Hi folks, @twoheart asked me if I could explain the topic of room acoustics and give some acoustic treatment tips.

Room acoustics is a very complex topic. I will try to simplify it as much as possible and keep mathematical formulas to a minimum.

This is the main page. To get to the specific topics, follow the links below:

• PART 1: INTRODUCTION
• PART 2: THE POSITION IN THE ROOM
• PART 3: HOW TO DEAL WITH ROOM REFLECTIONS
• PART 4: ACOUSTIC ROOM MEASUREMENTS
• PART 5: CHOOSE THE RIGHT MODULE FOR THE JOB - ABSORBERS
• PART 6: CHOOSE THE RIGHT MODULE FOR THE JOB - DIFFUSERS (Still under construction)
• PART 7: CHOOSE THE RIGHT MODULE FOR THE JOB - ROOM DSP (Still under construction)

If you have a question about any of the topics, please comment on the appropriate thread.
This is just the main page and serves as an overview.
I will try to answer as soon as possible. Anyway, it is possible that I have no time to answer questions.
But I'm sure other community members will be happy to help.

If you link to this thread, please always link to this main page !!!
Since the parts build chronologically on each other, it makes no sense to link to one of the sub-threads.



Good luck and have fun with the room optimization!

 

Last edited: Oct 1, 2019

Great idea for a thread! Thanks for time and effort.

 

THAT is much more important than another new hardware synth.
I pushed that in front of me for years since i I simply do not had the space, but than finally after getiong a bigger room I did it and mixing is a total different story.

 

I really would not recommend REW, I know gearslutz fell in love with it. But in practice, it does not work with most of the audio interfaces. (some serious issues with the loopback promises)
and if it does work, the results are not trustworthy and all over the place.

Edit: I could suggest different software, like the sonarworks one. But I don't have the appropriate experience with that. Do want to add that the "concept" of room measurement is important and a necessity at some point.

 

Last edited: Sep 18, 2019

How do you mean "not trustworthy results" in REW? Did you set it up incorrectly?

 

REW is absolutely trustworthy !!
It's used by professional room acousticians all over the world and I've never had any problems with REW either.
Yes, there are even more powerful softwares: from 800€ upwards. Sonarworks is not suitable in this case. I'll go into sonarworks a bit closer in part 5.

 

Last edited: Sep 18, 2019

Fine that you took you the time @Sinus Well .
As you said, there are a lot of YT videos on that matter but that's part of the problem:
Whom should one trust. If one invests time and money the result should really work.
Or is it sufficient to buy one of those "Out-of-the-box" solutions for "only" $900 e.g. to record a singer.
So thank you for your great and interestingly written work that may save some members a lot of $$$

 

Last edited: Jan 10, 2021

@Sinus Well I have one observation and suggestion to make. If you continue to add to this thread it is going to be confusing for members to reply. I think you should create a new thread for each section that you add. Same title with a subtitle. For example The Room Acoustics Thread: How to Deal with Reflections. I have browsed through some threads here in the forum that utilize said format and it does make a difference when reading and participating. Again, thanks for your time and effort.

 

I think it is not a good idea to split the sub-topics. anyway: that's a good argument. I will think again about the organization, when all parts are finished. thanks for the hint!

 

Thanks for this post!
For my part I prefer everything in the same thread... ;)

 

Caruso Isobond is an alternative to rock or glass wool and you can you it unsealed

 

tl;dr how do I dampen low-mid reflections? for recording, not monitoring.

 

There is a bunch of great forums threads on this topic John Sayers,
https://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/index.php
Ethan Winers was good but it's not up anymore well he sell his own acoustic treatment that might be why.
S.O.S https://www.soundonsound.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=24
And som others i forgot but a google search might help.

 

Hi @PopstarKiller
Your question will be answered in the following Parts !
In general, similar rules apply to the listening room and the recording room.
But listening rooms are a bit drier and are judged more critically during treatment.

 

Generally yes. As you said, it can be used unsealed.
Whether that's worth the high price tag, everyone has to decide for themselves.

 

Last edited: Sep 19, 2019

Yeh true. For me , who also sleeps in the studio is it perfect. No worries (or paranoia when trippin') about possible dangers.

 

Great post, @Sinus Well! Thank you for taking the time to explain all of this.
This is a current project for me as I have been given the go-ahead to remodel my mixing room. I've been researching different types of bass traps as my room is relatively small and this is the area of my mixes where I tend to have the most difficulty with translation. Limp Mass Absorbers look very promising. I'll be following this thread closely. The idea of finding reflection points by laying out the room using CAD is a good one I hadn't thought about.

 

It is your thread bro and you can do as you please.I only was making a suggestion.

 

I agree with the suggestion by @The Pirate. It will make it easier, as a thread, to participate. I could be mistaken but that is the format in those Kontakt threads by ninja.There is also a copyright thread using same thing. It keeps all comments related to one topic(chapther)in one place. There hasnt been much participation on this thread but it has potential to get crazy. Comments to different topics all over. It would be a shame because it is a very informative thread.

 

great thread!