All About Diffusion

[tunafishjoe]

Thank you very much for creating this very informative and clear video!

[183729jiffy]

Awesome video! Excellent descriptions and explanations. :) Much appreciated for this video.

[btyremanable]

the real trap wins, it's the only one that doesn't sound muddy, I currently have a bookshelf on my left side in my mixing room but am considering getting the realtraps QRD diffuser to replace it, I have experimented with my own bass traps but they just don't seem to work anywhere near as good as yours, same with diffusion, I would love to try some out and hear the difference, I wish I wasn't in the UK sometimes, where would I buy your products from in england? p.s great video, regards, Ben

[EthanWiner]

@btyremanable We sell direct all over the work. Contact us by phone or email for a quote including shipping.

[goldensleeves]

Great video... however I would recommend posting the video in 1080p High Definition

[Anima87]

@goldensleeves Don't be a dick.. this video is 3 years old.. 1080P was way too expensive back then.

[markalab]

Ethan is brilliant! I must say that my 2year old twin boys were cracking up on the guitar demonstrations!!

[peterparker969]

thanks for making these educational videos, you are a BIG HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[therealfactor]

You're a great man. I love your video's. I've recently studded a room in my basement and have been working on sound proofing it and then the acoustics of the room. You are very helpful and easy to understand. I love that you show the difference in my options. Typically I'll read about different options with an individual trying to convince me of a certain option without me being able to hear the difference for myself. You are more helpful than you know --thank you so much.

[thehornypuppy]

I liked absorbtion better... i worling on a rehearsal room...not much for recording...at least not now. But i really don't know where to start...besides the room insulation. Wether it would be good to just put pyramidal sponge or whatever it's name in english is, everywhere or bass traps and the like...it's a VERY SMALL room.

[jestermgee]

Ethan you are one of the best and most knowledgeable people on the Intrnet. Not just for what you know, but how you put so much effort all round to helping people actually UNDERSTAND the properties of sound. Muchly appreciate the efforts you put in my friend. Keep it up...

[BluePaisley]

Yes the QRD's do have a much better diffusion across the bandwidth... The poly sounds a bit dull in the Hi Mids and the absorption sucked out even more! Quiet interesting... I have studied basic acoustics as a part of my sound engineering course and I find it quiet interest, I would be interested to see if there is much more of a difference if the polys were different widths and with a few of them placed in a crisscross pattern along the back wall.

[EthanWiner]

@BluePaisley Yes, there are many ways to place diffusors. My goal here was mostly to let people hear what they sound like close up, since many people don't have access to different types of diffusors.

[BluePaisley]

@EthanWiner - I'm interested to find out the frequency response in my room, I have used a Mode calculator to work out the problematic frequencies... but I saw on another tutorial you were using a microphone and test tones to get an accurate response. Is there somewhere I can get these tones/software to trial this for myself?

[EthanWiner]

@BluePaisley A mode calculator is meant for designing new rooms, not treating an existing room. Google Room EQ Wizard for a great freeware program. If you post in one of the audio forums I'll be able to give you much more info. You Tube comments is not a good venue for a technical discussion!

[BluePaisley]

@EthanWiner - ok cheers I'll check it out... What audio forum would you recommend?

[EthanWiner]

@BluePaisley Gearslutz is good, or my own section at either the What'sBestForum or MusicPlayer.

[aceyage]

Can the depth of the diffusors be random? What do the horizontal sticks do?

[EthanWiner]

@aceyage There is a specific pattern used for QRD type diffusors. It's not random! Google QRDude to find software that shows how to calculate the well depths. As for the thin wood on RealTraps diffusors, that's merely to help hold the well dividers in place.

[aceyage]

@EthanWiner Great! Thank you very much for you answer, it was very helpful!

If I'll ever build a studio in the states I will be getting real traps!

[drastic209562]

Man I need to subscribe to this guy.

[ShreKun4uk]

nice informative videos! Thanks Ethan!

[TheDPAO]

Thanks for the audio difference very helpful. One question I noticed the books were all at the same level. What would happen if you placed them at different depths? How would this change anything if at all? Also my rear wall is vertical for the 1st 4 ft then angles inwards for the rest of the 3ft climb (Total 7ft) to the ceiling. How would you treat this since the point that is hit by the speakers if angled downwards not straight back? (The back wall is 14' behind the speakers)

Thanks

Dave

[EthanWiner]

Yes, changing the depths of the books could help, but it still won't be the same as a real QRD diffusor unless you go to a lot of trouble. Even then, book edges are not reflective enough.

