Room Acoustics Advice

[Martin]

Could anyone offer some advice as to what I can do to my project studio to improve the acoustics? I have enclosed a diagram of the studio. I don't know if it will make any difference but the room will mostly be used to record acoustic instruments. Acoustic guitars, violin, congas, bass, mandolin and on occasion vocals. The only thing I know for sure is that the room needs some modifications. Thanks.

Martin

[knightfly]

First, I've started asking all posters to please change their profile to at least include a GENERAL area of the world for a Location - this just makes it a lot easier to make material recommendations, because different parts of the world have totally different cost and availability of materials.

What is UNDER the drywall on your walls? Solid concrete, or wood studs, or?

You have a little bit of a "square room" syndrome because of the closets, but fortunately they aren't very deep. Your overall room dimensions aren't bad, no glaring modal problems.

If possible, you need to get rid of the carpet because it only absorbs high frequencies and so will make the room sound boomy and boxy all at the same time. Then, you need to find a way to treat the parallel walls because they'll cause flutter echoes (rain barrel syndrome) even if you can't hear it by clapping your hands, it's still there as long as the walls are parallel and it will color your recordings.

The simplest way to get you on the right track is for you to check out this page -

http://www.johnlsayers.com/HR/index1.htm

That shows pretty much what you'll need for your entire room... Steve

[Martin]

I live in Western Canada. The drywall is attached to wood studs. When looking at the diagram, the top and right walls are foundation walls. They are concrete but have been framed with wood studs, insulated with R-20 insulation and then drywalled. The other two walls are inside walls and just have drywall affixed to the wood studs.

Taking the carpet out is not a simple fix, at least in the near future. Is there any way to compensate? As for treating the parallel walls, should I use diffusers, absorbtion, or...? Also, how do you know where to place the diffusers, etc. Further, does the ceiling need treatment and if so, with what? It's drywall attached to the floor joists. Thanks.

Martin

[knightfly]

On the carpet, if you find a lack of "air" at your mix position you could (temporarily) lay down a couple of sheets of plywood or particle board, or OSB, etc - I wouldn't leave these long-term, because it traps all kinds of evil critters/mold, etc, which can be worse with any condensation from the concrete. The same goes for an area you may use for recording elsewhere in the room.

Here are a few threads on treatments -

http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=755

http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=331

http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=432

If these don't help, please browse around the acoustics (and other) forums - post back if none of this makes any sense yet, and I'll cover the basics of what/where/why... Steve

[Martin]

Thanks for your comments. After some thought and reading I have decided to remove the carpet. Everything I read said get rid of it. So, I will use Pergo, Parquet, or something similar that will work on a basement floor that had very old floor tile on it. Once I do this the room will be very lively. How will I know exactly where to put the Diffusers and Bass Traps? How will I know how many to have? Thanks.

Martin