Will these Broadway kits turn my bedroom into a professional studio?
Saying ‘yes’ would be a stretch! Professionally designed studios are designed from the ground up with non-parallel walls, isolated floors and so on. What Broadway kits will do is create a relatively neutral working environment that will allow you to produce music that should translate to other rooms, hi-fi systems and car audio systems with relative ease. Because they employ the same high density fiberglass as used in professional studios and broadcast facilities, you are getting the very best quality yet at an affordable price.

How do you manage to get the Broadway pricing to be so low?
Simple – we produce the acoustic panels off-shore so that all of the high labor costs associated with hand wrapping of the fabric is reduced. All of the value added item s such as our innovative impalers and hardware is produce in Canada. Also, by reducing our color selection to the three most popular colors (black, gray and beige) – we do not have to carry the costs of hundreds of options. This way we can mass produce.

Should I be concerned about fiberglass strands exiting the panels?
Broadway panels and the minute glass fibers are completely contained with micromesh and the sides where the panels have been cut have been treated with a resin to harden the edges. This completely encapsulates the panels so that the fibers cannot escape. When folks speak of fibers escaping into the air, this refers to panels that have been cut and wrapped without edge treatment. We only sell panels that have been properly prepared.

Where to situate mixing position?
Generally speaking, you do not want the mixing position in the middle of the room. This is where room nodes are most common and therefore will be where the frequency response will likely be most uneven. Room nodes are caused when sound waves bounce off walls and meet to either create bumps where they amplify each other or dips where they cancel each other out.

I have windows and doors in the way of the panels - what do I do?
Keep in mind that panel placement is intended to help you balance out our room. Look at the room geometry so that you can position your work space where reflective surfaces will be reasonably balanced. This will result in better imaging and ultimately, more even mixes. If you have a large open side on your left, then you should treat the right hand side more heavily to compensate. You cannot go too far wrong if you follow the basics.

How do I know if I need more add-ons?
Good engineers tend to always work in the same room for one reason: they know what to expect from their room and get used to the way it sounds. This is no different whether you have a home project studio or a larger commercial studio. The most prudent approach is to start with a basic room kit and then listen to your room using familiar CDs and old mixes. Try remixing and then talking the results to your car or hi-fi system to see how you make out. It usually takes about a month to evaluate how your room is working for you. If you notice that your mixes tend to be bass heavy at particular frequencies, you likely have excessive bass resonating that needs to be tamed. Try moving your sub around the room before spending more on acoustic treatment.

Why should I consider adding Cumulus triangle traps?
It has long been known that sound tends to migrate into corners. Furthermore, small rooms tend to have a reoccurring problem in the low mids as sound resonates without escape. The corner apex where the two walls and the ceiling meet is often free from windows and doors and is perfectly suited to discretely add absorptive panels. The challenge has always been the installation… Cumulus makes it easy! One eye-screw and it springs into position. Once mounted, a deep 12” cavity is created behind the panel which will extend the absorption down to 125Hz! Easy and effective!

Why should I consider adding a Status Cloud?
This depends on how demanding you are of yourself and your room. Folks generally start by treating reflections from nearby walls as these tend to be the most prevalent. The next step usually entails considering other problems such as floor to ceiling flutter; primary reflections off the console surface; and floor to ceiling resonance. Acoustic Clouds like the Stratus not only help alleviate these problems but also expand the ‘sweet spot’ so that your work area is larger and more comfortable.

Why would you add a MaxTrap or FullTrap to the kit if they already have bass absorbers?
The MaxTrap and FullTrap present more advanced and higher performance solutions that include an extra thick absorptive panel, wood enclosure that creates a semi-contained air trap and a resonating or floating membrane that takes out deep bass. All of this costs more money and for many, the added bass control may not be needed. It really depends on how critical your engineering skills are and the level of production you intend to produce from your room. All small rooms suffer from excessive bass! You have to decide how much of it you want to control.

Do I really need Razorblade quadratic diffusers?
Razorblade diffusers are primarily intended for high end rooms, mastering suites and commercial studios. They are the icing on the cake. If you have the budget and intend to have the very best room possible, adding two or three Razorblades can be an awesome thrill!

Why do you ‘hype’ the Broadway panels over Primafoam?
Over the years, foam has been relegated to the low-end home studio while high end facilities have always employed high density fiberglass. The challenge has – up until Broadway – been price. Foam has been cheaper. And even though foam has limitations such as lower performance, fire safety (or lack thereof), crumbling and discoloration due to exposure to UV and oxidization, and less than ideal installation challenges (glue being a major problem when you try to relocate), the price has been the attractive stimulus. Today, with oil prices skyrocketing, manufacturers have reduced the foam density in order to keep price down. (Typically from 2lbs per cubit foot down to 1.3lbs) This means less foam and more air in every box. The result: lower performance. Primafoam is still respectable at 1.8lbs per cubit foot, but as prices have gone up, higher density fiberglass has become all the more attractive. With Broadway, you get 6lb per cubit foot density for significantly greater absorption; more durability; it is class-1 fire safe; has a more attractive finish; is easier to install; is easier to move; and is now priced about the same as foam… we just think it is better value.