ACOUSTICS IN A CONTROL ROOM

Installing porous absorbers is the most important measure for the acoustic treatment of a studio, because first reflections and flutter echoes often lead to unpleasant comb filter effects and can distort the stereo image. Wall-mounted absorbers help to solve these problems. Porous absorbers mounted at first reflection points reliably prevent these reflections. Furthermore, absorbers are very effective at reducing reverberation. In a studio, the reverberation time should ideally be equal across the entire frequency range, and quite short overall. Too much reverberation makes it impossible to hear the details in recordings.

Diffusors are another aspect of the acoustic optimization of studio rooms. Flat surfaces such as walls reflect sound, and these reflections can overlap and affect each other. This is why it’s advisable to avoid bare, flat walls in a recording studio. Diffusors break up reflections and ensure a more homogenous dispersion of the sound waves.

In contrast to absorbers, they do not dampen the high frequencies too much. That’s why diffusors are essential for achieving desirable acoustics in the studio, without over-dampening the mids and highs. Diffusors can also make a room sound larger than it is, and can bring back acoustic liveliness previously lost by installing absorbers.

In recording studios, control rooms and home studios, it’s especially important to be able to hear exactly what goes on in the low frequency range. Bass frequencies contain a lot of sonic energy, which is why it takes a lot of material to keep them under control. Bass frequencies tend to build up in the corners and along edges between walls. Special bass traps mounted in the bass-critical corners of the room absorb bass frequencies and allow for targeted dampening. In addition, most room modes converge in the corners, which means that bass traps can help to treat those, as well, and eliminate acoustic interferences, especially in the mid range.