John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum Archive

So, I'm working in a spare bedroom a the moment, and I've got a ridiculous node at my mix position at about 120 Hz. What's a cheap way to control that frequency?

I've got a mattress across one of the back corners. The other back corner is where the door into the room is. In one of the front corners I've got 2 of those Auralex bass trap dealies.

Something temporary and cheap is the idea.

Maybe I should just move the speakers around...

Stick,

> What's a cheap way to control that frequency? <

Rigid fiberglass four inches thick across as many corners as you can manage, including the wall-ceiling corners. That will absorb 120 Hz a lot, and also absorb all other frequencies. Which is what you want.

--Ethan

Cool. That's the answer I was expecting. Now I just need to find some around here somewhere.

Thanks Ethan.

You can directly substitute something like Roxul Safe-n-Sound - it seems to be available in quite a few areas, and will also probably be cheaper... Steve

Great, thanks.

b

Knightfly: Would Thermafiber do the trick? Or Roxul AFB?

Stick: If so, I know for a fact that these guys in the Rancho Cordova area carry it -- and deliver. They may carry Safe-n-Sound too, but you'd have to call 'em to find out.

If you have a single frequency issue like that, you might want to consider speaker/seat movement. It's quite likely that its placement oriented.

This is not contradicting the idea that broadband bass absorbtion is a good thing - just something to try to smooth things out FIRST.

Good point, one that probaby doesn't get stressed enough; which is why the sticky's are here (to read while waiting for answers :=))

http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2441

You're right, I know that placement is an issue (along with the size and shape, construction, location next to the sleeping baby, and lack of A/C), and I have read the stickies. My question was specific... how to cheaply control this particular offending frequency, not "how do I improve my sound". If I had a better solution I'd have done that. The room is bad, but the rig is where it is because it's the best of a bad situation. When I said "maybe I should move the speakers around" I was thinking moving them around by a foot or less from where they are now... that's about as far as I can play in the room at the moment. Anyway, if I can get 100 to 120 under control it'll be a slightly better bad situation. This is temporary until my real room is done in the garage. Gotta work somewhere.

Sharward... thanks for the tip. I'll probably do some calling around next week, and see what I can find. Delivery would be fine, but I'm ok with a little run down the hill for supplies. I'm gonna need the contacts for the upcoming studio build anyway. How's your place coming?

As always, thanks for the help guys,
b

Sometimes a foot or less is enough to make a diff; depends on the size of the room, current placement relative to major nodes, etc - and any of the products mentioned so far are basically interchangeable... Steve

Cool... good to know. Thanks.

Sometimes even a few inches will help for seat or speakers. Now realistically, you might find that this fixes 120 but introduces other issues - hard to say.

You might also try some unorthodox things - like raising the monitors and turning them upside down. This leaves you with the same basic arrangement but moves the woofer quite a bit in the vertical plane. It really depends on which dimension is causing the issue.

Ok, I'll slide around a little today and see what happens.

Thanks for the help,
b