Studio acoustics: non flat ceiling

Hi, First of all: this is my first post (after a lot of reading on John's website) and I'm extremely excited to learn more here and find out more about acoustics. The case: I'm currently running a little homestudio. I'm now looking to improve the acoustics in it, sound isolation is not needed. I understand the concepts of basstrapping, absorbers etc. but I can not find the best way to get an optimal acoustic treatment in my room because of the shape of the ceiling (see picture in attachment). I'm looking for some advice and tips on the best way of using the available space for a daw system and a little voicebooth (not soundproof, but as dry as possible. I think space for box in a box is not enough in the already small room). The biggest question mark in my head is the orientation: the desk on the high wall or below the ceiling (that is actually the roof of the house). On the picture (not with SketchUp, still learning that :lol: ) in the attachment you can see the setup I had in mind, without any acoustic treatment. Hope you guys can put me on track! Bye, EB

EB, A room in a room design is for isolation only. Since isolation is not a requirement for you... To begin with, trap as many corners as possible. You will probably need to make the sloping ceiling dead to eliminate any early reflections from it. Also being so close to the wall/ceiling you will have SBIR issues. I don't think that, in your case, you have many other options other than dealing with the SBIR - just be aware of it. OR - you could build a soffit mount for them and apply a -6db/octave filter to the low end to compensate. :mrgreen: For vocals: Are you going to use the same room?? If so, you will probably want it pretty dead. - IMO, not ideal for mixing - but effective for your space. 8) Cheers, John

Thank you jhbrandt for this quick reply! I assume that you take the orientation of the desk as it is on the picture as the best solution? Making the sloping ceiling dead in mid / high range is not so very hard but the suffit mounting for the speakers would be a little hard, unless i make a hole in the roof or would it be a good idea to construct a fake wall on that side to built them in? EDIT: what about subwoofer placement when using suffit system btw? Voice recording: on the left side of the desk in the picture you can see a small little window from a very small room I'd like to make. This one I'd like to have dry and since it's only for vocals, no bass absorption is needed in there I think. Bye! EB

EB2010 wrote:

I assume that you take the orientation of the desk as it is on the picture as the best solution?

From a symmetry stand point, yes. Also you wouldn't want that sloping wall to be your back wall, as it will focus the sound back at you. About the wall behind the mix position: I would recommend that you put a large poly on that wall to spread reflections from it and add trapping. (fill it with rock wool). Or at least put a couple of slanted wall panels to direct reflected sound away from the operator position.

EB2010 wrote:

...would it be a good idea to construct a fake wall on that side to built them in?

Sure, if you think you have the room.

EB2010 wrote:

EDIT: what about subwoofer placement when using suffit system btw?

That will need to be determined by testing / trial & error, as in all cases.

EB2010 wrote:

Voice recording: on the left side of the desk in the picture you can see a small little window from a very small room I'd like to make. This one I'd like to have dry and since it's only for vocals, no bass absorption is needed in there I think.

Oh, I see. No problem then. But you will need to trap that room. VERY important if you don't want your vocals to sound 'boxy'. Small rooms (booths) need more trapping than large rooms. Cheers, John

Hi EB, You also may wish to think about putting another wall across from the vocal booth to the back wall to create symmetry in your room. I know you are not worried about isolation, but this would have at least a little benefit in iso as well as creating a room that is easier to mix in. Steve