Field Story
The Recording Studio With the Disappearing Bass
A newly built home recording studio had a puzzling problem: bass response measured perfectly at the mix position during initial testing, but recordings consistently sounded thin. The engineer's SonaVyx room scan revealed the issue — a strong room mode at 63Hz that boosted the monitoring position by 12dB, causing the engineer to unconsciously reduce bass in every mix. The RT60 measurement confirmed excessive low-frequency decay time. Bass traps in the corners solved the problem, and the next mix translated perfectly to other systems.
Recording StudioPodcast Studio Acoustic Measurement
TL;DR
A podcast studio needs three things: a low noise floor (below 30 dBA / NC-20), short reverberation (RT60 0.2-0.4s), and a neutral frequency response that flatters voice without coloration. This guide shows how to measure your studio against these targets using SonaVyx, whether it is a purpose-built room or a converted closet.
Measurement Targets for Podcast Studios
| Parameter | Target | Acceptable | Problem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noise floor | < NC-20 (30 dBA) | NC-20 to NC-25 | > NC-25 |
| RT60 (500 Hz - 4 kHz) | 0.2 - 0.3 s | 0.3 - 0.5 s | > 0.5 s |
| RT60 (125 Hz - 250 Hz) | 0.3 - 0.4 s | 0.4 - 0.6 s | > 0.6 s |
| Room modes | No mode > +8 dB | +8 to +12 dB | > +12 dB |
Step-by-Step Studio Assessment
- Noise floor. Open SonaVyx SPL Meter. Turn off everything except your recording chain. Measure for 2 minutes. Check: HVAC noise, computer fans, external traffic, refrigerators, and plumbing. The noise floor sets the maximum usable dynamic range for your recordings.
- RT60. Use SonaVyx RT60 with the sine sweep method. Measure at your speaking position (where the mic will be). Record per-octave-band RT60. Most podcast studios are too reflective at low frequencies and over-dampened at high frequencies.
- Room modes. Switch to RTA mode with 1/24 octave smoothing. Play pink noise and identify peaks in the 60-300 Hz range. These color the bass in your voice recording.
- Reflection analysis. Record a hand clap at the mic position and examine the impulse response. Early reflections arriving within 5-20 ms of the direct sound cause coloration. Identify the reflecting surface for each strong early reflection.
Treatment Priorities
- First reflections. Panels at the first reflection points from the speaker position (usually the wall behind the mic and the two side walls). This has the biggest impact on recording quality.
- Ceiling. A low ceiling (2.4 m) in a small room creates a strong ceiling reflection 3-5 ms after the direct sound. A cloud panel above the recording position eliminates this.
- Low-frequency trapping. Corner bass traps address room modes that make male voices sound boomy. Thick (150mm+) panels in corners provide broadband LF absorption.
Common Mistakes
- Foam everywhere. Thin foam absorbs only high frequencies, making the room sound muffled and boxy. Use thick, dense absorbers for broadband treatment.
- Ignoring the noise floor. A beautifully treated room with a noisy computer fan at NC-35 still sounds amateur. Address noise first, then reverberation.
- Over-dampening. A room with RT60 below 0.15s sounds dead and unnatural. Some room tone is desirable for a warm, natural voice quality.
Tool Bridge
Assess your studio: noise floor → RT60 → room modes → treatment → verify with before/after comparison.
Try It Now
Open this measurement tool in your browser — free, no download required.
Last updated: March 19, 2026