Monday Mailbag – Help With My Loft Studio Arched Roof

Hi Dennis,

I’m building myself a loft studio and I have some questions. It’s got a triangular roof so not ideal but hey its the only available space I can use. The dimensions are as follows:

4m x 6m with the ceiling approx 3m at the peak for the studio section.

7m x 10m for the full room.

I’m experiencing some really bass heavy mixes so clearly I need to work on my treatment. I’m also going to try different speaker locations but I have to do something about the bass boom and I’m thinking its more of a room acoustics treatment issue than just moving the speakers.

Any ideas? What kind of absorbers should I try?

Martin

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Hi Martin,

You must first work on getting the low frequency pressure levels in your room under control. After you have done that, you can then look towards your ceiling for more low frequency control or other reflection controlling technologies.

With your room dimensions and the low frequency resonances it will produce, you will need low frequency absorbers that can go down into the 30 cycle range. The absorbers must have high rates and levels of absorption because you have sizable low frequency issues. One must match the tool or solution to the rate and level of the low frequency issues faced.

Only diaphragmatic absorbers will give you the rates and levels of absorption you need. They can be built as sealed units. Low frequency wavelengths don’t care about holes for sound to go through. A low frequency wave travels through the air in the room and hits the diaphragmatic absorber and goes all the way through it and out the other side without even breathing hard. All we can do is slow it down and take some of its energy away.

Diaphragmatic absorbers are very heavy. You need mass to slow down low frequency wavelengths using absorption. Make sure you have the space to use for the absorbers. Start on your small walls. You will need to cover the whole wall.

Regards,
Dennis