Where can I find a list of Acousticians serving RI area?

[The Studio RI]

I'm considering hiring a professional to tune my small control room. It is treated and sounds nice, but something is still wrong and I would like someone to physically come and tune the space. Where can I find a list of acousticians that will come to Rhode Island to do this? What do these services typically cost?

[Ethan Winer]

I'm in Connecticut so a trip to Rhode Island is not out of the question. But before we even talk about that, what sort of bass traps or other treatment do you have now? Ands how large is the room? I help people all over the world by phone and email with photos etc. It may well be that you don't need a personal visit. But I could do that if needed. Call me directly on my private line at 860-350-8188 any time during the day and we can discuss further.

--Ethan

[The Studio RI]

Thanks Ethan!

It was great to speak to you on the phone. Here are the pics of my space. The room is 9'x13 with 7' ceilings. I've got 4" traps around the mix position and in the corners. 2 on the front wall, 2 on each side of the mix position, and top to bottom in the corners (except for where the reel is). I also have a 4'x6' 6" cloud above the mix position and one 6" trap on the back wall (with some foam auralex traps on the ceiling corners. Also, each corner has the same foam traps behind the fiberglass ones. There are 4 diffusors on the ceiling all filled with 703.

The rack you see to the right of the mix position has since been cut down to the hight of the keyboard on the left side.

I'm still having bass problems even though the traps did make a significant difference in the imaging and reflections.

If there is any other info you need, I'll get it to you right away.

[Ethan Winer]

Ben,

I see a lot of corner surface that will benefit from traps. And as I mentioned on the phone, if you covered the entire rear wall with traps it would not be too much. The corner foam you have is okay but not great. You could leave that in place if you can put more 2x4 foot traps in place. I'd also get rid of the plastic diffusors on the ceiling and replace them with absorption.

--Ethan

[Weasel9992]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

Ben,

I see a lot of corner surface that will benefit from traps. And as I mentioned on the phone, if you covered the entire rear wall with traps it would not be too much. The corner foam you have is okay but not great. You could leave that in place if you can put more 2x4 foot traps in place. I'd also get rid of the plastic diffusors on the ceiling and replace them with absorption.

--Ethan

I think that's all pretty accurate. What kind of issues are you hearing Ben?

Frank

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

Ben,

I see a lot of corner surface that will benefit from traps. And as I mentioned on the phone, if you covered the entire rear wall with traps it would not be too much. The corner foam you have is okay but not great. You could leave that in place if you can put more 2x4 foot traps in place. I'd also get rid of the plastic diffusors on the ceiling and replace them with absorption.

--Ethan

Just to add for that back wall I would use 6" panels. Not sure if I would remove all the diffusors but remove the ones that are in the early reflection points. The rest of them can be use on the back 1/3rd of the room.

Glenn

[The Studio RI]

given the setup of the room, I could really only put another 12 sqft of 6" trap on the back wall (aside from the top corners). If that would make a big difference, then I would do it, but I have the feeling that may not be enough anyway.

Would I benefit from building another cloud for the rear ceiling? Or.. I've got a few panels of 2" sonex left over, but I'm not sure that's going to do the job on the low end.

I'm still having problems hearing an accurate bass picture. The two sets of monitors sound dramatically different, no matter where I put them, especially at the low end (500 and below). I don't really know how to find the reflection points or how to get an accurate read of which frequencies are still a problem. I've tried to use the RoomEQ wizard, but I can't seem to get it right. If I can get it just a little closer, I wouldn't mind hiring Ethan to come over to fine tune things.

[Ethan Winer]

Ben, this very short article describes a way to find the best places for more bass traps:

Pink noise aids placing bass traps

--Ethan

[Glenn Kuras]

I don't really know how to find the reflection points or how to get an accurate read of which frequencies are still a problem. I've tried to use the RoomEQ wizard, but I can't seem to get it right. If I can get it just a little closer, I wouldn't mind hiring Ethan to come over to fine tune things.

For finding the reflection points it is pretty easy. Sit in your mix spot and have someone run a mirror down the side walls. Where ever you can see the monitors is where a panel should go. Actually I like to just cover the whole area so I know I am in the zone at all times when mixing.

For Room EQ you should ask Ethan to walk you through it if you plan to buy from him. We spend a great deal of time on the phone with customers answering any questions about it. Shooting the room can be helpful..

Glenn

[The Studio RI]

cool. when I get home I'll try that. I have an SPL meter as well, so I'll use that too.

as a relative newbie to acoustics, what is "shooting the room"?

[The Studio RI]

ok, I need to learn how to properly use an SPL meter. I didn't know what the heck i was looking at.

Either way, my ears tell me that there is a significant bass boost within 12" of the rear wall. Almost as if the entire room has a bass dip and the only place things sound even is within the last foot of the room. The starting freq is probably 200 or under.

If this is caused by a front to back problem, is there any way to reposition the speakers to minimize it? Then again, it still sounds as if there is a dip in the bass at the mix position.

[Rod Gervais]

Ben,

Any dip in the bass means that you need yet more treatment for bass - as you add treatment - the dips go away........

Rod

[Weasel9992]

Originally Posted by Rod Gervais

Ben,

Any dip in the bass means that you need yet more treatment for bass - as you add treatment - the dips go away........

Rod

That's pretty much it. I'm not sure I'd be too worried about the significant bass boost near the back wall...that's going to be the case no matter what you do, just to a lesser degree depending on how much treatment you're using. The issue is the perception that you're not getting an accurate low end picture at the mix position...REW would be helpful to work the problem. Call me and we can over set up for REW.

Frank

[The Studio RI]

Here's another question...

I measured the height of my monitors and noticed that they sit nearly exactly in the middle of the room. I remember reading somewhere that this was not desireable. So, I modified the stands, put the Mackies in the corners of the room, essentially using the entire room as the listening area, and put the Events in a smaller triangle above the center of the room. The results: The mackies sound awesome. I can hear everything clearer than in the past 7 years of owning them! Granted, I have to listen fiurther away, but there is a much larger sweet spot and the overall sound is worth it. And at that position, everyone in the room can listen. The Events sounds a little better, but still tweaking. I'm going to try the REW again this week.

[Weasel9992]

Originally Posted by The Studio RI

Here's another question...

I measured the height of my monitors and noticed that they sit nearly exactly in the middle of the room. I remember reading somewhere that this was not desireable. So, I modified the stands, put the Mackies in the corners of the room, essentially using the entire room as the listening area, and put the Events in a smaller triangle above the center of the room. The results: The mackies sound awesome. I can hear everything clearer than in the past 7 years of owning them! Granted, I have to listen fiurther away, but there is a much larger sweet spot and the overall sound is worth it. And at that position, everyone in the room can listen. The Events sounds a little better, but still tweaking. I'm going to try the REW again this week.

Awesome, Ben...great to hear! Let me know if you need any help with the REW plots.

Frank