STANDING WAVE SOLUTIONS: ROOM EQUALIZATION
If a room exhibits severe standing wave problems, the best solution is to know your
own limitations: hire a trained acoustician. These professionals have the necessary
background to analyze the various room modes and recommend appropriate action.
This will sometimes take the form of a custom-designed bass trap, which may be easi-
ly constructed. But it takes specific skills to determine its optimal design.
On other occasions, careful third-octave analysis and equalization may be appropri-
ate. Optimize everything else that you can, then use EQ, if necessary, to “touch up” the
room. This is its best use. If everyone used EQ this way, it wouldn’t have the bad repu-
tation that it has in some consumer electronics circles. Professional use it all the time,
with excellent results—because they know its limitations and how to apply it.
Never equalize a room by ear. Room analysis is not as straightforward as it may seem.
The analysis should be done using equipment with at least one-third octave resolution,
using both spatial and temporal averaging. The final electronic equalization should be
applied by means of a one-third octave graphic equalizer at a minimum.
In any event, rooms requiring this level of treatment are relatively rare, and the skills
necessary to handle them properly are highly specialized. Do not hesitate to use the
professional services of an acoustician when you need them.
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