9. Notes on inconveniently configured control rooms

In our considerations so far, we have only dealt with a rectangular room. But home recording studios frequently possess a less regular spatial geometry. L-shaped rooms, rooms with niches, rooms with one or two slanted walls or wall parts are just some examples. Such rooms may be less than ideal, but they are by no means automatically unsuitable.

L-shaped rooms and rooms with niches

Generally, you should try to set up these rooms so that the irregular part of its geometry is behind the listening position. The triangular symmetry regarding the speakers and the listening position should be maintained. The speakers should emit their sound along the room's longer dimension, too. Niches as depicted below may even add to low-frequency diffusion and thus can be an advantage!

L-shaped room

Room with niche

Room with one or two slanted walls/ attic spaces

The problem with two slanted walls is that the sound concentrates just below the ridge, which is why you should install broadband absorbers along this feature. As far as the configuration of speakers and listening position is concerned, you'll have to experiment in such rooms. If the sound concentration is pronounced, you should set up your speakers so that the ridge runs transverse to the emitted sound; this may save you from having to sit directly underneath the concentrated sound. Otherwise, orient your speakers to emit sound along the length of the room, as usual, and treat the slanted walls with absorbers as you would in regular rectangular rooms. In single-slant rooms, you should be facing the slant, and the ridge should again run transverse to the sound emitted from the speakers, allowing you to preserve the axial symmetry of the speakers.

Windows and doors

This leaves us with the treatment of windows and doors. Should they be in places where irrititating primary reflections originate, treat them with absorbers. If you wish to remain able to open a window and enjoy the natural light it admits to the room, go for a gathered heavy velour curtain which you open or close as circumstances require. Treat doors by attaching light foamed plastic mats with double-sided tape that you can remove easily without damaging the doors. Should the windows and/or doors be on the lateral walls behind your listening position, you may well get away without treating them at all.