[Christof]

My loft is done and I can finally set my audio system back up.  I asked a few questions in this circle, pertaining to this loft, a while back which helped me in some aspects of the rough framing and design.  By nature (and building code) there was not alot I could do to this big open space to make it more condusive to good audio sound. It's large, open and not optimal for an audio system by any means.  When my two huskies start howling at sirens would would swear there is a pack of 20 wolves in here....slap echo is bad but it's what I have and I'm not moving anytime soon.  The loft has only three rooms total, a utility room (HVAC system), bathroom and a big open room with a kitchen that is separated from the rest of the area by a 10' peninsula bar.  I'm not expecting miracles as just acquiring the building and doing the rehab single-handedly was in itself a miracle for me.  Now I turn to you folks.

Here is a picture of the loft taken from the kitchen.  The lens skews things a little but you get an idea. 
Room dimensions:
1. width-from the brick wall to the sheetrock wall with open space above it is 18' (brickwall to brickwall 22')
2. length-from kitchen bar to windows in front 38'
3. ceiling-14' at the windows and tapers to 10' in kitchen where picture was taken



Here is a rough sketch of the room from overhead.  Pay no attention to the writing on the image. 




I have two possibilities.  I can fire the speakers the width or length of the space.  If I fire the length I would fire them at the kitchen and locate them at the chimney (the brick triangle that sticks out on the right side of the top image) which is about 12 from the front windows.  This puts my side walls about 5' away.  If I fire the width I will have the speakers out about 3' from the back wall and side walls are 15' away.

My partner has asked if I fire the speakers the length of the room if I can build a hanging wall between them so we can shoot the projector at it.  She mentioned that this hanging wall can also serve as some type of absorber as well, she's catching on

Now with all this information what do you folks think about set-up location, absorbers, hanging panels, etc...

Thanks for your help
Chris

[bpape]

The lengthwise orientation would be preferable because it would give you more space behind the seating instead of being right against a wall.  Also, the 'hanging wall' that would come down would double to control direct light from the window for video purposes. 

The only drawback to this is that the ceiling is sloping the wrong direction and will need to be tamed accordingly.  However, if you orient it the other way, the ceiling is worse as you're not symmetric left to right.

Bryan

[Ethan Winer]

Now I turn to you folks.

Chris, I agree with Bryan about not wanting a wall right behind you. Beyond that, what you do for treatment is directly related to how much you're willing to invest. This is a very large space, and to truly treat it properly requires a fair amount of bass traps and other panels.

--Ethan

[woodsyi]

Chris,

I love live rooms.  With your carpentry skills, couldn't you make wooden diffusers like this?

http://www.phy.mtu.edu/~suits/diffusers.html

Simple cylindrical bass traps covered with artistic burlap.

http://www.geocities.com/jonrisch/basstrap.htm

Some hanging parabolic ceiling reflector made with wood?


I also like the hanging reflectors above the stage here.  Zoom in and freeze it and check them out.
http://www.emarketing360.com/ind/va/fccv/java/HSWolfTrapFileneCenter.html

Sorry Brian and Ethan.  I am not trying to take business away from you all.  It's just that Chris is really good with wood and he likes doing things on his own.

[Christof]

What effect would rolls of fiberglass insulation have if placed on top of the wall on the right side of the picture in my first post?  I could probably place two rolls up there and never see them from the living space.

Woodsyi, thanks for the links you are correct I am a DIY person otherwise I could never afford this hobby

[woodsyi]

What effect would rolls of fiberglass insulation have if placed on top of the wall on the right side of the picture in my first post?  I could probably place two rolls up there and never see them from the living space.

Chris,

That would trap bass.  One of the thing Ethan at Real Trap told me was to stuff insulation batting above my drop ceiling on all corners and side.  It won't be as effective as placing them in all the tri-corners, but it will help a lot with deep bass. 

[bpape]

Yup.  The rolls will help some for sure. 

Diffusion can work nicely in that space but some absorbtion for decay time control and bass control will still be required. 

Bryan

[Christof]

I would like to hang a diy panel from my ceiling, between my speakers, that will serve as a bass trap, mediocre projector screen and a display wall for a painiting on the back side.  The panel will also serve to break up the big open room a bit.  The wall/panel will be 4'-6' wide, 8' high and as thick as needed to.    What would be the best material to make this hanging panel from?  OC 703 or 705?  Should there be a membrane sandwiched in the panel?  I'm hoping that the panel will also help the slap echo.

Thanks
Chris

[Red Dragon Audio]

I would just get an acoustically transparent projector screen cloth to cover your 705 material.  Then you have a good theater screen and since it is acoustically transparent will work perfectly with any acoustic materials you use behind it.

Here is Dazian Fabrics ebay auction for an acoustically transparent polyester projection screen material.

I'd just go with the 705 because it is more rigid/firm so it will hold its shape better as a screen/wall (4-8" thick is probably good).

[Red Dragon Audio]

You could get a 3/4" - 1" thick piece of plywood/mdf and make an open frame work like this.

Then glue 4" thick pieces of 705 to either side, stretch the acoustically transparent screen cloth over the whole thing and tack/glue the fabric to the plywood/mdf frame.
Perhaps a nice outer frame could be created to tie the whole thing together visually/structurally which also provides a place for eyelet screws on top for hanging it from the ceiling.
Sort of like an over sized version of GIK's elite acoustic traps.

[Christof]

Thanks Ryan  

[Red Dragon Audio]

I'm sure you have heard it before but your loft looks fantastic!

[Christof]

Thanks, Ryan.  It sure took a lot of work and much more time & $ than anticipated but as of two weeks ago I passed my Final Occupancy inspection....time to relax and take it all in!!!  Oh wait, almost forgot, now I have to build all our furniture and start rehabbing the gallery below

Peace
Chris

[bpape]

If the furniture and the downstairs turn out half as good as this last bit, I'll be even more jealous. 

Bryan