REINVIGORATING A DEAD ROOM

With so much emphasis on absorbers, you might think everyone was working in horrible-sounding, ringing spaces. But it’s equally possible that your space may be too dead. Carpets, curtains and upholstery all kill off high frequency reflections, and it’s amazing how even just filling a room up with stuff can deaden things. To reverse this, you could simply have a clear-out, throw open the curtains, or even leave the door open for some added ambience. You might also want to consider introducing some reflection closer to the sound source. For example, if your floor is carpeted, consider positioning the performer on a sheet of plywood. Alternatively, position a sheet or two of wood behind them, using these ‘screens’ to reflect sound back towards the mic.