sE Electronics RF Space Filter

[apaclin]

Hi, I recently bought this filter to block reflections from behind, cos behind I have no acoustic panels, but a window. I was surprised to find out that it worsen the sound – it ate high frequencies (around 5dB at 4kHz and 10kHz) and added a shitty bump at 450hz in around 13dB. So in general it sounds more open and better without it. Have you used this filter? What's your experience with it?

[Hugh Robjohns]

It sounds like you might have pushed your microphone too far back into the curve of the filter.

You'll suffer fewer side-effects if you keep the mic slightly in front of a line drawn across the two wings.

You might also find this comparison test of acoustic screens interesting:

https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/ho ... booths?amp

[apaclin]

Nope, the difference is more between present filter and no filter than between mic further and closer to the filter. Even when the mic as far from the filter as possible it's still sounds more dead than without it.

[shufflebeat]

I'm not sure I'm following the issue completely but it sounds like it may be you're losing the reflections from the room, a large glass window would certainly complicate/accentuate the high frequencies and the filter is designed to restrict that so - no surprise.

Around 4-500Hz can sound more solid with the filter, it may be that it's not adding a bump but rather stopping some cancellation which was previously apparent.

The Reflexion filters are quite useful for focusing the sound in an otherwise bad room.

[Dave Rowles]

Those issues can be altered with EQ, so the question is, when you compensate for those issues, does it sound more controlled and less ambient? And is this really what you want?

Using the filter will change the sound you are used to. So it's doing a job, but is it doing the job you expect it to or is it doing the job it's supposed to do?

I have to admit to having a "build a vocal booth out of duvets and mic stands" kind of approach when I need to the sound the be deader than my recording room provides. Remember that the reflections and frequencies the filter takes away will hopefully make it easier to mix together what you record. Having "room" sound over your recordings limits what you're able to do unless the room sounds great by itself.