Help! Im stuck in the square control room Matrix...

[Imbue]

Hey guys/gals...

I have read everything i could about the 'square control room' syndrome. I seem to have a different problem than most of the threads. I HAVE NO BASS!

There is no bass response in this room at all. Here is the breakdown:

10.8" x 9.2" - Room
KRK Rockit 8's

I even had the speakers in the far corners, still no bass. This is heavier based rock. But when i take the mix in my car, or most other systems, it seems i have a rap record on my hands...LOL The bass actually sounds good, but very low and loud.

I noticed today, that if i put on a good rock album, (Faith no More Angel Dust) and put it to a decent volume, if i pan hard left, the speaker seems way louder. When i return it to center, the right side comes in and they both seem to lower in volume. Isnt this 'phase cancelation'? I can even see it on the board, the DB's go up when it is panned, and go a bit down when it is centered?

All of the tech seems to be around flatning the room and getting rid of the extra bass a small square room will produce. I need a little direction on this one,..

Thanks and PEACE,

[garageband]

Here's the very short answer:
All the upper frequencies are being intensified by reverberation and constructive interference in your room. The low freqs with very long physical wavelengths have no such luck and are left to suffer in their fundamental state. You've got to deaden up your room a lot to tame the upper freqs so your low freqs have a fighting chance.

And get a subwoofer.

[rockerdude]

I have had a similar situation.Garageband naild it! You have to treat your room and get a sub.Thats what I did and now things are peachy. Audio Recording has some nice wall pannels and other little goodies for the studio.

[rockerdude]

sorry...The site is ATS acoustics not audio recording....bad link. My studio is at Sterling Sound Studios

[Fullerene]

you can work through auralex -
there's a worksheet you can fill out and submit to them
and they'll make some recommendations..

typically no charge for the service -

might be worth a try..

good luck

[Imbue]

Thanks for the reply guys!

Garageband- what you say makes perfect sense. I already brought a sub in the room, i just havent hooked it up yet.

So i am looking to deaden, as opposed to deflecting or trapping, correct?

Thanks for those links, i will check those out right now...

Also, i realized i have the monitors facing down the short wall. My room only differs by 1 ft, but should i consider re-arranging the entire room to put the monitors facing down the long wall? It would be a lot of work, but if it is recommended i will do that, as well as 'deaden' where i can.

Thanks a bunch guys, i will take any and all advice on this one.

PEACE!

[mindundermatter]

Try listening to some of your favorite albums in there to see what they sound like. This will give you a better understanding of what your speakers and your room sound like. Try listening to similar music to what you're going to be mixing. The idea is to familiarize yourself with the sound that you want as it sounds in your environment. Also, it's not exactly phase 'cancellation.' But it IS an effect of phase. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan_law

[garageband]

deaden, as opposed to deflecting or trapping, correct?

Actually, all three in that order of priority. It's not enough to absorb: Don't just buy a bunch of foam (as much as foam salesmen want you to do so). You have to get some substantial amount of diffraction to orphan any reverberant impulses. Trapping comes last but is important so you don't have "puddles" of LF energy build-up. If you are moderately handy and access to someone who knows how to work with fabric, all these steps will not cost that much. Your control room room should be decidedly more dead than your tracking room.

You are in for a welcome shock when this all comes together.

[Imbue]

Thanks for the help guys...

Looks like the way to go is fiberglass (703 or 705), covered in fabric? Should i go 2" or 4" thick? I am pretty handy, and im sure i can make them. I used a couple of the online 'Room analysis' websites i found, but i am still new at this.

Since all rooms are different, and with all the different variables, this seems like it will be a trial and error type thing? Or are there some things that need to be done regardless?

I was thinking of starting with a single 24"x48" piece on each of the 4 walls, just to start. I mean the room is so small, its hard to place stuff in a direct path of the speaker (like opposite walls), ect. What do you guys think?

Should i attach them to the wall, or hang them so there is a gap between them and the wall? Seems like people do it both ways...With the room being so small, im thinking i should mount them on the wall...?

Also, should i redo this room so the monitors are firing down the longest wall? The long wall is only 1.5' longer than the short wall. Will this make a huge difference?

Thanks again and PEACE!

Miles G

[garageband]

I'd plan on 2 of the 2" panels per wall, staggered in height attached to the walls. Hanging is nice but somewhat more complicated (grey foam bushings at the corners and stuff). Longway is best if you can manage it.