Room Treatment

[MostRequested]

So, I just moved into a new apartment, and trying to treat the room on a budget. I do have a SE Reflexion Filter and it helps a great deal, but I was thinking of covering the walls with thick moving blankets when I record vocals for added benefit.

My room is fairly big, it does have a bit of a reverb but to my ears, it sounds kind of nice! Anyway..

What do you guys think of this? I've read mixed reviews, some say it'll work fine and some say it absorbs the highs but the mid and mid-highs will still bounce around like ping pong balls.

I also have a huge window in my room.

Any input/2 cents would be greatly appreciated

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by MostRequested

So, I just moved into a new apartment, and trying to treat the room on a budget. I do have a SE Reflexion Filter and it helps a great deal, but I was thinking of covering the walls with thick moving blankets when I record vocals for added benefit.

My room is fairly big, it does have a bit of a reverb but to my ears, it sounds kind of nice! Anyway..

You'll want to keep a balance between too "live" and too "dead." You want some room ambience. If it's sounding "nice" (natural room effect) then you may not have alot of covering to do. Cover too much and you'll lose the mid- and high-freqs.

Originally Posted by MostRequested

What do you guys think of this? I've read mixed reviews, some say it'll work fine and some say it absorbs the highs but the mid and mid-highs will still bounce around like ping pong balls.

As stated above, you want to tame reflections. Also, don't neglect the low-freqs. Tame the corners of the room as well. Bass traps are usually used in those areas.

Those ping pong balls cause nodes....build up of certain frequencies and/or cancel of certain frequencies.

Originally Posted by MostRequested

I also have a huge window in my room.

Any input/2 cents would be greatly appreciated

Cover it!

That's my nickel!

[MostRequested]

Thanks for the quick reply and your fantastic nickle!

I decided to cover the window with a thick moving blanket and place the blankets sparingly through out the room.

The problem I have is with Bass Traps as I know they are completely out of my budget. I've been researching for bass traps, and there is no cheap way to do it.

[String7th]

Depends on if you want to treat the room for recording, or treat it for mixing. 2 different aproaches.
For recording vox, you don't need much. Maybe construct a fort of blankets hung by mic stands or things around the house. Spaced a few inches from the walls and 1 above the head. That way you eliminate any reflections so you can create your own, in the box reverb to fit the song.

For mixing, it's much more in depth. Bass trapping devices can be contstructed and mounted with a little research and construction skills. Broadband absorbers in all the corners is super-easy. Mount absorbing materials on all first reflextions, side walls, celing, ceiling corners, and you can use either rigid fiberglass or mineral board covered in fabric, or blankets.

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by String7th

Depends on if you want to treat the room for recording, or treat it for mixing. 2 different aproaches.
For recording vox, you don't need much. Maybe construct a fort of blankets hung by mic stands or things around the house. Spaced a few inches from the walls and 1 above the head. That way you eliminate any reflections so you can create your own, in the box reverb to fit the song.

For mixing, it's much more in depth. Bass trapping devices can be contstructed and mounted with a little research and construction skills. Broadband absorbers in all the corners is super-easy. Mount absorbing materials on all first reflextions, side walls, celing, ceiling corners, and you can use either rigid fiberglass or mineral board covered in fabric, or blankets.

String7th has a good point. Since you're recording and you have the SE Reflexion Filter, bass traps would be a lower priority at this point.

[MostRequested]

PME Records Broadband Absorber Construction

this seems like the right approach. The only problem I see with this is how is this suppose to cover the corners?

**Amazon.com: 'Mover's Choice' Large Padded Moving - Furniture Blanket - 80" X 72": Home Improvement for blanket coverage

If I do make this and and hang them at an angle, wouldnt it be too far from the corner?

Kind of like this


~> basstrap > \| < Wall <~

[String7th]

Originally Posted by MostRequested

this seems like the right approach. The only problem I see with this is how is this suppose to cover the corners?

This one shows them with a wood frame, you can skip that. Cover in fabric, safety pin or sew together in the back, stack in corners or hang in corners if the ceiling height is not equal. My ceiling is 8' and my panels are 4' tall so they fit snug on top of eachother, covering the corner from floor to celing.

[String7th]

oh, and the angled blankets are not required. If bulding pro-absorbers or designing wall-within-wall studio contruction, you try to eliminate parralell walls, but these you can just put on hangers spaced a couple inches from the wall.

[MostRequested]

Originally Posted by String7th

This one shows them with a wood frame, you can skip that. Cover in fabric, safety pin or sew together in the back, stack in corners or hang in corners if the ceiling height is not equal. My ceiling is 8' and my panels are 4' tall so they fit snug on top of eachother, covering the corner from floor to celing.

Thanks Tony and String!

This will be my new project!

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by MostRequested

Thanks Tony and String!

This will be my new project!

Let us know how it turns out!