Hi all,

I'm a newb - I'll try to keep this brief.

EDIT: the drawing shows "mm"... SCALE: 1mm = 1'

I've got 12 pieces of 1", 3.0pcf Spin-Glas board being shipped to me. Planning to build per Ethan's plans.

Below are my unfinished basement dimensions. Concrete walls/floor and open rafter ceiling (non-insulated). Ceiling height = 8' to solid surface.

The only finished area is the wall at the stairs - drywall on stairs side only, exposed frame on studio side.

I will be building my studio per Ethan's suggested "perfect studio" plans over the next few months... in the meantime:

1. Is there a way to calculate speaker placement, panel and bass trap placement, etc. for this type of room "as-is" (unfinished) so that I can continue recording until the studio is built?

2. Currently, my desk is setup in the bigger open room (opposite the furnace etc.) with me facing the long wall at the bottom of the stairs. My monitors facing towards the "top" wall (in the drawing).

In the lower-left, and upper-left, are the only "real" corners (until the studio is built) because it's really just one big unfinished room...

If I build bass traps for all corners should I still put them in the corners of the "furnace room", even though it's kind of separated from my work space?

Shames,

> Is there a way to calculate speaker placement, panel and bass trap placement, etc <

See my article How to Set Up a Room .

Though with a big open space like that it's less important than in a small room. I guess I'd set up centered on the left side of the drawing, with the speakers pointing toward the right.

> If I build bass traps for all corners should I still put them in the corners of the "furnace room" <

Sure. All acoustic problems are caused by reflections, and those reflections come back from walls even when they're far away.

--Ethan

Thanks Ethan - I'm off to read your article...

> I guess I'd set up centered on the left side of the drawing, with the speakers pointing toward the right. <

I'm a little surprised that you'd say that... I would've thought you'd say setup at the bottom with speakers pointing up - because of the stairs and associated partial wall, but...

I'll give it a try.

You better plan on getting much more for that room. That much concrete is going to have some above normal bass problems. The bass traps should be 4" thick, so that is going to only get you 3. I would think a room like that would need 10 or more.
Just my 2 cents,
Glenn

My basement ceiling will end up being a little over 7' in height except for the girder, and ductwork.

Do soffits heavily affect a rooms acoustics? Or, can they easily be treated like any other corner?

The girder would be extending across the entire width of the room and about 9" below the main ceiling. Plus, I'd have to box in a girder support - almost in the middle of the room.

Would I be better off designing to a smaller room to avoid the soffit and girder supports?

NS,

> Do soffits heavily affect a rooms acoustics? <

Only so far as they're in the way of where you want to put bass traps.

> Would I be better off designing to a smaller room to avoid the soffit and girder supports? <

Probably. But not too small!

--Ethan