Room EQ without using traps

[midKnight]

Hey Everyone,

Has anyone used or had any experience with this product? I just ran across it, and it looks really promising. It's the KRK Ergo.

It's a self-contained room eq analysis tool that while I will never make the argument will do away with traps, it might really go along way for people like myself who are struggling figuring out all of the myriad of trapping options.

Here's a youtube video demo of it, seems pretty cool.

YouTube - KRK ERGO Hardware & Software

So if anyone has used this before, I'd love to hear about it.

-N

[Ethan Winer]

I haven't tested that particular system, but I tested the Audyssey which makes similar claims:

Audyssey Report

None of these things can do what is claimed for many reasons, as detailed in the above article.

--Ethan

[midKnight]

Oh I in no way shape or form am trying to make an argument for doing away with bass traps, I'm just looking at exploring alternate solutions.

After months of reading up on bass traps, room eq software and the likes, I still feel like I don't understand it at all, and at best, all I'll do is waste a ton of money because I won't "get it right".

It's much easier to justify a 5 or 6 hundred dollar purchase to myself than to spend upwards of 2-3k, even if the results won't be as good. I figure some improvement, even if it's minimal, is probably better than no improvement.

If I were an endless supply of cash, I'd just hire you to come in, do an analysis of my room and get one of your trap packages. However as I'm a "hobbyist", I just can't justify that type of expense.

You ever barter for your services Ethan? I'm a kickass web designer/developer..

-Nick

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by midKnight

It's much easier to justify a 5 or 6 hundred dollar purchase to myself than to spend upwards of 2-3k, even if the results won't be as good. I figure some improvement, even if it's minimal, is probably better than no improvement.

Agreed and understood. But that $500-600 should go into bass traps, not EQ. If you're short on cash, either DIY or buy from someone like GIK.

You ever barter for your services Ethan? I'm a kickass web designer/developer..

Heh, I do my own web design. But I'm glad to help you and everyone else with free advice in the forums.

--Ethan

[midKnight]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

Agreed and understood. But that $500-600 should go into bass traps, not EQ. If you're short on cash, either DIY or buy from someone like GIK.

What's GIK? I'm not familiar with them. Do you know their website?

Hmm.. so would you say something like the ergo is absolutely worthless then?

My current concern with traps is that I may have to move soon, so I don't want something too permanent (yes, I can get free-standing traps, but I believe that will add to the cost greatly) and that's it's such a complicated topic, even using a diagnostic tool like room EQ wizard or EFT5, I can't very well interpret the results, so I feel like a monkey [insert crude sexual reference here] with a football..

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

Heh, I do my own web design. But I'm glad to help you and everyone else with free advice in the forums.

Nutz. Well I had to try, ya know?

Thanks for your advice Ethan, as always, it's very much respected and appreciated.
-Nick

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by midKnight

What's GIK? I'm not familiar with them. Do you know their website?

Damn, is Google broken again?

GIK Acoustics.

Be sure to tell them Ethan sent you. (Seriously.)

so would you say something like the ergo is absolutely worthless then?

Mostly. I'm not opposed to all EQ, but you could get the same result with a Behringer Feedback Destroyer for like $100.

My current concern with traps is that I may have to move soon, so I don't want something too permanent

That's no excuse. You can stack traps on the floor leaning into corners, or prop them up on cardboard boxes or milk crates etc.

--Ethan

[midKnight]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

Damn, is Google broken again?

GIK Acoustics.

Be sure to tell them Ethan sent you. (Seriously.)

Sorry, I should have done that myself, so my bad.

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

That's no excuse. You can stack traps on the floor leaning into corners, or prop them up on cardboard boxes or milk crates etc.
--Ethan

Ok, again point taken. I will forgo the quick and easy route and return to thinking about traps. Their pricing does seem less than yours, am I assume they are of course inferior traps to the ones your company makes?

(lousy attempt at trap worship.)

-Nick

[brandondrury]

After months of reading up on bass traps, room eq software and the likes, I still feel like I don't understand it at all, and at best, all I'll do is waste a ton of money because I won't "get it right".

The gist of it is pretty simple. When sound waves bounce off the back wall, they collide head on with the waves coming out of your speakers. Depending on which "mood" the wave is in (in the upward cycle, in the downward cycle, peaking, troughing, etc) will determine if these waves add together, cancel each other out, or some variation in between.

Then multiply that by a zillion to factor in all the other reflections.

The simplest way to deal with it is to make sure the waves leave the speaker and don't come back.

The only plugin I'm aware of that can do this is one with a built in "mute" button.

Brandon

[TonyB]

+1 for GIK Acoustics.