Setting Up for first measurements

[Shaker78]

Hey everyone,

I’m working on setting up a home recording studio and I’d like my room acoustics to be as good as possible.

From what I’ve been reading, it seems I would be better off using a CM-140/150 calibration mic from Galaxy Audio rather than the Radio Shack one, since it covers a wider range of frequencies.

Also, in one of the post on the forum I read:

“The calibration file will only be for the lower end response from 10Hz to about 100Hz where C-Weighting will then take over. The calibration is in no way exact or guaranteed accurate... this is for hobby use only and should not be used professionally.”

How concerned should I be about that? I intend to use my home recording studio to professional ends, so I’m wondering how this will affect readings.

On the Galaxy Audio website, there is the CM-200, which is a Calibrator. I haven’t seen this mentioned on the forums. Has anyone tried it to get a more accurate calibration? Is it any good?


Another thing I’m not sure about, is the use of a Behringer Feedback Destroyer. For a home recording studio I don’t think this is wise to use, am I correct?


That’s all the questions I have for now, thanks!

-=Shaker

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

I can answer the last question. If your studio is going to have a subwoofer, you'll want a dedicated BFD to smooth its room response. Otherwise, you'll be manipulating your bass tracks to compensate for lower-frequency peaks and valleys you may have. When you play back your mixes on other systems, you'll probably find the bass doesn't sound good.

Regards,
Wayne

[brucek]

it seems I would be better off using a CM-140/150 calibration mic from Galaxy Audio rather than the Radio Shack one, since it covers a wider range of frequencies.

Yeah, the CM-140 is a good value for full range measurements. The Radio Shack meters aren't reliable enough to use past ~3KHz.

How concerned should I be about that? I intend to use my home recording studio to professional ends, so I’m wondering how this will affect readings

You shouldn't be concerned. This is a disclaimer we use to ensure someone doesn't get crazy about the accuracy to the last decimal. You can move a microphone a few inches and create a bigger difference than the cal file.......

which is a Calibrator.

A calibrator is to set the absolute output level of a microphone/meter. So when it says at 1KHz that it's 75dBSPL, you know it's absolutely 75dBSPL. This is not required in relative measurements.

Behringer Feedback Destroyer. For a home recording studio I don’t think this is wise to use, am I correct?

Depends. If you use a sub when you're mixing, what happens if your studio has a +20dB peak at 50Hz? Personally, I think your best bet is to use REW to get as flat a response as possible at the listening mixing seat and avoid EQ....

brucek

[Shaker78]

Thank you both for the quick response! This clarifies things a bit more

I don't have a subwoofer as of yet, am planning to get one in the next few weeks. I guess I'll go ahead and make the initial mesurements without the sub first, see how flat a response I can get. Then add the sub and see how it affects the room.

I'm looking forward to it!

Thanks again,

--=Shaker.