If you're a home studio owner on a small budget, let's see how you can get the best bang for your buck!
This article is actually a part of our exclusive guide which we provide our NSG-1 Clients along with their purchase pack! Make good use of it:
As burgeoning audio professionals, this guide is your initial guidepost into the intricate realm of optimizing sound quality in modest setups. It is essential, however, to acknowledge from the outset that designing a professional-grade audio studio involves multifaceted considerations, including room geometry, bass trapping, acoustic isolation, diffusion, reflection management, and harmonious integration with functional elements like HVAC and electrical systems.
Consider this guide as a push start to improve your existing bedroom/home studio's acoustics to a significant level without breaking the bank, but comparing it to a pro-audio facility such as our NSG T2 or DRS designs would not be wise at all.
Key Considerations:
In the sphere of basic home studios, freestanding/wall-mounted porous sound absorbers emerge as indispensable tools. By strategically addressing specific areas prone to reflections and sonic irregularities, we can significantly elevate the auditory quality of our recordings and mixes. It is important to note that porous sound absorbers work on the velocity component of the soundwave and not pressure, by dissipating sound energy into heat due to friction. And, along the boundaries of the room, the sound velocity starts decreasing eventually to 0 to the point where it is reflected from. Hence, thin absorption put on the walls does next to nothing to tame these reflections. That is why, we recommend and manufacture minimum 7 inch deep absorbers. More on the topic here:
Strategic Placements for Optimal Results:
Early Reflection Points: These are the initial surfaces sound waves meet after departing from the source. Velocity absorbers excel in countering these early reflections, especially in critical areas like the walls facing the source, the ceiling overhead, and opposite walls.
Ceiling Clouds: Suspending velocity absorbers in the form of ceiling clouds is a common strategy, yet overlooked by many. By targeting the ceiling, these absorbers effectively prevent the buildup of sound energy, creating a more balanced auditory atmosphere. The ceiling is the surface we tend to stress more on in a budget-constrained build since upgrading walls would be easier than upgrading the ceiling. However, at least covering the First Reflection points on the ceiling would make a big difference in the entire stereo image as well. If you were about to overlook your ceiling as a non-critical surface, read this blog first: https://www.grayveeacoustics.com/post/why-need-a-cloud-absorber-small-room-acoustics
Corner Treatment: Low-frequency sound tends to accumulate and build up in many areas, one such being the corners. These are usually pressure accumulations, which need to be dealt with pressure traps, however, if you spend a little more effort on sealing the corners with appropriately designed velocity absorbers, using the MSM effect, (as explained in our other blog: https://www.grayveeacoustics.com/post/diy-bass-trapping-becomes-easy) you can really harness a good portion of the power that a membrane trap could provide. And, ALWAYS seal the entire corners - all the way from top to bottom to the floor. Any leaks just defeat the purpose of sealing it. In small home studios, we like using stacks of our GrayDIA S13-80 - an innovative pseudo-trap designed specifically for vertical corners in small rooms working down to 50Hz in just 13" of material depth! Sealing them with a good strong caulk does the job pretty well!
Getting back to the Early reflection points, if you are not sure about how to go about finding the early reflection points in your room, here's a simple trick for the First order-reflection points: For wall absorbers, a simple trick involves placing a mirror against the wall. If you can see the sound source or a speaker's reflection in the mirror from your listening position, that's an ideal spot for a velocity absorber. This approach ensures that early reflections are precisely targeted.
Similarly, ceiling clouds can be positioned using a mirror test. By holding a mirror horizontally against the ceiling and locating reflections of sound sources, one can pinpoint where to place absorbers for maximum effectiveness.
We have developed a mirror test for the second-order reflection points as well, however, it is a complicated approach with two mirrors and a lot of movement, and unfortunately, I can't really frame a comprehensive guideline for it, but you may find some other resources on the topic online. Just, beware of snake oil salesmen and made-up theories!
As you embark upon your journey towards optimizing the acoustic ambiance of your basic home studio through sound absorber placement, bear in mind the intricate universe of pro-audio studio design that exists beyond these introductory steps. This guide provides a foundational understanding, acquainting you with the preliminary facets of improving audio quality. Always keep in mind that the path to professional-grade studio acoustics involves a holistic approach, looking at the entire system coherently as a whole, where meticulous design choices resonate harmoniously with advanced technology and sonic finesse. Happy learning!
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