustics of their room should definately look at real traps.

Mondos in the corners. Use a few normal traps as a front wall (4 inches off the wall). Two on each side of your listening position. One mini over head and two mini's on the back wall.
It was so simple to place them and the improvement was stunning.

[cramseur]

Paul's experience mirrors mine excewpt I built my own traps with help from Ethan. Used to take 10 + trips back and forth to the car with test cd mixes. Now 1 or 2 trips. It has been much easier to "learn" my monitors, too.

If you haven't treated your room, you don't know what you're missing!

I'v already thanked Ethan (and others ) before but...

Thanks again.

[nadumr]

Originally Posted by edham

This past year I found an apartment with a basement bedroom that is a perfectly terrible sounding room that has been my workspace.

hey ed!
do you know the dimensions of your room by any chance? just curious..
ar

[edham]

Originally Posted by nadumr

hey ed!
do you know the dimensions of your room by any chance? just curious..
ar

14x13 with an irregular back wall. Ceiling is 7'2". concrete floor. Nightmare.
All better now.
Real traps - some fabric to wrap them in - paint - carpet = cool little room.

[nerogtr]

Originally Posted by JohnPaulJones

A few months ago a project I was working on paid out and I found my self with 1800 uncommitted bucks to spend on my project studio as I pleased. I researched nearly everything: mics, converters, preamps, compressors, eqs, monitors, daws. Any of these choices would have been an improvement, but <2k is only enough to buy one or two good compressors/pres/whatever. I was banging my head against a wall until I read a few posts here about Real Traps.

For me, the appeal of sound treating a studio was the improvement across multiple levels. Instruments aren’t flavored by the sonic discrepancies of the room as much when treated, yielding better tracking, writing, and practicing. Monitors are more accurate, yielding better mixing, mastering and just plain old listening. In theory at least, this all sounds great, so I went ahead and ordered the room kit from Ethan about a month ago.

The customer service has been first class. I called on four occasions before ordering, Ethan picked up the phone himself each time and patiently answered my newbish questions, all of which I am sure he has heard 10 million times by now. The traps were delivered within 4 days of the order. The packaging was first class, resulting in no damaged traps in spite of an obviously rough trip judging by the banged up exteriors of the boxes.

The first thing I did was rest the traps against the walls as close to where they would eventually be mounted as possible. Next, I started going through some of my recent mixes. I immediately noticed a few things and began remixing on the spot (keep in mind that the traps were not even mounted yet):

1. 70% pan left or right now actually sound like 70% pan left or right. Before I had to get close to 90% before I could really tell a substantial difference.
2. I no longer have to crank the bass to be heard in the mix. Even better, subtle adjustments in bass level are audible.
3. A little reverb now goes a long way, before I had to jack the reverb to hear it at all, now minor tweaks are all that is needed.
4. Playing drums in the room is now a joy. The snare cracks instead of booming, and tuning the drums is a must as they no longer sound like one big boomy bleeding mess.

Last week I put about 6 hours in to mounting 5 of the traps, nothing on the ceiling yet but I got my wall first reflection points and front corners. After playing around with mixing and tracking a bit, all of the above observations remain true, but even more so. I again find myself readjusting nearly all of the levels and verbs of recent mixes. In addition, the mixes are sounding good in the car first or second time out, it used take 10+ trips.

In closing, Real Traps, or any sound treatment for that matter, has the best cost/performance ratio I know of, you won’t regret it.

--Paul

if you dont mind me asking, how much of an inve$tment was that? I'd like to treat my room in my apartment, where mixes have been a nightmare.

Originally Posted by Jason Poulin

I think the best feeling is when you go into the car and listen to your mix and realize that the bass is right on the money.

Jason

oh how i long for that day haha. sometimes i wish i could mix in my car.......

[Kurt Foster]

John,

Glad to hear that the expenditure was worth it! RealTraps are a well built product and Ethan is always available on line to help people with questions.

I am sure Etahn would agree, it's important to mention sometimes even treatments and bass traps will not make a room completely accurate.

Traps and other treatments can go a long way to improving things but it should be factored into the equation that the room be of suitable size for mixing in the first place. You can't make a silk purse from a sows ear.

What are your rooms dimensions?


Good luck with your endeavors,
Kurt
_________________________________

"We are all travelers in this world --
From the sweet grass to the packing house--
Birth till Death -- We travel between the eternity's --"

~ Alan Geoffrion ~

[CorkyTart]

I built my traps off of Ethans specs and placed them in the areas that he had suggested on his site. I too noticed all the thigns that you mentioned but the biggest variable is that my mixes translate to other systems now and I'm not guessing on what I may have to compensate for.

[James Lehmann]

I invested about the same in RealTraps, and although the total cost to me was more as I'm in Europe and shipping is pricey, I'm also a very happy customer.

As it turns out my mixing position needed little or no treatment (chalk that up as a plus for the Blue Sky sub+satelite system!) but my living room stereo was causing me massive problems particularly in the bass end - 2 Mondo Traps solved that easily, I rigged up 2 Minis as well for good measure, and finally ordered 4 x Micros as a portable vocal booth.

At all times RealTraps customer service was first class, and I benefitted from buying a few 'seconds' which made the cost a bit more affordable.

RealTraps do exactly what they say on the tin - there can be few rooms that wouldn't benefit from one or other of their products.

[vibralux]

Had the same experience with Mini Traps. I mounted seven of those in my small room (4meters x 3 meters) half year ago and since then my mixes got to another level.
That was my best investment in 2006 along with Adams s3a's.

Real Traps- no blinking led's on them, but a must have for everyone who works with sound. I could not live without them now.

Thanks Ethan!!!

cheers

Marty

[David-Morpheus]

Based mostly on the stuff I have found/read here I built and installed 7 bass traps (1250/625/135 mm) last month in my new 3,5 x 2x5 meter room and the difference is nigth and day.

I have noticed the same things as paul. I have listened to some old mixes and was wondering why I have used so much reverb

Many many thanks Ethan to all the valuable informations on your website


david

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by vibralux

Real Traps- no blinking led's on them, but a must have for everyone who works with sound. I could not live without them now.

Thanks Ethan!!!

cheers

Marty

There is a lot of truth to that. Most people buy things because, lets face it, it is fun to "PLAY" with. The thing 95% of the people do not understand is without the room being tuned right all those toys are NOT going to work right.
Even though this is not about our company I am still glad to see all of you guys spreading the word about the effects acoustics can make!!

Glenn

[Ethan Winer]

Thanks guys, you made my day!

--Ethan

[Jason Poulin]

room treatment is so damn important...


i think if someone would offer me a massive passive or the room treatment, I would certainly choose the room.




Jason