When it comes to achieving pristine sound quality, two key factors come into play: the room’s dimensions and the acoustic treatments you apply. If you’re looking to improve the acoustics of your recording spaces, understanding these elements is crucial. Let's dive into the details, starting with an intriguing concept from ancient Greece.

THE GOLDEN RATIO: YOUR ROOM’S BEST FRIEND

The ancient Greeks knew a thing or two about design, and they came up with the Golden Ratio, a principle that can help you achieve ideal room dimensions for sound. The Golden Ratio for a room is 1 x 1.6 x 2.6 (height, width, length).

Imagine you have an 8-foot ceiling. According to the Golden Ratio, your room's width should be 8 feet multiplied by 1.6, which equals 12.8 feet. Applying the same principle, the length should be 20.8 feet. This ratio helps in distributing sound waves more evenly, minimizing echoes and dead spots. It’s like the secret sauce for achieving great acoustics, but in spatial form. Thank you, ancient Greece!

THE IDEAL ROOM SHAPE

Now, let’s talk about the shape of your room. Generally speaking, a rectangular shape is the best shape room for acoustics. But sometimes, it’s more useful to know what to avoid:

Square Rooms

Rooms with equal dimensions (like 10'x10') are a big no-no. These tend to create standing waves, which can make certain frequencies overpowering.

Rooms with Multiples of the Same Dimension

In a room with two dimensions that are the same or multiples of one another (for instance, an 8'x10'x20' room) is also problematic. We call these "double whammy" rooms. If all three dimensions are the same or multiples of each other, such as a 10'x10'x10' or 10'x10'x20' room, you're in for the worst acoustics. We call these (you guessed it) "triple whammy" rooms. Almost everyone who calls us with an acoustical issue either has a large space, a double whammy, or a triple whammy.

Circular Rooms

Sound loves to chase its own tail in circular rooms, bouncing around endlessly. This results in a muddled, echo-heavy environment that's hard to fix. Old churches and ancient buildings would often use roundness (often in domes) as a means of amplification.

In modern times, it is actually forbidden to speak above a whisper in the Sistine Chapel, prompting frequent (as often as every 5 minutes!) requests for "silenzio" due to how loud it can get in there. While this was a marvel in ancient Rome, if you have a room with this kind of amplification and you want to stop it, reach out to us for help solving this problem.

We also have an article on improving church acoustics if you found this tidbit interesting.

If you’re building a new room from scratch, keep these rules in mind. If you’re working with what you have, that's perfectly fine because a good acoustical treatment can remedy most issues caused by less-than-ideal room shapes.

Acoustic treatments to remedy poor room shape

Acoustic treatments are like magic wands for your room’s sound quality. Whether you’re dealing with echoes, reverberations, or dead spots, the right materials can make a world of difference.

Acoustic Panels

Whether you want to stick to a tighter budget with our EcoVerb™ Panels available in various colors or you’re looking for something a little more high-end like polyester acoustic panels or some fabric wrapped acoustic panels, add a pop of personality while taming acoustics with one of Second Skin’s acoustic wall panels.

Acoustic Baffles and Clouds

If you want a stylish way to drastically improve the sound quality in a room with tall ceilings, hanging acoustic baffles or hanging acoustic clouds is a great way to do so because you’re partially obscuring a major point of reflection. We have a range of options for all different budgets as well, so go hog-wild picking the style and color for you!

Acoustics is tough. Second Skin Can Help.

At Second Skin Audio, we understand that improving your room’s acoustics can feel overwhelming. But remember, you don't have to do it alone. Our team is here to help you choose the right acoustic treatments for your space, ensuring you get the best possible sound quality.

Reach out to us for a personalized acoustic analysis. We'll help you transform your space into an acoustic haven, where every sound is crisp, clear, and just as it should be!