Room Acoustics

John Storyk got into the whole studio design thing when he hooked up with a certain Messrs. Kramer and Hendrix to design a certain Electric Lady Studios -- you may have heard of it. We spoke with him about his acoustical-architectural company, the Walters-Storyk Design Group, and about the evolution of the modern recording space.  

If the bulging, tuberous-looking bass traps in your studio wall are annoying you, it's time for a more subtle approach. RealTraps MegaTraps, despite being mega-sized, offer a softer and less obvious look while effectively taming bass frequencies.  

A clear pristine sound is always desired in venues such as recording studios as well as home theaters. The usual approach to doing so is via acoustic treatment, which often requires permanent installation of bass traps and other devices that will make setup changes very difficult. RealTraps rectifies this problem by offering a modular system of acoustic treatment that is flexible enough for various situations yet powerful enough for that desired sound.  

Coach Hetrick from KRK Systems returns for another round in the room monitor finals. This time he unveils the secret weapon, the room corrector of your dreams. . . or maybe your nightmares, if you're the competition! See the unassuming little box and hear about how it exerts its power. And you better pass the pop quiz, or you're doin' stairlaps!  

With the Vicoustic Vari Panel, you won't have to spend any more nights studying the ventilation systems of top recording studios. If variable acoustics is what you crave, the Vari Panel from Vicoustic could be for you.  

From the Greek words "Sono" meaning sound and word "Lux" meaning light, Auralex shows us the Sonolux acoustic panels. They're fiberglass panels that add actual starlight* to your studio.

* Actual starlight is not actual starlight

 

Auralex EcoTec paneling is not only an ecologically friendly alternative to fiberglass acoustic paneling, it's also made out of 65% recycled polyester. They're accepting donations, and you've had that full Cleveland sitting in your closet for years.  

Don't go chasing waterfall plots -- Auralex will do it for you with their Room Analysis Plus service. At Winter NAMM 2009, Auralex explains the Room Analysis Kit, which provides you everything you need to record your room for measurement.  

Carl Saff talks about redesigning his space into a mastering studio, and his biggest problem was the ceiling. Now, his ceiling is only a problem for the 40 NBA players who cannot stand in his studio.  

Vicoustic releases their limber new acoustical absorption panel, the Flexi Screen. It's polyurethane cradled in wood, and its fully adjustable to meet the needs of your voice and microphone.  

In addition to just building acoustical solutions, Auralex offers some pretty nifty room analysis services. They'll analyze a diagram of your room for free or come all the way out to visit you for some dough.  

The Primacoustic Machine Room video from 125th AES 2008 marks the epic conclusion to our multi-part series with Radial Engineering President Peter Janis. This box isolates computer fan noise for quieter performance, and you can run a mouse through the top in the name of science. It's Dangerous Isolation meets Flowers For Algernon.  

Because all of you bleeding heart liberals are crying about the rainforest and alternative energy sources, companies like Auralex who are foolish enough to listen to you are making eco-friendly products instead of spending that money on team building retreats. What's next? Is Auralex going to patch up the hole in the ozone with acoustical foam?  

Peter Janis isn't only Radial Engineering's most high-powered presenter, he's also their president. Here, he shows us the Primacoustic Upfire recoil stabilizer, which he calls "the cheapest upgrade you can do to your studio."  

No, it's not the newest hair treatment from Vidal Sassoon, it's the newest ACOUSTICAL treatment, from Primacoustic! Featuring adjustable slats as well as a treated back panel, the Flexifuser is like shampoo and conditioner in one handy, wall-mounted unit.  

The energized Peter Janis of Radial Engineering shows us the Primacoustic Go Trap, a bass trap and gobo in one. For those of you not down with sound engineer lingo, a gobo is simply a mobile isolation panel.  

The Primacoustic Flexibooth is a voiceover booth and room acoustic adjustment tool that looks like a cupboard and opens like a cupboard, but unlike a cupboard, lacks delicious boxed snacks. Peter Janis tells us what the Flexibooth is for, if not for storing granola bars and cheese doodles.  

This is what AES is all about. Inventor and acoustical engineer Charles Seagrave introduced his LASSIE room analysis system in San Fransisco amid the commercial hubbub of big brand names and video presentations. This software / sensor-array system measures SPL in a given space, and translates the data visually, both at the sensor and through PC-based software.  

The eyes and ears can finally get along now that Auralex SonicPrint panels are here. We take a look at these acoustic panels and hear about the process behind the picturesqueness.  

Computer disk access and fan noise are a thing of the past with the new Primacoustic Machine Room. This sort of isolation and silencing treatment is usually reserved for residents of Gitmo.  

Eyes and ears both benefit from the multi-sensual experience that is the Auralex SonicPrint acoustic paneling. It's coming to the 125th AES 2008 convention, so if you're looking for some leopard print acoustic tiles that match your suit to put in your studio, keep an eye out.  

Now that he's finished calibrating the IK Multimedia ARC System for the Gearwire studio (and freaked out every dog in a 1.5 mile radius), Bill plugs the new, custom calibration preset into Apple Logic.  

Every time I've gotten into a fight with a room I'm in (which is A LOT), it just goes on and on and on and on. Thanks to the IK Multimedia Advanced Room Correction System, I now can just take some measurements and prove the room incorrect.  

So how does one go shopping for a space in which to build a listening room for a professional mastering house? By starting where everyone else starts: on Craigslist.org! Watch this video for the list of questions you'll need to ask your prospective leasing agent.  

In part one of this Gearwire interview, Scott McEwen of Fry Pharmacy talks about how he trained his ears and most importantly, how he started to acquire some fine vintage recording gear.  

Only a select few have passed the Epiradiateur test. Do Vicoustic Wave Wood panels have what it takes to balance a room's sound and receive the highest honor a piece of wood can receive when it comes to fire safety -- the coveted M1 fire rating?  

First Audiophile: Did you hear the one about the high frequencies at The Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall at the Old Town School of Folk Music?

Second Audiophile: Yeah, but it went over my head.

 

Auralex will be bringing acoustical systems by the armfuls to MusikMesse 2008, and with all of the crazy noise that's sure to come from a trade show, they probably won't be bringing nearly enough.  

We only have one Earth, and if we destroy it, we'll have nothing left to acoustically treat. That's why Auralex is introducing their Eco-Friendly StudioFoam at the upcoming MusikMesse show.  

Jason Carson of Record Plant shows us the SSL-4 Super Live Room, which is used often for recording orchestras and projects like most iTunes Exclusive tracks. To give you an idea of artists who have recorded those tracks, think of musicians like Paul McCartney, Sting, and Smashing Pumpkins.