Monitor placement and do I need a door?

[theron d]

Hi Guys,
This is my first post in the new acoustics forum and wanted to thank you all in advance for any advice you can give me. I've been recording and mixing in my basement which is partially treated with acoustic tiles and some 48"x 48" foam panels for the last few years (no bass traps yet ...but it def needs treatment sooooon....what a mistake not to do in the first place I can tell you :) . That project is on hold until I address these two things first....

Speaker Placement:
The room is not completely rectangular due to a stairwell (see attached pic) but the overall length and back room width is 18 feet (uhhh I can hear the moans). 31 Hz first room Mode for those two dimensions. Where would you place the mixing position? (I marked it with a Red X where it currently is), close to 38% from the front wall. A better spot would seem to be 38% centered and back from the fireplace, but obviously I don't want to block the fireplace so that was my second choice.

Acoustical Sealing Door?
The front opening to the room at the top near the mixing position, there is no door, before I start treating the room with Bass Traps, would you suggest getting an acoustical door to seal it so it does not acoustically "couple" to the other rooms and stairwell?

Again, many thanks, I've got a lot of work ahead of me (and looking forward to it!!!)

Theron

[Ethan Winer]

Theron,

You could set up the speakers at either end. I'd probably prefer the narrow end pointing toward the wider rear. An "acoustic" door will not affect the sound quality inside the room. Regardless, you need as much bass trapping as you can manage. The more bass trapping you have, the closer you'll get to a flat response.

--Ethan

[theron d]

Thank you Ethan, thats what I figured with that 18' x 18' dimension....time for some serious bass trapping...

Best
Theron

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

Theron,

You could set up the speakers at either end. I'd probably prefer the narrow end pointing toward the wider rear. An "acoustic" door will not affect the sound quality inside the room. Regardless, you need as much bass trapping as you can manage. The more bass trapping you have, the closer you'll get to a flat response.

--Ethan

[jwl]

Does the ceiling slope up to the center in both directions? I can see that it's 8'1" by the bar and 7'5" by the fireplace. How tall is the ceiling at the center support beam? The drawing looks like it slopes up from the 8'1" side as well....

All else being equal I agree with Ethan, the narrower part of the room is probably better for the mix position so you don't have to worry about an uneven back wall.

And yes, bass trapping will be important.

[theron d]

The ceiling is flat on both sides of the center support beam. I attached several photos to help out. Photo#1 on the smaller width side where I am currently mixing, photo #2 from the wider side looking towards the mixing station, and photo #3 towards the mixing station and the open entrance and small inlet where I am hanging cables. I plan to put a solid wood door on that open entrance. . Note that my mixing station is off center too far off to the right wall. I will center it soon. Plus there is a small inlet where I currently hang my cables (I believe the original owners built it for a wet bar). Anyhow I plan on bass trapping that small inlet. Man, lots of work to get room right for mixing and recording....thanks again for your input...

Theron

Originally Posted by jwl

Does the ceiling slope up to the center in both directions? I can see that it's 8'1" by the bar and 7'5" by the fireplace. How tall is the ceiling at the center support beam? The drawing looks like it slopes up from the 8'1" side as well....

All else being equal I agree with Ethan, the narrower part of the room is probably better for the mix position so you don't have to worry about an uneven back wall.

And yes, bass trapping will be important.