basement studio/low ceiling

[Rolff]

I am putting in a studio/music room in a low ceiling basement (literally 6'6"). Nothing extremely serious but I want it to sound good. Any suggestions for acoustics? Area is 12' deep and 10' wide. Ceiling is sheetrock; back and one side wall is limestone rock; front is still open to 10x10 area for instruments seperated by wooden structural support posts; left is open ~10' to mechanical/utility area.

[The Gibbon]

Really need all the dimensions width, length, height to calculate what might be your problematic frequencies. You have any corners or angles......need more info.

[inverseroom]

Sounds like my setup, and I basically threw in the towel right quick. I put up a bunch of foam to deaden the room and now I use rack reverbs. Or sometimes stick a mic and my head into the dryer.

[Rolff]

Sounds like my setup, and I basically threw in the towel right quick. I put up a bunch of foam to deaden the room and now I use rack reverbs. Or sometimes stick a mic and my head into the dryer.

I can send a scanned diagram if you are set to receive and view it.
Rolff

[Kyle]

Build Ethan's basetraps. This will help a lot. I have a larger set up of your studio. The traps make a world of difference. Put some on the ceiling as well.

http://www.ethanwiner.com/

[distorTED]

go
http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/index.php

[Rolff]

Build Ethan's basetraps. This will help a lot. I have a larger set up of your studio. The traps make a world of difference. Put some on the ceiling as well.

http://www.ethanwiner.com/

Thanks for the info link.

After speaking with an engineer friend, I am seriously considering cutting ~12"x12" openings into the ceiling, in the back of the room, between the floor joists, and framing in some loose weave fabric to create several small bass traps. I have seen this done before with great results.

I must remind you, the ceiling is only 6'6" high. Not much headroom for hanging traps, let alone headroom.

Otherwise, your suggestion of the "panel" traps, (in a smaller version), might be an option.

Rolff

[Ethan Winer]

Rolff,

> I am seriously considering cutting ~12"x12" openings into the ceiling <

Empty holes that expose the floor above will do nothing to control bass. You need serious amounts of fiberglass up there to do any good. If you have a budget you should look into my company's MiniTraps. Otherwise, you can do a decent job by installing rigid fiberglass in all of the room corners. Not just the regular corners, but also the corners at the top of the walls where they meet the ceiling. The great thing about ceiling corners is they extend all the way around the room, and they're up high enough to be out of the way.

--Ethan

[Kyle]

Cutting between the joist is a great idea. If you are going to do that I would recommend building Ethans traps into those cut outs, or at least using the corning 703 in the joint space. It's well worth the money.

Do you have room to float a cloud above the console to absorb reflections from the speakers and desk?

[Rolff]

Rolff,

> I am seriously considering cutting ~12"x12" openings into the ceiling <

Empty holes that expose the floor above will do nothing to control bass. You need serious amounts of fiberglass up there to do any good. If you have a budget you should look into my company's MiniTraps. Otherwise, you can do a decent job by installing rigid fiberglass in all of the room corners. Not just the regular corners, but also the corners at the top of the walls where they meet the ceiling. The great thing about ceiling corners is they extend all the way around the room, and they're up high enough to be out of the way.

--Ethan

Makes total sense. I have been studying bass trap design recently and am a moonlight woodworker as well. I am confident I can build some if I go that route.

By the way, your recording of the piece you wrote is fabulous!

I'll keep you posted on the rooms progreess....and thanks so much. Anything else?

[honkyjonk]

Inverse,
I've done that same exact thing with your head and a mic in the dryer. Depending on the dryer, but I think the result was awesome when I did it. 'Bout the only good thing I ever recorded on a Boss BR-8 multitrack.

[davidp158]

I also have a small basement studio, (7' 6" ceilings, 24'6" depth, and width that varies as room extends backwards - 11' wide to 16'6"). I can email a PDF of this layout if anyone cares to see it. My control room and tracking room are one in the same. I have a real issue with low frequencies and would love some advice on how to work them out.

When mixing with my nearfields (KRK VS8s), the low end is lacking unless I move back about 5 to 6 feet from the speakers. At that distance, the stereo image collapses, and I can't really pan with any accuracy. Consistently, I have problems getting an accurate mix of low end in this room. I don't feel that its a fault of the monitors, but wonder if there is a better placement for them.

Any clue on how to go about resolving this? If additional info is needed, please ask.

thanks in advance,
Dave