building my new little homestudio

softknee · Post by **softknee** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 7:00 pm

I write you from Barcelona where I'm building a little homestudio. My architect knows how to make the insonorization, but has no idea about basstraps, deflectors or anything that helps to avoid the reflections. What i need for it? (please note that the loudspeakers are not in a standard position... where i need to put it?

London primacoustics works fine? you know any other simmilar products? (maybe a cheap one... my $$$$ are down down down...

Thank you all! this is my first message here... nice to meet you, great site!

dymaxian · Post by **dymaxian** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 12:18 am

Greetings, and welcome! Don't sweat the english- we understand you just fine!

Just from glancing at your layout, you're going to have a difficult time getting your stereo image right with your mixing desk and speakers placed where it is. On the SAE site (linked from this message board's front page) John explains why we need to make the room symmetrical around the speakers and listening position to make the reflections from each speaker even... and I don't mean to sound mean here, but your layout is exactly like his example of what NOT to do...

If you put the mixing desk flat against the 'bottom' wall there, you should still have enough room for recording a vocalist behind you, as you drew here. That 'L' shaped mixing desk might hinder you a little, but not too badly... on the positive side, it'll force you to keep your speakers away from the walls, which is almost always a good thing...

The SAE site I mention above will give you a lot of ideas for ways to treat the inside of the room; and so will the "wall units" page linked from this board's front page. Click on the "John Sayers Productions" link in the top right, and read everything you can. You may need to mix and match ideas to suit exactly what you'll be using the room for, but you'll get a pretty good idea of what you'll need to do from reading that stuff.

Hope this helps!

Kase
www.minemusic.net

dymaxian · Post by **dymaxian** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 12:41 am

Forgot to mention one thing in the post above...

You mention the height on the plan, and you seem like you're saying the height changes, but I'm not sure if you mean the floor elevation changes or if it's the ceiling. Or if it's sloped or has a step to it.

Sloping the ceiling (low point over mixing desk, with high point behind you) will work the best... not sure if that's what you're saying, but thought I should ask.

Kase
www.minemusic.net

softknee · Post by **softknee** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 1:28 am

dymaxian wrote:Forgot to mention one thing in the post above...

You mention the height on the plan, and you seem like you're saying the height changes, but I'm not sure if you mean the floor elevation changes or if it's the ceiling. Or if it's sloped or has a step to it.

Sloping the ceiling (low point over mixing desk, with high point behind you) will work the best... not sure if that's what you're saying, but thought I should ask.

Kase
www.minemusic.net

Hi dymaxian!

The ceiling changes from 225 cm to 235 cm.

The lowest part is over the bottom of the room, and the higher ceiling is over the window (coloured in blue), in the top.

The short walls are not parallel, too (223 cm in the bottom, 219 in the top). I thought that will be good to avoid reflections. The large walls are parallel.

I thought that the triangle placement was a good idea to have the speakers not so close to the corner (to avoid too much low frequencies) but maybe It's a wrong way to have good & clear stereo image.

Tknx for the link!

Post by **John Sayers** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 4:50 pm

Hi Mate - welcome to the site

You have a very small room here - not much room to put traps etc.
I'd get some heavy insulation , I don't know what you can get in Spain but I'm sure your architect could find some for you. Get 4" thick and as high a PCF (pounds per cubic foot) as you can afford.

Line the ceiling and the top wall with it and turn your desk around as Kase suggested.

You could build a 75 x 35 stud frame on the top wall and lean it forward so it's about 200mm out from the wall at the top. Then put the insulation between the studs. Cover wall and ceiling with cloth.

cheers
JOhn

softknee · Post by **softknee** » Thu Apr 22, 2004 7:09 am

Hi John, I'll follow your instructions, and the Kase advices too.

Maybe you know some commercial product that can do the same insulation effect? (I am very lazy

Thank you!!!!!!!

dymaxian · Post by **dymaxian** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 12:35 am

I thought that the triangle placement was a good idea to have the speakers not so close to the corner (to avoid too much low frequencies) but maybe It's a wrong way to have good & clear stereo image.

Yeah, the stereo image will be hurt pretty bad by putting the desk there. It'd be easier to build low freq treatment to compensate for having the speakers too close to the corners.

Leaning the front wall out will help a lot- strapping 703 across the corners of the front of the room as well will help out even more.

Kase
www.minemusic.net