New Studio Rant

Wanted to give you guys a run through of my intended process to acoustically treat my new studio.

Studio Acoustic Treatment – My Approach & Insights

Hey everyone! I’ve been revamping my studio space and wanted to share my thoughts on acoustic treatment—why it matters and what I’m doing to improve my setup.

Why Acoustic Treatment Matters

Acoustic treatment significantly impacts how your speakers reproduce sound. While headphones are useful, a properly treated room allows for more accurate monitoring, leading to better mixes. Without treatment, sound waves bounce around, creating unwanted reflections, resonances, and cancellations.

Room Orientation & Speaker Placement

• Ideally, you want your speakers firing down the longest part of your room to minimize reflections and standing waves.

• I opted against this for aesthetic reasons—choosing a layout that works better for content creation, streaming, and Patreon videos.

• My desk is centered on a wall to keep the listening position balanced.

Key Acoustic Treatment Strategies

1. First Reflection Points:

• These are spots where sound bounces first before reaching your ears, often on sidewalls.

• Use the mirror trick—have someone move a mirror along the wall while you sit in your listening position. Wherever you first see your speaker’s reflection, that’s where a panel should go.

• I'm using a heavy curtain for my window to cover the light, but it will also act as treatment, covering one of the main reflection points.

2. Speaker & Rear Wall Treatment:

• I’ve placed 4-inch acoustic panels behind my speakers, which alone has made a huge difference.

• A couch at the back of the room helps with bass absorption and general sound dampening.

3. Air Gaps for Better Absorption:

• I used foam spacers behind my panels to create a small air gap. This adds an extra layer of absorption by slowing sound waves multiple times before they reflect back into the room.

• This trick is a great budget-friendly way to improve panel efficiency.

4. Alternative Acoustic Solutions:

• Curtains help reduce reflections from windows and walls.

• Bookshelves & Plants can act as natural sound diffusers by scattering high-frequency reflections instead of absorbing them.

• DIY Panels: If you’re on a budget, making your own panels with rock wool and a wooden frame is a cost-effective alternative to expensive store-bought options.

Future Plans & Final Thoughts

• I may add a diffuser on the back wall (possibly using shelves with books and plants).

• Considering a bass trap but still researching its effectiveness.

• A large TV as an art display will help with aesthetics and act as an additional reflective surface to monitor.

Acoustic treatment isn’t about making a room completely silent—it’s about controlling reflections for clearer, more accurate sound. If you’re setting up your own space, experiment and adjust as needed!

Let me know if you have any questions or tips from your own setups. More updates coming soon!

This keeps all your key insights while making it smoother to read. Let me know if you’d like any tweaks!