8. Optimising acoustics in recording rooms and combined recording and control rooms

Many of the methods we have dealt with are also valid for recording rooms or combined control and recording rooms. Optimising the room modes and decay time as well as increasing diffusion through space follow the same principles. The choice of speaker configuration and listening position is not required in dedicated recording rooms, of course. However, creating a reflection-free zone for the mic position may be necessary in very small rooms should the walls be so close to the mic that strong reflections colour the recording.

Reflections in small recording rooms

Another aspect of recording rooms are flutter echoes. These also occur in dedicated control rooms and may be easily identified by clapping your hands, but they are not really stimulated in the listening position by speakers. That which does not occur need not be compensated for :-) If you place your mic in a place where flutter echoes occur, however, you should eliminate them lest they colour your sound unpleasantly. You can achieve this by using either broad-band absorbers or diffusors. Since absorbers tend to be a lot easier on your budget, I recommend using these unless there are compelling reasons not to do so.