I'm happy to answer your other questions, but YouTube comments is not a good place to have a technical discussion. Please ask in whatever audio forum you know me from, or post in my acoustics forum at musicplayer (dot) com.

[gessssssu]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[leobluesy]

Thanks for some VERY interesting and well presented videos...

Leo

[SonicAxiom]

Awesome video, Ethan! The information you're giving is very profound. Impressing demo at the end.

[playajazzy]

very good video.

[hotrod1681]

very informative video indeed. Thanks for sharing

[alynmearns]

I thought the bookcase sounded pretty good. I still don't understand how they wouldn't do basically the same job and absorb quite a lot of bass as well due to their high mass.

[EthanWiner]

Mass doesn't absorb very well. Bricks are about as massive as you can get and they don't absorb at all. Books could be better than a bare wall if they're placed just right, but still probably not as good as a real QRD type diffusor.

[alynmearns]

Thanks Ethan, your knowledge and articulation will save me a lot of headaches. I just bought a nice isa 428 and have been saving for the right compressor etc. But I'm gonna get my room sorted out first!

[gmy81]

what about rooms covered with carpet on walls??

im working with a friend who covered the entire room with carpet on the walls is sounds good until someone plays the drums. bass drum fills the room a boom that goeas on forever.

[EthanWiner]

Putting carpet on the walls is a terrible way to treat a room because it absorbs only high frequencies. That makes the bass problems even more obvious. Go to the RealTraps web site to learn the best ways to treat a room correctly.

[gmy81]

sure. can this problem be fixed by using only bass traps?

[EthanWiner]

Yes, bass traps and broadband absorbers are needed. Diffusors help too, but good diffusors cost more than good absorbers so many people opt for absorbers.

[Joni0001984]

I were to duplicate the realtrap diffusor in a diy project, are there any hints or detailed pictures of your design? I live in Scandinavia and shipping a big diffusor from is rather impractical, even if I had the money.

[joelharding2002]

Hey thanks for that mate! Do you have any videos that show how to find the sound reflection points in a room

[EthanWiner]

The video "How to Set up and Treat a Room" discusses this, and there are two articles on my company's RealTraps site that show how to find reflection points.

[cmdreno]

George Massenburg's control room...O M G ! !

[thisnextsongiscalled]

great vid ! thanks a lot

[daveman4501]

Some interesting stuff. I'm an acoustic consultant and I must say I'm usually sceptical of these youtube acoustics experts as most of them don't have a clue but this guy has some good points. The QRD maths isn't too bad. Each well depth is simply a ratio of n^2 mod(p) where n = 0 to p and p is usually a prime number like 7, 11 or 13. i.e. if p=7 the well depths are 0,1,4,2,2,4,1 repeat. Try it in Excel or matlab. QRD's were invented by Schroeder and mastered by Prof Cox of Salford University, UK

[pantypasta]

Thanks for the formula, now I know for when I wish to build one.

[mrmikerotch]

True, sorry, I meant a reflector on top of batting (to sound reduce the room your in) backed with plexi or something like it and spaced from the wall to bass trap. I was just wondering if some sort of all-in-one-esque solution is practical, or even exists. I've made some soundbat/bass trap panels before, and they work really well, but I thought I could try adding some reflectors ontop of that to make my "studio" sound less small. Would a reflector-on-batting cut highs while reflecting?

[EthanWiner]

The RealTraps diffusors are both bass traps and diffusors. Mid and high frequencies are diffused, but low frequencies pass through the vane material and are absorbed by the material behind.

[mrmikerotch]

What about just normal reflective batting on a bass trap?

[EthanWiner]

Batting is not reflective. A diffusor also needs a pattern with some depth to it.

[ditroiamusic]

Seems like a great guy which makes all the difference for me. I'll definitely check out his company.

[erockrazor]

"These are acoustic books mostly so maybe that helps a little bit."

Thank you for your willingness to help out others. It's truly admirable. Thank you. I'm gonna treat my room now...

[viciousattackvideo]

Full Sail doesn't teach this!!! This guy should be doing clinics. So many people could use this sometimes elusive info.

[digifishmusic]

I see QRD also makes your playing more energetic :) Nice video thanks guys!

[EthanWiner]

LOL, it might sound that way but I did not play louder. At least not on purpose!

[BigBoyBhs]

Ethan's an asset and great help to the audio community at large. And, I think he knows that..

thanks etho:)

[bbagginz]

Nice one Ethan.

Excellent info as usual...

[hazardouslee]

this guy is a good teacher