how would you treat these rooms?

[fetter]

Hey project studio owners and acousticians!

I have a new house which I'd like to convert into a project studio. I'd like one control/mix room and a room for tracking drums and such.

This is what I have:

room 1: 10 x 10
room 2: 10x 11 ( these two rooms are separated by 1 wall which i may put a plexiglass window in, to adjoin them visually) Both rooms are carpeted with one window.

room 3: living room with hardwood floors and sliding glass door that opens into a kitchen....20 x 12

room 4: The garage with vaulted ceilings about 20 x25

I could run a snake with inputs anywhere around the house, so any arrangement or configuration is cool!

HOW SHOULD I TREAT THESE ROOMS FOR ACCURACY, BALANCE AND TRAPPING? Would you treat the small room for drums or just use the living room and garage?

Thanks guys.

Jay

[fetter]

here is a funky diagram to give you better visuals...

Thanks guys!

Jay

[Ethan Winer]

Jay,

> room 1: 10 x 10 <

Ouch. The only shape worse than square is a cube. Please don't tell me the ceiling is 10 feet high!

> room 2: 10x 11 <

Barely better. Not only because it's nearly square, but it's also very small. The only way to get usable recordings in a room like that is to make it mostly dead with lots of absorption.

> room 3: ... 20 x 12 <

Now you're getting close. That's at least large enough to mix in, given enough bass trapping.

> The garage with vaulted ceilings about 20 x25 <

If you can get by with only one room for recording and mixing, this is the one to use.

> HOW SHOULD I TREAT THESE ROOMS FOR ACCURACY, BALANCE AND TRAPPING? <

See my Acoustics FAQ:

www.ethanwiner.com/acoustics.html

It's a lot to read, but it explains pretty much everything you need to know about this. Then feel free to ask any follow-up questions here.

--Ethan

[fetter]

Hey Ethan!

I'm glad you replied...thanks alot! Wow, so i'm dealing with some difficult parameters huh? Well, I would prefer to use a bedroom for monitoring/mixing, but I guess that's not my best option? Hmmm. I thought the larger living room with hardwood floors and asymmetrical structure (furniture/tables/sliding glass doors) would be detrimental, but you think it could work better?

what about a controlling and mixing in the 10x 11 room and tracking in the living room and garage?

[pan60]

i wish Ethan Winer was my neighbor.
and best buddy.

[jajjguy]

Since you have considered putting a window between rooms 1 & 2, would you consider knocking down the wall between them (or most of it)?

[fetter]

I was thinking about that, but only if it was of immense benefit...Ethan?

[natpub]

asymmetrical=better

yes, listen to Ethan

[Ethan Winer]

Jay,

> what about a controlling and mixing in the 10x 11 room and tracking in the living room and garage? <

You can use any room, but the smaller it is - and closer to square - the more bass trapping you'll need to reduce the resonances and other low frequency problems.

Also, Jonah's suggestion is excellent, if that's practical.

--Ethan

[Ethan Winer]

Pan,

> i wish Ethan Winer was my neighbor. and best buddy. <

I can offer you one of those!

--Ethan