My friend Gavin Haverstick is the owner of Haverstick Designs, a full-service acoustical consulting firm specialising in acoustical modeling, testing and design. His degree is in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University with a focus in robotics. In his career, Gavin has been involved in the acoustical design/analysis of over 5,000 challenging spaces including recording studios, houses of worship, home theatres, gymnasiums, restaurants, conference rooms, edit suites, museums and industrial facilities. An accomplished musician, Gavin has always had a passion for great music and quality sound.
In this video, Gavin takes us through Studio acoustic design concepts referring to the process of creating a controlled acoustic environment within a recording studio or any space where sound quality is critical. It involves the strategic placement of acoustic materials, such as absorbers, diffusers, and bass traps, to achieve desirable sound characteristics, including clarity, balance, and minimal distortion.
Key aspects of studio acoustic design include:
- Reflection Control: Managing early reflections to minimise comb filtering and flutter echoes, which can degrade sound quality and clarity.
- Absorption: Using materials like acoustic panels and foam to absorb unwanted sound energy, reducing reverberation and preventing sound reflections from bouncing around excessively.
- Diffusion: Introducing diffusers to scatter sound waves, promoting a more even distribution of sound energy throughout the space and reducing the perception of “dead spots” or overly reflective areas.
- Isolation: Implementing measures to prevent sound from leaking into or out of the studio, ensuring a quiet recording environment and minimising disturbances from external noise.
- Bass Management: Addressing low-frequency issues through the strategic placement of bass traps and other acoustic treatments to control bass buildup and achieve a balanced frequency response.
- Room Shape and Size: Designing the studio space with consideration for its dimensions, shape, and volume to minimise standing waves and resonances that can color the sound.
- Monitoring System Calibration: Ensuring that the studio’s monitoring system accurately reproduces the recorded sound, often involving speaker placement and room correction techniques.
Effective studio acoustic design enhances the accuracy of monitoring, improves the quality of recordings, and creates an environment conducive to critical listening and artistic expression. It requires a combination of acoustic theory, practical experience, and often collaboration between architects, acousticians, and audio engineers to achieve optimal results tailored to the specific needs of the space and its intended use.