Room dimensions

octatonic · 20th October 2006

Hi all,

I've inherited a couple of rooms that are fairly well fitted out- floating floor, gyprocked walls with 703 in the gap.

The dimensions are a bit tight though-

12.75 x 12.25 feet in the control room and 10 x 8ft in the live room.
I am not going to be tracking drums in this studio- just guitars/vocals and such.

I remember someone (Ethan?) saying something about an ideal room ratio but cannot seem to find it on the site.

Can someone fill me in?

Is 12.75 x 12.25 likely to cause problems?
I am pretty handy and don't mind moving the diving wall if necessary- curious as to what people think.
Ceiling height is 8ft and flat.

Many thanks,

James Richmond

Ethan Winer · 20th October 2006

James,

> I remember someone (Ethan?) saying something about an ideal room ratio but cannot seem to find it on the site. <

Look here:

www.realtraps.com/modecalc.htm

> Is 12.75 x 12.25 likely to cause problems? <

Yep.

--Ethan

octatonic · 20th October 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

James,

> I remember someone (Ethan?) saying something about an ideal room ratio but cannot seem to find it on the site. <

Look here:

www.realtraps.com/modecalc.htm

> Is 12.75 x 12.25 likely to cause problems? <

Yep.

--Ethan

Hi Ethan,

I thought so...

I am on a Mac so I cannot use Modecalc.

The room width is fixed at 12.25 feet but I can extend the length as long as 24ft.
What would be optimal for a width of 12.25ft and an 8ft height?

as always, many thanks

Bob Ross · 20th October 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by richmondjames

I am on a Mac so I cannot use Modecalc.

Try this:
http://www.marktaw.com/recording/Aco...WaveCalcu.html

or this:
http://www.hunecke.de/english/calcul...igenmodes.html

I've also got a really sexy Excel spreadsheet made by the guys at One On One Technical Products that I could email you if those prove inadequate.

Ethan Winer · 20th October 2006

James,

> I am on a Mac so I cannot use Modecalc. <

Well, you can click the screen shot to see it full size and read the optimum ratios off that.

In a small room I always prefer whatever ratio makes the room as big as possible. So for an 8' ceiling and 12.25' width, a length of 17 feet looks pretty good.

--Ethan

Sqye · 21st October 2006

i was in a similar situation in my first studio, which i still rent in the city.
except the width was 15', and we had 25' in length.

also the ceiling was consecutive plastered arches,
which ended up working to our advantage, as well.

all in all, the room worked well for many purposes.

the only thing it tanked on were REALLY HUGe solo voices -
and that only happened twice in 10 years.

i remember doing tracks with one super humungoid bass / baritone -
the room was having a bit of a time with him.

also the lead singer form the metal group tnt
was a bit much for that space.

other than that, we did TONS of full on heavy rock, jazz, etc.
for years in that space, and it was great.

the space has a 15' x 15' control room, and a small iso booth
the size of your live room.

that space is currently working beautifully as a surround sound
mix studio, foley and office space for mixing engineer John Davis,
who just finished the Producers, and Ethan Hawk's latest movie
(to name a few recent projects).

anyhow, i'm rambling.

lots of luck on the set up.

we should hook up sometime -
i'm in the city every few weeks.

octatonic · 21st October 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

James,

> I am on a Mac so I cannot use Modecalc. <

Well, you can click the screen shot to see it full size and read the optimum ratios off that.

In a small room I always prefer whatever ratio makes the room as big as possible. So for an 8' ceiling and 12.25' width, a length of 17 feet looks pretty good.

--Ethan

Thanks Ethan,

Just did a bit of measuring- making the control room 17 x 12.25 x 8 is possible - although it will mean the "live" room will absolutely not have room for a drum kit- it will be essentially an iso booth for guitar amps and can be used as a vocal booth.

But this is fine- I always envisaged doing drums elsewhere anyway.

James

Kenny M · 21st October 2006

I've built 3 studios for myself over the years and the number 1 thing you can do to get a great sounding room is get the room size ratios right. It's actually pretty amazing how it all works and how you can actually calculate a peak or dip in a given space even before you build it.

Kenny M.

20th October 2006	#1
octatonic Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: London Posts: 5,429 Thread Starter	Room dimensions Hi all, I've inherited a couple of rooms that are fairly well fitted out- floating floor, gyprocked walls with 703 in the gap. The dimensions are a bit tight though- 12.75 x 12.25 feet in the control room and 10 x 8ft in the live room. I am not going to be tracking drums in this studio- just guitars/vocals and such. I remember someone (Ethan?) saying something about an ideal room ratio but cannot seem to find it on the site. Can someone fill me in? Is 12.75 x 12.25 likely to cause problems? I am pretty handy and don't mind moving the diving wall if necessary- curious as to what people think. Ceiling height is 8ft and flat. Many thanks, James Richmond

20th October 2006	#2
Ethan Winer Gear Guru Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: New Milford, CT, USA Posts: 12,050	James, > I remember someone (Ethan?) saying something about an ideal room ratio but cannot seem to find it on the site. < Look here: www.realtraps.com/modecalc.htm > Is 12.75 x 12.25 likely to cause problems? < Yep. --Ethan __________________ Ethan's audio book is coming!

21st October 2006	#6
Sqye Gear Guru Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: underground railroad Posts: 13,045	i was in a similar situation in my first studio, which i still rent in the city. except the width was 15', and we had 25' in length. also the ceiling was consecutive plastered arches, which ended up working to our advantage, as well. all in all, the room worked well for many purposes. the only thing it tanked on were REALLY HUGe solo voices - and that only happened twice in 10 years. i remember doing tracks with one super humungoid bass / baritone - the room was having a bit of a time with him. also the lead singer form the metal group tnt was a bit much for that space. other than that, we did TONS of full on heavy rock, jazz, etc. for years in that space, and it was great. the space has a 15' x 15' control room, and a small iso booth the size of your live room. that space is currently working beautifully as a surround sound mix studio, foley and office space for mixing engineer John Davis, who just finished the Producers, and Ethan Hawk's latest movie (to name a few recent projects). anyhow, i'm rambling. lots of luck on the set up. we should hook up sometime - i'm in the city every few weeks. __________________ Sqye (Sky) ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::Music 4 Film+TV+Web:::::: Wired Planet::::::Buddha Studio Cat i7 + FF800 + Linkwitz Orions + Buzz Audio Arc + GT-67 + Sonar + Komplete + Omnisphere-Trilian-Stylus + Symphobia + Fractal Audio Axe F/X

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21st October 2006	#8
Kenny M Gear addict Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 365	I've built 3 studios for myself over the years and the number 1 thing you can do to get a great sounding room is get the room size ratios right. It's actually pretty amazing how it all works and how you can actually calculate a peak or dip in a given space even before you build it. Kenny M.