I'm at last moving out of the small (4.8m x 3m) room I have as my office and studio. I've barely used it for music-making as I've been too busy with work, but intend to record and mix in the new room.

In a nutshell, it's a converted outbuilding and measures 5.2m x 5m with a nice highish apex roof; the previous occupants used it as an office, and it has 2 double glazed windows and insulation up to building regs (10 years ago) in the roof.

Whilst I'm concerned about the square shape, it'll be far better than where I am now: having been in the family home for the past 5 years, I've become used to headphone mixing (HD650/MDR7520 & now a VRM box), but I'm looking forward to recording a variety of instruments in the new space (guitars, synths, piano etc) and doing some mixing at reasonable levels (there are near neighbours so we're not talking huge volume). I have a pair of PMC FB1s and TB1s, NS10s and a Bryston 4B for monitoring.

My initial questions concern whether I should partition the room with some of my massive vinyl collection to make 2 spaces: one an office/recording area, the other the control/mixing area (ie one 5m x 3m space for control room, one 5m x 2.2m office/live area)? Having been in a small room for 5 years, I'm rather not do this - it's a nice creative space: I'd rather line the walls with record shelving: would it be better to have some uneven-angled shelves with 12" vinyl to adjust the shape of the room?

Obviously I should look at constructing bass traps, but just how much space would I have to lose to make it worthwhile? My business requires a good deal of space so there's a limit to how much I can afford to lose.

My initial thoughts (I only got to go and measure the room today) would be to have the desk/speakers in the centre of the 5m wall firing down the slightly longer 5.2m length of the room (which is the centre of the apex ceiling/roofline) if I don't bisect the room.

Any initial words of advice welcome - I get the keys next week and plan on moving gradually.

Anyone? Seems the forum's quieter than it used to be (haven't been here for a while - kids/work etc etc), or have I asked the wrong questions?

A little further info: aim to be recording acoustic instruments/vocals as well as some percussion (maybe a kit now and them) and electric guitars/synths. Have the electric stuff covered as I have a speaker in an insulated box designed for the job that I can use with my valve amps.

I'm currently thinking I don't want to split the room up, so would have desk/speakers standing away from back wall pointing down the (just) larger dimension (central to the apex of the roof) . May have a wall of vinyl shelving behind speakers, though should I avoid doing anything that takes the monitoring position further into the middle of the room?

I don't possess the skills to do a drawing of the layout on the computer, but I'll post a hand-drawn plan when I've got a bit further down the line. I realise I may not have given enough to go on, but want to get started as soon as possible: it may just be that practicality dictates much of the layout and I have to place trapping/panels where possible, though it'd be good to get some idea before we start building shelves etc. I'm aiming to fill the corners with Super Chunks.

If we were to build shelving on the wall behind the monitors, say 12" deep, would it make sense to fill some of the shelving directly behind the monitors with rockwool? If so, would this mean we could place the monitors closer to the wall/shelf than otherwise? This would place the listening/mixing position about 2m from the wall/shelving and 3.2m from the back wall, which isn't great?

Am reading through other posts here (boy has the new forum made it congested and harder to search for stuff), reminding myself of what may be required, but it keeps coming down to me being in an almost square room...

As you know, square rooms are a nightmare, and while your's isn't the worst possible cube shape commn in so many small bedrooms, the chances are the ceiling height will be about half the wall length and so modes will still tend to line up in an unhelpful way.

Clearly, some extensive bass trapping will be required and I'd start with the four vertical corners and then see how the room sounds...

Hugh

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Technical Editor, Sound On Sound

Thanks for your post Hugh - fortunately this room has high apex ceilings so should be a little less of a nightmare than usual.

I'm going to go with Superchunks in the corners and maybe some panels for the sides/back walls. Given the high apex roof, would a ceiling cloud be advisable/necessary?

Could I sit my speakers closer to the wall if I put rockwool absorbers behind them (trying to keep listening point away from middle)?

Hi ainternational!

A ceiling cloud is always good for toning up the stereo imaging by removing a host of strong early reflections bouncing off the ceiling, but in your case I’d hnag as many clouds as you can fit in, since:

a) they won’t take up any of your valuable floor space

b) they will all help absorb those nasty room modes

As for fitting loudspeakers closer to the wall, mine are only a couple of inches away, but they are unported and therefore have a slow but steady roll-off that is compensated nicely by the this closeness

Mind you, when you're moving loudspeakers you should always listen before and afterwards (and preferably do some acoustic testing), since even a move of a few inches in nay direction can noticeably change the overall acoustics in the room.


Martin

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YewTreeMagic

Thanks Martin - great idea: the first things to move in after decorating are the amp, speakers and sofa. Not only will I be able to familiarise myself with the room whilst sculpting rockwool, but I'll be able to assess the benefits of various absorbtion methods. Maybe a fridge also...

Quote ainternational:

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Maybe a fridge also...

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No, too many early reflection problems


Martin

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YewTreeMagic

does this apply to rectangular rooms as well?

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#'s

It all depends on the relative dimensions of width, depth and height. Have a read of the box entitled ‘Modes In Differently Sized Rooms’ that I wrote for SOS December 2007:

www.soundonsound.com/sos/dec07/articles/acoustics.htm

And if you have a PC, download Ethan Winer’s freeware Modecalc utility to find out how your modes pile up (or not as the case may be ):

www.realtraps.com/modecalc.htm

Here’s an example of a room whose modes are reasonably well spaced, giving it a flatter frequency response right from the start:



Hope this helps!


Martin

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YewTreeMagic