Hey Ethan et al,

FIrst off thanks for all you do.

I just moved and am setting up my new home studio. I am planning on using the space for composing, mixing and light recording in the rear "live" area. This space is fairly small and has an angled entryway. I have my listening position at 38% and have plans so far for the following acoustic treatment:


Here are also some quick photos of the space.






As you can see I plan on putting 3 superchunks in the corners where I can. And then the first reflection panels on stands and suspended from the ceiling.

A few questions:
What should I do about the slanted door area?
Are the closet door on the back wall a form of diffusion that would work? The closet contains clothing and bedding, etc. This is a rental house BTW.
Are the superchunks on the front corners sufficient as they will be on frame and casters as they cover corner windows and an exterior door? (So I can wheel them out if I need access to either.) I am also planning on hanging a light curtain in front of both windows and the door area symetrically on both sides.
I know how I am going to construct the bass traps, but how should I construct the panels? 2", 4", 6".. and how far from the wall? They will be on stands as they will be in front of windows on one side.
What other treatments should I do? I do want it to look nice and have a girlfriend to please with the general esthetic and look.
PS... I use the accordian closet doors everyday, they open to the right as you face them in the normal fashion so putting something in front might be a pain.

Thanks for all you can suggest,

Take care,

John

Probably nothing.


No diffusion, but maybe some useful absorption.


How you mount them is not important. What matters with bass traps is their size and how many you have. IMO there's never "sufficient" bass trapping, so just do as many as you can. If you're renting and can't do the ceiling corners too, so be it. I'm sure having traps in three wall-wall corners will help a lot.


I can help with the theory, but I leave the DIY details to others. However you can get the panels into the right places will be fine.

--Ethan

First off... thank you very much Ethan.. you are the man.



Can you suggest a DIY option for the diffusion that would work considering that I use the closet on a regular basis?




I plan to put the superchunks all the way to the ceiling.. good?

Any other areas you can see that may need treatment or be possible problem areas?

Thanks again for all your help.

John

7 root QRDs are nice.



Yes the more area you cover the better. ALWAYS!



I would keep covering more corner areas, ceiling to wall corners and floor to wall corners.

Besides Glenn's advice I'll add these links:

Acoustic Calculator
Diffusor Calculator

As for the closet, maybe build stands for the diffusors so you can move them.

--Ethan

Thanks guys,

The floor/walls are pretty much taken. I was originally thinking about doing some artwork looking panels and placing them on the side walls, maybe two or three each side wall space permitting (same side as the early reflection panels). If that would work they would have to be 2X4 on the piano side and 2x2 on the bookcase side. If bass traps, do you think that would eliminate the need for wall/ceiling traps? I'm just trying to avoid those if possible for appearance reasons.

The diffusers on stands is a great idea. Do they have that software for mac or is there an equivalent? Also, given the size of the room... how much rear wall diffusion should I do? Two stands of QRD's.. one? I know about the early reflection "rules"... but are there "rules" for coverage and placement of QRD's on the rear wall?

Thanks again

John

I would put some absorption on that door behind the mix position,as it seems to be facing directly at the mix position.
Perhaps mounting a broad band absorber right on the door would be a good idea.

With bass traps, the more you have the better the results.


I've seen a web site-based calculator but I don't have the link. Maybe Google will find it for you.


I'd have at least two, centered vertically at ear height, but covering the entire rear wall would not be too much. Look at photos of big-name studios for ideas.

--Ethan