Installing a few acoustic panels can immediately improve the sound of a studio space or control room. A couple of panels will even do the trick if you just want to reduce the painful echo in a living room with a lot of concrete and windows. In recording studios, absorbers and diffusers ensure that producers and engineers are getting the best performance out of their studio monitors during the mixing phase, while a few panels set up in the live room can turn a hollow-sounding bunker into an atmosphere packed concert hall.
Sound Isolating or Sound Dampening Wall Panels
Sound isolation and acoustic treatment are two entirely different things. The goal of sound isolation is to basically seal a room from the outside world so that no sound leaks out of the room, and no sound can leak in. This is great if you're recording a full drum kit or overdriven guitar amp and don't want to annoy your neighbours or run the risk of recording the sound of passing cars out on the street. What acoustic treatment does is optimise the acoustics of a space by influencing the movement of sound waves - just like putting up a couple of frames on a living room wall or a rug on a wood floor can help reduce shrill echoes.
Acoustic Wall Dividers
In recording studios, it's not unusual to record more than one musician at the same time. This isn't just because it's efficient, but means that more of the energy of the band or ensemble is captured on the recording as they bounce off one another. If you're using this method, you need to look out for crosstalk: an issue where microphone A set up to record instrument A, is also picking up the sound of instrument B. While the effect can never be completely eliminated when recording multiple acoustic instruments, by using a few acoustic wall dividers it can be dramatically reduced. Reflection filters, which have semi-circular shape, can also be wrapped around a microphone to focus the range of the mic and reduce crosstalk.
Sound-Absorbing Ceiling Panels
One of the largest surfaces in any room will be the ceiling, so it's important not to forget that it might also need treating with some sound-absorbing panels. Hanging acoustic panels from your ceiling can be tricky, but luckily, we also have some models specially designed for the job. For obvious reasons, these panels are also referred to as 'clouds' and always include all of the materials needed to install them. Generally, clouds and ceiling panels are much lighter than wall panels.
Acoustic Panels for Studio Spaces
Acoustic panels are installed in studio spaces to perform two main jobs. In the control room, all of the critical listening and mixing is done, so it's essential that your monitors (studio speakers) are able to deliver as neutral and uncoloured an audio image as possible. The possible 'colouring' of the audio is the result of sound-waves bouncing off the walls, ceiling and floor. By strategically placing some acoustic panels in the right spots, you can ensure that the listening position at the mixing desk gets the most honest and direct sound in the room. This helps balance the frequency response and shorten any natural reverb in the space. Of course, whether or not something sounds good is pretty subjective, but no one wants flutter echoes or unwanted resonance in the control room. In the live room, on the other hand, where the recordings are made, a little natural reverb can work magic on the recordings.
Acoustic Treatment for the Living Room
The problem with minimalist-style interiors is that there's nothing to absorb or diffuse sound, so your living room can end up sounding like an echo chamber. Any conversation is accompanied by shrill reverb and you'd better cover your ears if you drop a fork on the floor. This can easily be solved by putting up some absorber panels to soak up some of the soundwaves and prevent them from bouncing back and forth between the blank walls and ceiling. While you can't exactly put panels on the floor, you can also reduce reverb by laying down a carpet or rug.
Porous Acoustic Panels or Wooden Diffusers?
Acoustic panels can be roughly divided into two kinds: absorbers and diffusers. Absorbers and bass traps are usually made of porous materials that absorb sound-waves and convert them into heat. These are used to deaden the acoustics of a space, so that there's less natural reverb or echo. Diffusers are used to scatter sound waves and have a completely different surface made of hard, reflective material. By scattering the sound, these panels ensure that any echoes no longer interfere with the original sound, but the energy of the sound-waves isn't lost, so you're still left with lively audio. People often say that rooms actually sound bigger when diffusers are used.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acoustic Treatment
Where should you place acoustic panels?
In the control room, the listening position (where you sit at the mixing desk) is the bit you want to have most sonic control over. This is also referred to as the 'reflection free zone' - or RFZ. To create the optimal RFZ, you can mount absorber panels in the critical 'points of reflection' - these are the reflection points of the walls and ceiling where the sound-waves bounce off and hit your ears first. Believe it or not, you can use a mirror to find these reflection points. Sit at your desk and ask a mate to shift a mirror along the wall - as soon as you can see your monitors in the mirror, you've hit a reflection point. This is the spot where you need to mount your absorber panel. Rinse and repeat the process for any other walls and you'll improve your RFZ no end.
How do you install acoustic panels?
Foam panels can be mounted with double-sided tape or glue while acoustic wall panels built out of a frame filled with acoustic material like rock or glass wool are usually mounted via screws or hooks. These kinds of panels normally come with some kind of bracket which creates a little space between the wall and the panel. This little bit of space makes the panel more effective when handling lower frequencies - just make sure that this 'air gap' is no deeper than the depth of the panel.
How much do acoustic panels cost?
Simple foam-rubber panels are the cheapest option and start at a few quid each, but make sure to check the size: cheaper panels tend to be smaller. Which means, once you've got enough to cover the wall, it might actually turn out more expensive. More high-end absorber panels have a wooden frame filled with an absorbent material like rock or glass wool. These panels are often thicker and therefore more effective, and start at around £100. Diffuser panels are relatively expensive because they require more materials and work to construct. Wooden diffuser panels are not just popular because of their acoustic qualities, but because they add a warm feel to the look of the space. However, this comes at a price, since you'll be a looking at around £250 for a wooden-framed diffuser panel. Of course, you could always save a little money by opting for a complete acoustic treatment pack for you studio.
How many acoustic panels do I need?
The number of acoustic panels you'll need will depend on how big the space is. It's definitely not recommended to cover every surface with absorber panels. No one wants to listen to music in a dead-sounding space, so why would you mix you projects in a dead space? As a general rule, you only need to cover around 15% to 30% of the total wall, ceiling, and floor with absorber panels or rugs.
