Studio Acoustics Masterclass at The Blackbird Academy

What happens when the space you’re mixing in is holding you back? How does your room’s acoustics affect the sound you think you’re hearing? In this in-depth session, GIK Acoustics takes you inside the world of studio acoustics, unraveling the challenges that musicians, producers, and engineers face when trying to perfect their sound.

From the subtle behavior of first reflections to the often misunderstood role of diffusion, this masterclass cuts through the confusion. It delves into the importance of bass control, explores how to interpret room measurements, and sheds light on what’s truly happening in your studio space.

This isn’t just about identifying problems—it’s about solving them, empowering you to craft a studio environment that works with your sound, not against it. Learn how acoustic issues you might not even realize are affecting your work, and discover practical solutions used by professionals across the industry.

Every great mix starts with the room. Understand yours.

[warpacademy]

Thank you for this detailed, accurate, and engaging presentation. Your team are great speakers and did a professional job in explaining complex, hard-to-grasp, room acoustics concepts in a way that was accessible for beginners while also containing more intermediate information for those with a grasp of the fundamentals.

You are the only people I've seen on Youtube who always seem to present 100% accurate information. I can't tell you the number of times people have come to me with weird ideas in their heads after watching someone's channel. All of a sudden thinking they need $12, 000 activated carbon bass traps, or building a massive PRD covering their back wall, 5 feet from their mix position, or trying to build Helmholtz resonators to kill a mode before doing anything with porous absorption.

One thing you didn't discuss at all, and something that I think it quite important to understand, is what porous absorption you use in your modules. Fiberglass, mineral wool, what density etc. Things like GFR maybe could be too advanced for this primer but I consider them quite fundamental. Primacoustic uses 100 kg/m3 fiberglass from what I understand. Very high density, very reflective. I assume you're using a much lower density compound.

Finally, another thing I get a lot is people thinking that mineral wool or glass fiber is toxic and unsafe (even when wrapped twice). They'll say you should only use recycled denim. Apparently they haven't read Rod Jervais's book, he has a good rant on that. It would be nice to hear you weigh in on that aspect of using porous absorption in your studio.

Anyways, I'm so glad you did this video and please keep 'em coming!

[soundonsound]

Superb masterclass guys! Very informative.

[paulwebendorfer]

I am absolutely fascinated by all of this. Thank you for sharing the class! I will definitely be filling out the form to get some assistance with a challenging home theater project.

[PrewarGuitarMusic]

How about a video on different ways to use your Portable Isolation Panels I’m untreated rooms. A large swath of your possibly customers do not/can not have dedicated rooms with sound treatment.

[seanb]

Would love to see a video dedicated to hi-fi rooms…where treating the low end is done while preserving the life of the room.

[maxifun]

Fantastic masterclass, looking forward to seeing more of these diving deeper about the different subjects involved. Keep up the great work guys 🔥🙌

[gabzerzerzer]

Thank you for all the informations it was great and easy to understand !

[ScottRosette]

i am so pleased with my wee little bedroom/ project studio after installing various GIK products. In my case, Mike was a tremendous help in his design advice and suggesting solutions to my room's "unique" problems. He suggested a phased plan that would get me up and running, with a clear path for a future upgrade as the funds became available for additional treatment. Very nice products and great advice. All smiles. Thanks. Peace and good notes.

[OdoSendaidokai]

Really informative Masterclass. Thank you 🌻

[markdelange]

• Modes refer to the specific patterns in which a system (like a room, a string, or a panel) naturally vibrates. Each mode has its own shape and a corresponding frequency at which it prefers to oscillate. In acoustics, we often talk about room modes — standing wave patterns that occur at specific frequencies in a room.
• Resonances happen when an external force (like a sound wave) drives a system at one of its natural mode frequencies, causing a big increase in amplitude. So, resonance is what you get when you excite a mode.

In short:
• Modes are the “possibility” — the natural ways something can vibrate.
• Resonance is the “reaction” — what happens when a mode gets energy at its specific frequency.

[infojunkie]

Really helpful video. I'm currently working with Lukas to get my room sorted.

