Bass Traps, what's more important - back or front walls?

[jm1999]

When focusing on installing bass traps would the back walls usually need more treatment than the front walls in general or are all 4 corners equally important?

[Jules]

Pass

But get a heavy leather couch for the control room.

[jajjguy]

Yes, bass problems are a function of the whole room resonating at certain low frequencies. So damping (bass trapping) can be placed anywhere. But it's most effective in corners.

(This is different from mid and high frequency absorption, which should be placed at specific reflection points.)

[tINY]

Actually, if you are talking about tube bass traps (Helmholtz resonators), they are marginally more effective in the center of the room. The panel traps work best in the middle of the offending walls.

The side walls and either the front or the back wall need treatment in a small room. Usually, you want to put absorbtion on the front wall and diffusion on the back wall.

All rooms are a little different. You may need to experiment a little. A pink noise generator and an RTA (or more advanced measurement gear) can help. Final tuning is best done with your ears, but the first 80% can go a lot faster with good measurements.


-tINY

[dividedsoul]

it really depends on the specific situation your in, size of room, materials used for construction of the walls, floors and ceiling.
i would say that diffusion doesn't work that well in a small room, as in a small room reflections and LF buildup are the biggest problem.
best thing to do would be some serious basstrapping, probably in the back and trying to avoid standing waves and excessive mid and HF reflexion from the side walls in your working area..

there a lot of info to be found on this subject on the net...

i'm not on my own pc now, but i can get you some useful links on the subject later, if anyone else doesn't chime in.

peace
jaye

[Jam]

Do a google search for John Sayers he runs a great acoustics forum. As always take with a pinch of salt. Oh alright I'll do it www.johnlsayers.com

Jam

[dividedsoul]

yep thats one of the sites i was talking about.. good one, tons of info and people are helpful..

[adam_w]

"Corner" as in floor/ceiling plus 2 walls is the optimum as all modes meet there.

[Ethan Winer]

JM,

> would the back walls usually need more treatment than the front walls <

All corners are important, including the ceiling corners. The front and rear walls are also good candidates for wood panel traps in a larger room. The side walls are good too, but less so than the front and back walls if you're looking to do the minimum.

For a lot more about this see the Acoustics FAQ, second in the list on my Articles page:

www.ethanwiner.com/articles.html

--Ethan

[jm1999]

Quite amazing answers and Great links!

I wish I knew the secret ingredients in those Real Traps aside from 703. Looks like great stuff! I'm a poor boy at the moment.

[Dave Martin]

Originally posted by jm1999
Quite amazing answers and Great links!

I wish I knew the secret ingredients in those Real Traps aside from 703. Looks like great stuff! I'm a poor boy at the moment.

The secret ingredient is girl scouts. But don't tell anyone.

[Teacher]

Originally posted by Dave Martin
The secret ingredient is girl scouts. But don't tell anyone.

R. Kelly must have them all over his studio then

[Adler]

JM,

Check out two books from F. Alton Everest:

Master Handbook of Acoustics & Sound Studio Construction On A Budget

I made my own bass traps and some panel absorbers for my studio based on the designs in those books. Most of the materials are readily available at Home Depot. The exception in my area was acquiring the Tectum board, which I was eventually able to find at a more professional building supplies joint.

The traps I made look great and do the intended job. It's more work than buying something prefabricated, but I learned a lot and saved some money along the way.

Best of luck,
Chris

[Greg B]

RealTraps recently started making "Mondo Traps" which absorb even more bass than the MiniTraps. I plan to replace the MiniTraps I alread have in the corners of my studio with Mondo Traps and move the MiniTraps either to the walls or ceiling.