How To Use The MaxTrap

Easy to use and it works!

By combining the MaxTrap or FullTrap with standard Broadway panels, you will notice that bass will immediately tighten up, chatter echo will be reduced, which will help eliminate troublesome standing waves that cause nulls and lobes. With less interference, the listening sweet spot will expand making your room more comfortable to work in. With a properly treated studio, your mixes will become more accurate and translate better as you listen to the results in different rooms, in your car and on different sound systems.

Using corners to your advantage

It is well documented that sound tends to migrate into corners where it reflects and amplifies. This is one reason why acousticians tend to always treat corners first. Another great reason is that because sound expands at a rate of four each time you double the distance, by treating corners you can ‘capture’ or trap the sound as it hits the wall before it expands. This applies to all frequencies and is the reason why the MaxTrap is designed to be corner mounted.

The FullTap employs the same construction in a wall-mount design. This can be a good choice when windows or doors limit corner placement. By placing the FullTrap near the corner, you can enjoy the same sound absorbing benefits.

Application 1 – Standard corner mounting

MaxTraps are positioned in the room corners at either the source end of the room or at the receive end or both. Placing the MaxTraps at ear level will help maximize the mid and high frequency performance. Remember, the higher the frequency, the more directional it will be. Therefore simple vector alignment based on your sitting position will help you determine how MaxTraps will best suit your recording preferences.

Application 2 – Double stacked corner mounting

Pairs of MaxTraps are stacked in the corners at either the source end of the room or the receive end. Following the LEDE concept, increasing the absorption at the source end of the room will result in a more clinical ‘sweet spot’ free from flutter echo and powerfull primary reflections.

Application 3 – MaxTrap alternative room layout

An effective design for small rooms is to use a stacked set of MaxTraps in a corner utilizing the room’s natural layout to create a more diffuse field. By placing the mix position so that it is facing the room corner, you can create a very functional layout that will reduce powerful primary reflections from the near walls and front to back flutter echo. This does not mean you will not have issues to contend with, it merely points out that one does not have to conform to sitting "square" in the room… other options may in fact be better!

Application 3 – Fulltrap Alternative Wall Mount Option

In some rooms, cupboards, windows and doors may make it impossible to use the corners. This is where the FullTrap saves the day. The FullTrap is virtually identical to the MaxTrap except that instead of being designed to fit in the corner, it is designed to fit on a flat wall surface. This allows the FullTrap more flexibility inside the room and can be positioned wherever convenient. It should however be noted that sound naturally migrates into corners and therefore, using corners to your advantage is always a good idea.

Primacoustic is a division of Radial Engineering Ltd. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved.