John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum Archive

I produce mostly electronic based music, so I am building a "studio" in my new house that is basically just a control room. I am familiar with ideal dimensions for sound/nodal purposes, however I have not found much info on window placement. Obviously in large studios there is usually a window to the live room in front of the console/mix position. My questions is would this be the ideal place to place one or? And multiple windows?

Just joined today and there seem to be some amazingly knowledgeable people on here. Looking forward to the input.

Hi there " Czyzdustries". Please read the forum rules for posting (click here). You seem to be missing a couple of things!

That said, if you want windows in your control room then you can have windows in your control room! You just need to put them at locations where they won't cause any acoustic harm. Normally, that means you don't want them at the first reflection points on your side walls (unless they are suitably angled), and you don't want them on the back wall (since the back wall will need extensive, heavy, thick treatment). The front wall is an option yes, but you still need to do it with care, and taking into account the rest of the room, as well as the room design concept that you are planning to use.

I am familiar with ideal dimensions for sound/nodal purposes,

Actually, there isn't really any "ideal" dimensions or ratios for small rooms: just worse ones, and slightly better ones. Rooms have to be rather large before the modal issues can be ignored. Changing room dimensions only really manages to "move the deck chairs around on the Titanic", so to speak: it moves some modes closer together, and others further apart, but it doesn't solve the underlying issue: there are not enough modes to go around in a small room! That's the basic problem. If only there were more modes, then getting a better spread and more even response would be a lot easier.... but that can only happen in larger rooms.

What size room are you considering for your control room?

- Stuart -

Stuart what size room I should consider large enough before modal issues can be ignored? The size space I am working with is 26X32.

Stuart what size room I should considered large eNough before modal issues can be ignored? The size space I am working with I should 26X32.

Modal distribution can never be ignored.

Greg