Mixing With a View

I’ve recently shifted my room around so I get to look out of the window, which is a nice upgrade. The screens sometimes hard to see if it’s bright, but it’s worth the trade off.

I initially thought it might sound worse since windows are obviously quite reflective, and in the old configuration I had a bunch of acoustic panels behind the speakers. However in a twist, the measurements show the bass response is much improved and a lot more even across the whole low end. I guess loads of studios have the speakers in front of a window to the live room, so it can’t be a total deal breaker.

I think the improvement is partially because of sheer luck in where the listening position is - all the the room modes seem to have balanced out. It could also be because the thin, single glazed window lets bass frequencies pass through. So more of the low end just leaves through the window, rather than bouncing back off these ridiculously thick walls. Finally a benefit to being really really cold all winter!

Anyway, as a result, the stereo image is way better and the response from 40-100 is so much improved. With low end you need something like 3.5 feet of insulation to absorb 100hz, which obviously isn’t an option in our 2 bed flat, so I’m relieved to have found a good spot right out of the gate.

I’m thinking I might put some more absorption across the bottom of the window to help with a new lil bump in the low mids, but I don’t know, seems a shame to cover the view. It’s all trial and error. Anyway, this is the stuff that keeps me up at night. Have a good one 🙏