Studio Acoustics / Room Treatments

3 Steps to Better Sounding Music Productions

Our partners, Auralex, offer a FREE room-analysis service available through KEYFAX. Here’s how it works:

1. Download, print out, and complete the following room-analysis PDF.

2. Fax or email the completed form to 1-831-477-1206 or info@keyfax.com

3. Based on consultation with an Auralex acoustician, a representative from KEYFAX will contact you to discuss your specific needs.

But I sound great in the shower!

Ain’t that the case. All sound is at the mercy of the context in which it was generated, or is being heard. Sometimes, as in the case of shower-singers, the influence is pleasing. Other times, like if you make a recording in a symmetrical room where all the bass frequencies are being cancelled out, are not so pleasing. Here, you play the mix in another space and the bass is overpowering because you did your mix in what is known as a ‘compromised’ audio environment where you had to crank up the bass.

This is only one of three very important reasons why you should address soundproofing and studio acoustics. The other two are:

Noise coming into your space (traffic, airplanes, neighbors).

Noise going out (band practice, police raids)

Not everyone needs to build a studio from scratch but we did

If you’re happy recording on GarageBand in your bedroom there’s probably no need to build a suspended floor or spend thousands on diffusers. But you might produce a lot more professional sounding recordings if you added a couple of bass traps.

Here at KEYFAX we were fortunate enough to build a modest-sized project studio within our office for the production of our recording series with Alan Parsons, The Art & Science Of Sound Recording. We chose Auralex as our partner for the project and over a period of several months we constructed what would become the main ‘set’ for the program.

There’s even a special Section of the program devoted to Studio Acoustics, which can be viewed separately online at www.artandscienceofsound.com. This section also forms part of the entire 24-section package of videos you can see online or purchase as a full 3-DVD set.

Terms You Should Know

Soundproofing

Means sound isolation, in other words sealing off your environment from the outside world so that your sound won’t leak out and sound from outside won’t seap in. The water analogy is good: if water can come in and out of your space (via door, floor, window, ceiling) then so can sound. Even a pinprick hole will do.

Sound Absorption

Means soaking up sound waves so they don’t bounce around (at all/so much). When you absorb you sound you deaden it. Crucially, no matter how much absorptive material you put up this will not create a soundproofed space if you have windows, doors, floors, and ceilings that ‘leak’ sound.

Sound Diffusion

To diffuse is to deflect or re-direct. If sound waves are not ‘broken up’ they tend to cause generally unwanted artifacts (flutter echo between parallel walls or between floor and ceiling).

But wait...

In addition to selling individual items of studio acoustic treatment, furniture, and acting as a go-between for studio/room analysis, KEYFAX is also pleased to refer clients to professional studio designers and acousticians if you need a more comprehensive service.

Please contact info@keyfax.com with your particular request.