User Manual

13
A Brief Tutorial on Studio Monitors
Diusion. In general, rooms that are 10 x 10 feet
or less will get great results with some combination
of absorption material. If you are mixing in a larger
space, you might want to add some diusers to
deaden it. Sound-wave diusers are designed to
break up standing waves by reflecting the waves at
dierent angles. These panels can be mounted to the
wall or ceiling as necessary and can get rid of “flutter
echo.”
Acoustic diuser panel
With two parallel reflective surfaces in a room, such as
opposing walls or the floor and ceiling, there is always
the possibility of successive, repetitive reflections that
are equally spaced in time. Known as “flutter echoes,”
these reflections can produce a perceived pitch or timbre
that colors what you’re mixing. This can also reduce
intelligibility. Diusors can break up flutter echoes by
reflecting the sound waves in dierent directions so that
the repetitive reflections are eliminated.
Bookworms have a bit of an advantage with this type
of acoustic treatment, as bookcases filled with books
provide multiple absorbent, dierent-shaped objects
that break up standing waves and flutter echoes. So if the
problem is two parallel walls, putting your library on one or
both walls may eliminate the need for additional acoustic
treatment.
Adding a Subwoofer
Whether you add a subwoofer to your existing monitoring
system, or you purchase a complete 2.1 system, it’s a
good idea to dial in your full-range system first, especially
if you’re starting from scratch. This will make it easier
to identify and fix problems before you get too many
components in the mix. Once you have your full-range
monitors placed and calibrated and your room acoustics
tamed, adding a sub will be an easier proposition.
Temblor T8
Find the right spot for your subwoofer
The goal of proper subwoofer placement is to set up your
system so that your subwoofer acts as a natural extension
of your full-range monitors without boosting the overall
bass response of your room or exaggerating any one
frequency or frequency range. Because low frequencies
are not directional—that is, humans cannot perceive the
direction from which low frequencies are coming— you
aren’t limited to placing it facing the mix position.
A quick way to find the best location for your subwoofer is
to temporarily place it in the mix position and play some
program material that contains a lot of bass. Move around
the half of the room where your full-range monitors are
positioned until you find the spot where the bass sounds
best, focusing on areas that on the same plane as your
studio monitors. Again, it’s important to remember
that low frequencies are not directional, so placing the
subwoofer beside you will not be an issue. However, try to
keep your subwoofer on the same plane as your full-range
monitors. This will help to minimize phase issues.
Use your books as a diuser wall