Hi everyone, just found this place after much searching on this subject, exactly what Ive been looking for!
Here's my situation (yes Ive already read a lot on here):
I just moved into a rented flat a few months ago, its a two bedroom so the spare room is a dedicated studio.
Unfortunately, its sounds horrifically bad! Ive been using headphones since I moved in, its just unusable.
The bass is just a boomy mess frankly, it overwhelms all the other frequencies. The worst place to sit in the room is also exactly where I work from. If I move back towards the rear wall the bass becomes less boomy (still not good though).
The flat is a new build so the walls are pretty thin. The walls behind the speakers and behind me (both lead to other rooms in my flat) are made out of some plasterboard'ish material (I have no idea about materials), really hollow sounding. The walls to the sides are thicker, with a window in the right and a large built-in cupboard in the left.
The floor is carpeted.
I can feel the bass vibrating through the floor in my feet, at low volumes. It sounds to me like the major problem is the reflections on the front wall behind the monitors. The back of the monitors are 19cm away from the wall, I could move the desk further away from the wall (although less aesthetically pleasing!).
Dimensions: (cm)
295x290 (+ 96x70 door outcove rear left)
252 - height
Pics (apologize for the terrible quality):
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/273/imag0107be2.jpg
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/imag0107be2.jpg/1/w320.png
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/7392/imag0109rg0.jpg
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/imag0109rg0.jpg/1/w320.png
http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/548/imag0110xx0.jpg
http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/imag0110xx0.jpg/1/w320.png
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/5369/imag0116pe0.jpg
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/imag0116pe0.jpg/1/w239.png
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/4874/imag0118an5.jpg
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/imag0118an5.jpg/1/w320.png
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/165/imag0117hj0.jpg
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/imag0117hj0.jpg/1/w320.png
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/9003/imag0119wx9.jpg
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/imag0119wx9.jpg/1/w239.png
(yes I stacked every cardboard box I have on the back wall, seems like the most useful place to put them, makes it cozy if nothing else!)
I'm only composing/mixing in here so obviously I can gear everything towards that and forget about the tracking/isolation side of things.
The problem of course is its a rented flat which means I'm limited to non-destructive work.
What can I do?
Gobo's?
Who knew I had it so good with the old bedroom studio! :)
Thank you very much for any help.
Rented flat - Terrible acoustics - Mixing only
Originally posted at johnlsayers.com, topic 11442.
You are in a square bedroom. That is the problem that you are hearing. Only thing to do is move to a better room or deaden the entire room.
Also, I can't speak for anyone here, but I can do without the abusive language ;)
It sounds to me like you need bass traps: Lots of them. Big ones. In every single corner you can find. And maybe do something to make the room un-square. Perhaps move the rear wall? Build another wall? Square is bad. The bass trapping will help a bit, but it cannot make up for a square room.
It would also help to get those speakers moved away from the walls a bit, and (I´m guessing here, hoping the experts can chip in:) de-couple them from the desk? Maybe put them on separate stands, filled with sand, and sitting on neoprene pads? I'm not an expert on speakers, but that seems like the logical thing to do.
Is that a metal frame on the desk? Is the work surface also metal?
Bingo! That makes two of us!Also, I can't speak for anyone here, but I can do without the abusive language ;)
Yeah, I was thinking large gobo's would help break up the reflections a bit, still not enough? I could move into the living room, but I'm not sure how good that would be. Its a large rectangluar open plan kitchen/living room with hardwood floors and glass sliding doors at one end. I don't have any large furniture so its a very lively sound, my acoustic guitar sounds unbelievable in it though! Can take pics later.You are in a square bedroom. That is the problem that you are hearing. Only thing to do is move to a better room or deaden the entire room.
Can't build another wall or anything as large as that, not sure how long I'll be here so I want to make something I can use in other rooms.It sounds to me like you need bass traps: Lots of them. Big ones. In every single corner you can find. And maybe do something to make the room un-square. Perhaps move the rear wall? Build another wall? Square is bad. The bass trapping will help a bit, but it cannot make up for a square room.
How are those Auralex mopad things? http://www.auralex.com/sound_isolation_mopad/sound_isolation_mopad.aspIt would also help to get those speakers moved away from the walls a bit, and (I´m guessing here, hoping the experts can chip in:) de-couple them from the desk? Maybe put them on separate stands, filled with sand, and sitting on neoprene pads? I'm not an expert on speakers, but that seems like the logical thing to do.
Ikea desk - hollow metal frame - wood surfaces. Also, I can't speak for anyone here, but I can do without the abusive language ;) Bingo! That makes two of us! It sounds to me like you need bass traps: Lots of them. Big ones. In every single corner you can find. And maybe do something to make the room un-square. Perhaps move the rear wall? Build another wall? Square is bad. The bass trapping will help a bit, but it cannot make up for a square room. It would also help to get those speakers moved away from the walls a bit, and (I´m guessing here, hoping the experts can chip in:) de-couple them from the desk? Maybe put them on separate stands, filled with sand, and sitting on neoprene pads? I'm not an expert on speakers, but that seems like the logical thing to do. Is that a metal frame on the desk? Is the work surface also metal?Is that a metal frame on the desk? Is the work surface also metal?
Think I got it. :wink:Bingo! That makes two of us!Also, I can't speak for anyone here, but I can do without the abusive language ;)
Newbie needs help on monitor placement.... Acoustic panels... a photo essay... Just to show you how i built my bass traps (this one is a small room like yours and shows a pictorial)Think I got it. :wink: