Looking for a new flat - what would you look for acoustically?

[Jwilson]

Hi, Ive been reading the forums for a while now, fantastic place, particularly this forum, the bass trap construction threads have been of huge help. I haven't built any yet, the reason being my question now.



I'm currently considering moving to a new flat (renting), my number one specification is that it has a good area to setup my mixing room in, and one in which I can feel comfortable about not disturbing any of the neighbours (and vice versa).

Considering it has to be a property located in the city, what should I be on the lookout for?

Taking into account building type and construction method, room size and shape..... new build, old tenement, main door,floor level etc....




Any help is very much appreciated, thanks.

[tINY]

Big rooms with high ceilings are good.

Heavy rock, brick, or concrete walls between flats are good.



-tINY

[goldenlotus]

Try to be either top floor or ground floor so you don't have neighbors above AND below, maybe even try to find a corner unit.

[Jwilson]

Originally Posted by tINY

Big rooms with high ceilings are good.


-tINY

I just moved my studio into the living area of my current flat, pretty big room, long with wooden floors. The frequency response and stereo imaging is much better than the small room, but the reverberation is obviously much worse. If I want to work on a sound in any detail I have to use headphones (whereas in the small room I had to use headphones if I wanted to hear any semblance of an even frequency response ).
I guess it would take a huge amount of absorption materials to make any impact.
Would a larger room such as this not require more work than a smaller room in the end?

Try to be either top floor or ground floor so you don't have neighbors above AND below, maybe even try to find a corner unit.

Yeah that was my thinking too, ground floor would reduce my bass worries any way.

[andrebrito]

It will require more material but the advantages are significant.

The ammount of absorption or diffusion depends what kind of room you want, Lede, Non-environmental or something more modern.

[tINY]

Originally Posted by Jwilson

I guess it would take a huge amount of absorption materials to make any impact.
Would a larger room such as this not require more work than a smaller room in the end?

Not really. Once you treat the first reflection points, the detail will be much better. If you need a dead space, you can treat a corner.



-tINY

[Jwilson]

Originally Posted by tINY

Not really. Once you treat the first reflection points, the detail will be much better. If you need a dead space, you can treat a corner.

Ah, I guess that makes sense yeah.

Will look into building some first reflection absorbers.

[Brad McGowan]

I would look for a room that has good symmetry. That will give you the best shot possible at treating the room with commercially available or DIY bass traps. All bets are off when you have a room that has strange nooks or features that only exist on one side of the room. In other words when you set up your speakers and recording gear in the room, you should be able to look at the left side of the room and see the same number and kinds of furniture, equipment, architectural features that you see on the right side.

Due to challenges imposed by lack of symmetry in my control room I felt it was necessary to resort to hiring a professional to sort out my acoustic issues.

Where you place equipment and furniture in the room has a huge effect on the acoustic response. It's not just a function of where you sit or where your speakers are. Keep that in mind.

Brad

[Jwilson]

I'm going to buy some of this mineral wool to build some ER absorbers for now.

soundproofing materials price list

A480 - 60kg - 1200x600x100 - 12.96 area - 18 slabs per pack - £36.05 per pack



If I'm reading their price list correctly....



In the meantime I will keep up the search for a new place.