Show 129 – Small Room Acoustics and more

This week we talk about Jon’s new studio and the acoustic challenges of small rooms.

Download Show #129

LINKS

Planetz Cool guitar geek stuff | website

Comparing different Capacitors for a guitar in real time | YouTube

Building “Super Chunk” bass traps | Website

Fixing Small Room Acoustics Problems | Audio Geek Zine

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10 thoughts on “Show 129 – Small Room Acoustics and more

  1. oh wow, I *JUST* happened to learn about the Tube Driver over the weekend, since I was in the market for an overdrive/booster. The pedal’s used by David Gilmour, Eric Johnson, Andy Timmons, and number of other.

    http://www.butleraudio.com/tubedriver.php

    The pedal started in the 70s but had stopped production but now have been continued. It costs $300 USD each. There are also a number of different clones out there and I think the circuit schematic immediately shows up when you do a Google search.

    There’s a youtube demo of the unit where the guy takes it apart at some point in the video and you can see the tube inside:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vd-bOlU9rDA

    Bunch of other cool pedals I’d love to try some day:
    Rothwell Hellbender
    Lovepedal Plexi
    Wampler Plexidrive (Wampler’s also got the Plextortion / Pinnacle)

    But I think the Xotic Effect ones to check out well. they just seem to maintain the pick attack really well even when driven hard:
    BB Preamp
    RC Booster
    AC Booster

  2. Hey guys, I continue to love HRS… I recently got turned on to another recording show-“Pensados Place” on youtube..Check out show 31- Eric Valentine walks you through his studio(BUT) what impressed me, and made me think of HRS, was the first section((Into the LAIR)) on his GUITAR ROBOT! He has a set up with forward,backward, left- right, up and down controls from his console…If he hits select and start, he might get 5 extra lives for building that robot! HAA Also, his DRUM BRELLA, which he states is a copy off studio B at OceanWay is very interesting…though you guys would like it

    I changed some caps in my 81 Electra after last weeks show, and it made a huge difference! Thanks Guys!!

  3. Great show guys.

    One good thing about acoustic treatment, is that it’s pretty easy to build your own traps, provided you can get the right materials. Even i have managed to build a rectangular trap and i’m pretty much a monkey with a hammer when it comes to DIY.

    Other then that i got the same problem as Ryan with acoustics, to many numbers and stuff making my head spin. Think i’m gonna read John’s article on the stuff see if i can’t understand it a bit better giving myself some time to read it.

  4. Jon, I don’t recommend doing the hackintosh. I built an i7 Hackintosh a year and a half ago and it was sort of a nightmare. And even if you do get everything working, there is usually one or two things that just will never work (like sleep mode!). Anyway, it was fun for like the first hour building the thing, then just pain for days afterwards trying to actually get it working 100%. If you have a month of free time though, go for it!

  5. Good show, guys. That was a very interesting segment from Jon; hats off to you.

    If there was one thing missing from the segment it would be the difference (advantage/disadvantage) between absorption and diffusion. Jon pointed out the advantage of foam vs wrapped panels; but those are both means of absorption. However, in many top-notch control rooms in big (or at least significant) studios, there is usually a 3X6 ft panel of diffusion material (see below). Why/when is diffusion preferred? (rapid fire section continued) How would you implement a combination of diffusion/absorption in your dream control room? Jon! (pause for Jon’s answer) Ryan!

    Blackbird studio Robo diffusion

    Ride the Lightning!

    -James

  6. I haven’t done anything on acoustic treatments since I don’t have a dedicated room for recording and mixing. I do have plans on making my own portable isolation/absorption panels.

    Here are additional helpful references from Ethan Winer…

    His Website on Acoustic Treatment Design:
    http://www.ethanwiner.com/acoustics.html

    Him being interviewed at Project Studio Network back in 2007:
    http://psn.libsyn.com/-show-59-ethan-winer-real-traps-com-part-1
    http://psn.libsyn.com/-show-60-ethan-winer-real-traps-com-part-2

    -mgjr73

  7. Hey guys. I just heard John is considering a hackintosh and I got here as soon as I could. You do not want to know how much time you can sink into those things. I spent hours on end fixing problems with two different ones I had. They all have problems. I am not some newb either. Geek credentials include moderate coding experience, homemade guitar amps, and a Master’s degree in aerospace engineering. I now own a 2009 quad core Mac Pro and I have never looked back. The 27″ iMac is now a great recording option because they are coming out with pci express expansion bays that connect via thunderbolt if you would like to have the option of adding expansion cards.

    I have several rigid fiberglass absorbers in my home studio, including 2 “superchunk” broadband absorbers in the corners. Sounds great.

  8. Help. I need help.

    If someone—a friend, even—says to you that they, quote: “Don’t really buy all that room treatment crap; I mean, most people listen in untreated spaces, so I feel like it’s probably not a big problem if I mix in one. You can’t really tell the difference, anyway.” (end-quote)

    …How on earth would you explain to him, in the nicest, most diplomatic way possible, that he is either A) Wrong, or B) Deaf?

    Because my well-reasoned response by way of slowly opening and closing my mouth in shock, then changing the subject, didn’t seem to get the point across.

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