Acoustics

Setting up your home studio isn’t all just about having the right recording software, hardware and technology – almost equally important is how your space is treated acoustically. Externally, it’s obviously a good idea to have a good degree of sound proofing, especially if you’re working at high volumes and don’t wish to disturb those around you, or let their noise interfere with your recording. It’s also very necessary to consider your internal space. Managing the room’s reflections and reverberations will make a huge difference to the quality of your recordings and a better environment for listening back and mixing.

Firstly, let’s define the difference between soundproofing and acoustic treatment, as the two are often confused. Soundproofing is essentially undertaken to minimize sound escaping, or entering your space, using adsorbent materials and air gaps in your room/building’s construction. The foam tiles/soft panels you often see covering the walls of a studio won’t actually contribute to soundproofing – this is acoustic treatment for minimizing reflections and controlling the sound. Often you’ll need ‘bass traps’ in the corners to absorb the low frequencies and give you a much more accurate understanding of what you’re listening to.

If you’re going to be working at high volumes, using real acoustic instruments and microphones, as opposed to mainly virtual instruments, in headphones, you will almost certainly need some degree of soundproofing. In order to achieve this you may require extra cavity wall insulation, or perhaps construct a booth, or ‘room within a room’ which can drastically cut down on the propagation of sound.

Creating a more controlled environment is where acoustic treatment comes into play. This will allow you to make better recordings, monitor and adjust your mixes more effectively and cut down or reverberations and room sound. As well as all the aforementioned factors, it’s also a good idea to consider aspects like your room’s shape/size and speaker placement. You can find out more about this in our article on monitors.