DIY room analysis

[roryrok]

any thoughts on affordable, practical ways to analyze your room? valuable software and test mic combos? i know behringer makes an omni testing mic, since im not using it for recording would this be an acceptable time to bring in the chinese?

listening to clapping for reflections and hearing bass anomolies against walls is about where my analysis of my room ends, i have a pretty good idea of what i'd like to do to treat my control room but i wouldnt mind some direction, any suggestions?

[Ethan Winer]

Rory,

> any thoughts on affordable, practical ways to analyze your room? <

Sure, but it's not a simple process. First you have to determine what you need to measure. There's more than just frequency response! There's also ringing, early reflections, reverb time, and so forth. I use the ETF software:

www.acoustisoft.com

> i know behringer makes an omni testing mic <

Yes, you should use an omni microphone that's as flat as you can afford. But I have to tell you, and this is from the perspective of someone who measures rooms for a living, the importance of measuring your room is often overstated. The solution is always the same no matter what you measure: Broadband absorption that works well to as low a frequency as possible. This is especially true for rooms the size you'll find in most homes.

--Ethan

[roryrok]

thanks, upon reflection i think maybe a common sense approach would be more appropriate, like you say

also, i checked out that behringer omni testing mic and it has a wicked high-mid peak, probably not the best idea

[TapeOpLarry]

I hate to be a walking ad, but I put a pile of RealTraps MiniTraps in my control room and the broadband energy absorption works. It still isn't prefect, but when I move to my new space next year....

[Ethan Winer]

Larry,

> I hate to be a walking ad <

Hey, don't stop on my account!

--Ethan

[drumsound]

Mini-Traps have helped my room a lot too!

[myfipie]

There is no reason you should not shoot your room. Not only will you learn a lot, but you can compare to see how well the product worked for you. But Ethan is right you will really need bass trapping. RPG also puts out a program that shoots the room... I have not used it but have heard ok things about it.... I think Sweetwater sells it..

Glenn