Help: Acoustic Treatment Plan for Mid-Large Rectangular Room
I’ve been putting together some ideas for a treatment plan for a 13.5’ wide x 20’ deep x 11.5’ high rectangular room, but am looking for a second opinion on things.
My current plan is as follows:
On one end of the room will be the mixing desk/desktop, and on the other will be the drum kit, with rugs under both of them as well as potential clouds hanging over both of them. In the middle will be the main “live room” area with the amps along the long walls and a big rug in the middle. I plan on putting 8’ high bass traps in each corner, and 4’ high panels around the walls, but as far as how many of these panels I’m not completely certain yet. I know I need at least 2 behind each monitor at the mixing desk, as well as each first reflection (one on each side wall), and then at least 2 behind the drum kit, and potentially 2 for each first reflection (one on each side wall) there too. How many of these panels on the side walls in the middle area do I need? Do I need one or two more on each side? Ultimately it’d be the difference between making of these panels 10 panels (4 for the short walls and 6 for the long) and making 12 panels (4 for the short walls and 8 for the long).
As far as my goals, I don’t want to deaden the room completely, I love a good live band in a room sound, and love capturing big roomy drum sounds, but also want things to be too boomy and muddy, so I know tightening up the bass is the main area I need to control. My main tastes are sludgy psychedelic blues, stoner doom metal, psychobilly + surf, old school slow blues, and punk. I just want to know exactly how much treatment I need without going overkill and killing the room completely for its intended use (tracking bands). The other question I have is what kind of rockwool I should be using, is the basic rock wool 60 safe and sound what I need, or should I be looking at r15 or other r values?
Hope this seems like long rambling (it is), just want to make sure my plan seems sound and would like a second opinion or advice on how to proceed with this room I want to develop into my workspace.
Other advice I’m looking for is how far apart I should space them and if I should stagger them along the long walls or not.
Thanks!! 🤘