Some questions about crucial control room absorbers

[Daddywags]

Hi guys. In my new 12x14 control room, I'm just starting to install my acoustic treatments. I've incorporated RealTraps this time, and it's sounding great. But I have a couple of questions about some of the crucial acoustical problem areas and what the best ways are to treat these areas. Any advice, suggestions, or tips would be great!

1) The rear wall absorber -

Directly behind the console and mixing position, I have a little extension to the back of the room. It's used as the client seating area, with a couch and tables. It's 12 feet wide and has 6 ft ceilings. This back wall is only about 7 or 8 feet behind me. The wall is typical sheetrock.

The best method to treat this area would probably be all absorptive, being a short distance from the mixing position. I've already got RealTraps in the back corners. I'm looking for an alternative to the design on the John Sayers web site. My original intent was to simply cover the back wall with Sonex or Auralex foam.


2) The ceiling directly above the mixing position -

This ceiling is only 9 feet high, so diffusion may not be the best idea. The ceiling is standard ceiling board with a white popcorn finish. (yuck )

I intended on hanging a false ceiling, built of 2" rigid fiberglass covered in black fabric and maybe even framed with wood. Would it be more advantageous (and economical) to just use RealTraps up there too (Ethan??) or should I build an absorber myself?


Thanks everyone for your input.

[Ethan Winer]

Wags,

> Directly behind the console and mixing position, I have a little extension ... Would it be more advantageous (and economical) to just use RealTraps up there too <

You can either put more MiniTraps there or build your own panels. The rear wall is a prime place for serious low frequency absorption, and it can be just as important as the corners. One advantage of getting more MiniTraps is they'll absorb to a lower frequency than a panel of the same thickness you build yourself. The downside is it will cost more. Only you can decide how much it's worth for the absorption to extend to lower frequencies.

--Ethan