[JayVcSingerOficial]

I greatly appreciate your excellent work and attention. I’m eagerly looking forward to the response to the consultation I requested two days ago, so I can know which products to purchase and where to place them. 🙏🏻

[TheeRocker]

I did the Egg cartons glued to 4 x 8 x 1/2 inch think Insulation board with one side foiled. I did it in my garage for the band I was in back in the late 80's. I did the entry door on the House wall as well. It really stopped the bleed through that the family room was getting. It did surprisingly well actually. At least my family could watch TV at normal levels again lol.
I spent about $400 on the 14 x 32 garage. Didn't treat the ceiling, but it was insulated above. Cool thing as well, you didn't hear us playing anymore walking down the sidewalk, lol. You had to stand about 3 feet close to the garage door lol. I think what really helped with that was, I loaded all the shelves and cabinets in front of the garage door, about 10 foot or so deep up to the ceiling, so it was blocking the sound lol.
Only bad thing was we were about 120db because our drummer could smack a snare and peg 120db lol. That was the loudest thing in the room. Every one liked it a lot. Could hear each other well and it did not seem as loud as the db meter said, lol.

So I got into mixing about 2009, and had a 10 x 16 x 8' 2" room. Bought the larger 244/Monster Package, and set it up accordingly. I did plenty of mixes in the room before treatment, and it was actually difficult to get a decent mix, much less a good one, lol. But I did learn in that room how compression, EQ and a ton of mixing techniques work, but just with bad results out of that room. So I gave up on a commercial release option lool. ANd just learned enough to know what I needed to do.
One I had to get better speakers with no rear bass ports, lol. JBL's were cheap enough to learn on, but never going to work with what I wanted.
Second thing was Treatment. The GIK package really got that room pretty much perfect. I also bought large Sound Blankets made from a company that made them fireproof and built to work well in high and some high mid frequency reflections. It solved the 2 Window reflections, and wasn't concerned of bleed outside. I was told I need to cover a bit more of the reflections than the GIK package could cover. A package of 6 Sound Blankets about 8' x 84" were hung with Heavy duty Curtain Rods. Those things are heavy, but 2 " Ring Clips attached to the Curtains are supported well.
Mixes translated surprisingly well !!! I was actually getting good results in competitions and suggestions I could actually accomplish just being in the room. Never felt like I had to check in the truck audio anymore either lol. Really appreciate not "having " to use headphones all the time ;) So then I had too many headphones, lol.
If I hadn't broke my back in 2012, I might have been doing a lot of recording and mixing, lol.

So now I'm a little over 60, and in a new larger space, 25 x 27 x 9 room. Same treatment and blankets, carpet floors, and it has room for all my guitars, amps, keyboards, and drums lol. So called GIK, and they gave me a great set up with what I had already purchased. Did a few mixes, and I feel pretty good so far.
But all that will change since I'm removing the carpet replacing with nice laminate flooring, and some nice rugs. I'll eventually treat the ceiling for sound proofing a bit, doesn't need much. And some GOBO's for Reflection adding and removing to help with recording. And I'll have room for Thee COUCH, lol.
But other than doing the actual work with my physical limitations is all I need to do. I have learned great patients being a bit disabled, lol. I'm in no hurry, since I can't really be rushed lol. It'll will be a beautiful room when done. Right now it's an eyesore the ole lady has developed great patients with me for, lol. At least she really thinks it'll will look great when done.

Then I'll be calling GIK again lol. Join their Facebook Acoustic Treatment group... It's really come along and great advice from there also. Great for reference and new ideas as well.
If you're not familiar with REW Room Audio software, it's a good idea to grab it, it's free.

[dysnomia]

One question:How many percent in a small Homecinema with hard Walls do i need to absorb?😊

[cbonner]

I would like to hear information on open floor plan for soundproofing… no one talks about this?

[CynthiaJackson-io]

Martinez Charles Rodriguez Scott Jones Laura

[deanjohnson]

Excellent content but PLEASE! seek out and invest in the services of professionals who know how to properly film. The jerky camera work had me thinking I was along for a ride in an Olympic Games bobsled run! Very distracting