Anyone have particular recommendations as to how a subwoofer should be used and tuned in a studio environment

This is a subject very rarely approched I am not sure why? Due to proximity monitoring etc?

Any proper advice on volumes etc


I know I'm not going into any details .... maybe intentionaly.

Just wondering what everyone else does if they use them.

the honest answer to this delves into the complicated world of acoustics.

the main reason why some1 would add a subwoofer to a studio for production is because they need to hear really low frequency energy sounds... which simply cannot be generated by a 6 - 9" cone.

If you go by the physics and mathematics, true bass can only be produced by a subwoofer with a 16-18" or bigger cone, with ample energy to move it at the necessary frequencies.

check out
www.auralex.com

and google up "acoustics 101" and learn up on room acoustics b4 you add a sub or treat your room for it.... you could fukup or enhance your productions depending opn what you do.

post here or PM me if you got detailed acoustics questions... i'll try and help u out.

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placing the subwoofer in the corner of a room usually helps smooth out the frequency response and helps some in eliminating 'dead spots', but that will only help so much.. look up about bass traps (i think the technical term is a 'helmholz resonator' or something like that).

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TBH I wouldn't use a subwoofer in a studio at all, since it gives you a "false" idea of bass in the tune you're making. The bass may sound fat and driving on the subwoofer system when you're making it but it might be weak and lifeless on a regular system...

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quote:

Originally posted by Mr.Mystery TBH I wouldn't use a subwoofer in a studio at all, since it gives you a "false" idea of bass in the tune you're making. The bass may sound fat and driving on the subwoofer system when you're making it but it might be weak and lifeless on a regular system...

That's in the assumption the sub is badly integrated into the rest of the monitoring system. Many people believe a sub is there to give more bass, give the thump that shakes your stomach. Maybe in live PA applications, but in studio definately not.

If you listen to a well installed subwoofer system, most of the time people will only notice there is a sub if you actually point them to the fact there is one. The point of a sub in the studio is actually to extend the frequency range downwards, not to provide louder bass. A good .1 system needs to be accurate... Not loud. And the real idea behind that is just to have an idea how it will translate to other systems.

If the system is well balanced (and there accoustics, installation and enclosure design play a major role), the sub's only job will be to tell you what's going on in the extreme low frequencies, as not to come with nasty surprises if played on other systems.

Once again, it has to be accurate, not in your face, and the latter is usually the case.

Like SgtFoo, I suggest you read up some articles on the net. Try looking on some sites from monitoring manufacturers, they usually have pretty decent guides on placement and theory behind it. www.genelec.com is excellent in that aspect.

subwoofers are not good for monitoring

however ideal subwoofer placement = not being able to tell what direction its coming from.. a good tip is to even point it towards a wall with a few inches of space.. remember subwoofers are putting out low frequencies we want to "feel" more then hear.. 30hz is a structure born frequency and loves to travel through solids

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quote:

Originally posted by meDina subwoofers are not good for monitoring however ideal subwoofer placement = not being able to tell what direction its coming from.. a good tip is to even point it towards a wall with a few inches of space.. remember subwoofers are putting out low frequencies we want to "feel" more then hear.. 30hz is a structure born frequency and loves to travel through solids

Subs are useful to cover from 30 so 2/3000 depending on what mids you have.

Few subs actually go down to 30


On a side note I was able to find some reference material on this whole sub in the studio usage question and it appears to be better to use this only for reviewing final outputs and not to be used during actually creating time.

Here is a simple trick to subwoofer placement:

1.)Put your sub in the exact middle of the room (or as close as you can get it).

2.)Turn on some music.

3.)Walk around the room (or crawl) until you find the "sweet spot" where the bass is the loudest. Put your sub there, a minimum of 3 inches from any wall.

99% of the time, the sweetest spot is a corner, as other users have noted, but since all rooms are different and furniture and carpet make drastic changes, this is a good soulution to find that sweet spot where bass will sound full and most inportantly, NON-DIRECTIOAL!

Good luck!

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quote:

Originally posted by Mr.Mystery TBH I wouldn't use a subwoofer in a studio at all, since it gives you a "false" idea of bass in the tune you're making. The bass may sound fat and driving on the subwoofer system when you're making it but it might be weak and lifeless on a regular system...

you'll be missing the entire first octave, how can you say that?

It really just depends on your spreakers. A good pair of studio reference monitors, and you know wheteher the first octave is there or not. Now, if you have poor low-ends on your speakers, adding a sub can't hurt, but you will have to play your track on several other "normal" systems to get an accurate feel for the bass, since your sub may be higher or lower than a nice reference pair.

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