Originally posted at johnlsayers.com, topic 12579.
Bass traps my friend, bass traps. 8) --EthanWhat can be done with this great decrease in 100Hz?
A manual sine wave sweep shows only the raw frequency response. Software like FuzzMeasure also shows decay times and much more. Software also does it all in five seconds, versus manually plotting a few hundred test tones one by one. Test tones are intended only for people that have no way to connect a computer to their audio system. --EthanI was also wondering if there is any performance difference between doing the sweep sine test manually as opposed to Fuzzmeasure?
so i guess there's no freeware of the mac? :[ That stinks as I don't have 150$ to spend on a program. ( I need to spend it on traps!) *sigh*ETF, Windows, $150 FuzzMeasure, Mac, $150 Room EQ Wizard, Windows and Linux, Freeware This article explains how I use ETF, but the principles apply to all such programs. --Ethan
You can't really test full spectrum room response with just an SPL meter! You need a spectrum analyzer for that, and they sure don't cost US$ 50! Mine cost about US$ 400, and it only does 1/3 octave, which isn't good enough for a studio. Use your DAW! It has everything you need to do a full and accurate analysis. If you don't want to buy ETF, and don't want to install Room EQ Wizard for free, then you can follow Ethan's instructions (on his web site) to get a good idea of basic room response with his simple method. - Stuart -is there anyway to run a test without an SPL meter? I dont really have 50$ To throw down on a meter.
you misunderstood me, what I meant is that room EQ wizard requires me to use an external SPL meter. It says that in the documentation you need to calibrate room eq wizard with an external spl meter. I tried the demo of fuzzmeasure...it doesnt say anything about SPL calibration...but I read that an sm57 or 58 wont do the job for taking a reading...which is all I have at the moment. Ive tried fuzzmeasure but I get a different graph response every time...when the mic is in the same place...weird. I also cant get the waterfall graphs to work...You can't really test full spectrum room response with just an SPL meter! You need a spectrum analyzer for that, and they sure don't cost US$ 50! Mine cost about US$ 400, and it only does 1/3 octave, which isn't good enough for a studio. Use your DAW! It has everything you need to do a full and accurate analysis. If you don't want to buy ETF, and don't want to install Room EQ Wizard for free, then you can follow Ethan's instructions (on his web site) to get a good idea of basic room response with his simple method. - Stuart -is there anyway to run a test without an SPL meter? I dont really have 50$ To throw down on a meter.
True, because the response curves on those mics are not flat. The SM58 has a 5dB presence boost from 2kHz. to 10kHz. which is good for vocals, plus a de-essing dip at around 7.5 kHz., and the bass end rolls off 8 dB from 120 Hz down to 50 Hz, which is good for reducing handling noise. (That's what makes it reasonably good mic for live vocals and touring). So it won't give you an accurate representation of your actual room response. At least, it won't do so directly... However, if that's all you have, and you just want ballpark graphs without being too concerned about precision, then you can still use it to a certain extent, at least to get a rough idea of what is happening. Just compare your room graphs with the response curve published by Sure for the SM58, and kind of mentally subtract the mic curve from the room curve. The presence boost probably won't even be much of an issue (since you'll be more concerned about lows than highs for your room), but the bass roll off will be, and below 50 Hz. you won't get much useful data at all. So if that's all that you have available to measure with, and you just want to get a general overall picture of where your problems might be, then you CAN use it, but recognizing that it won't be very accurate. It might still be good enough to give you a rough idea. I do a lot of sound for live events, and I've used an SM58 once or twice in a pinch to EQ sound systems. For that kind of thing, it's plenty good enough, as long as you compensate for the mic itself. But here's a point you might want to consider: Some SPL meters also have a direct output jack that comes direct from the measurement mic on the unit itself, and that mic is pretty accurate! So your fifty bucks will not only get you an SPL meter: it will also get you the a measurement mic.... :) Not all meters have the direct out jack, but some do. So check around. - Stuart -but I read that an sm57 or 58 wont do the job for taking a reading...
LEDE rooms seem to be out of style these days. RFZ seems to be the way to go. I think I'd put some of your panels on the front wall, directly behind the speakers, some on the rear wall to control reflections, and some on the first reflection point that you forgot.... :)Treat the whole front wall to have a dead front live back arrangement
Yup, that's the first reflection point that you forgot! The ceiling also has a first reflection point, just like the walls and that's where you need your cloud.C) Is it important to have a cloud hanging between my speakers and me?
That gives yo a room ratio of 1 : 1.52 : 1.75. That's not a known good ratio, but it doesn't seem to be too bad either. - Stuart -My room dimensions are: 14.2' X 12.2' X 8'
Large, deep superchunk traps in the corners. Or hangers. Search this forum for "superchunk" and you'll find many different ways of making them. They good thing about them is that they are effective, easy to build and relatively cheap. They need to be large, and thick, and they need to be in the corners for maximum effect. There are 12 corners in a normal rectangular room: treat as many as you can. Small rooms need lots of bass trapping. - Stuart -How abt bass, how would you go about doing it?