[bkspero]

Thanks again for the thoughtful response.

I would think that the listening position is the only one to be concerned about. What does it matter if a foot or so over the response is bad if that's not where you're listening from?

Our thought was that even though we measured the graphs at 1 ft intervals, we still would have some material degree of null between those spots. So we thought that even a few inches of movement could affect those notes. And mixing and mastering requires that the listener move back and forth between the listening position and the console constantly. Often for hours at a time. It's usually only to lean forward and back, but it's tough to do it absolutely reproducibly. Do you think we're overanalyzing? How much of a difference would you expect to hear from the spots 1 ft apart?

Not following you there. Why would PEQ to optimize response at the listening position have any effect on recording? Typically electronic instruments are direct-input. Few acoustic instrument are going to get down to where the 40 Hz problem is.

My son told me I didn't do a good job with that section of the note. Sorry. Bass drum is, I think, the biggest issue. It is recorded with microphone and can have information in that frequency range. He sets a low cut-off of about 25-30 Hz in the computer and uses the information above that.

The microphone directly on the drum may be ok, since it is so close to the drum (often inside of it). If I am analyzing this correctly, the relative amplitudes of the primary and reflected waves are proportional to the inverse square of the distance they travel (minus some extra scatter of the reflected wave lost in the reflection). If so, since the primary wave distance from the bass drum in only a few inches to the mic, and the reflected wave has to travel at least about 8 ft (out and back), the primary wave would swamp the reflection and the mic would only record the primary signal. Does that make sense?

That leaves the 2 high microphones on the drum kit that are placed up and separated to provide stereo imaging and overall sound. I described Clearsonic acrylic panels in the response to JohnM above. They are often used to surround the drum kit during recording (in about an 8 ft circle). Do you think that they are a type of structure that would attenuate and scatter the secondary waves to protect the high mics from reflections?

Thanks again to all.