What is the First Reflection Point?

What Is The First Reflection Point?The first reflection point is the most discernable echo in a room; it is also the most disruptive. This reflection is the next sound you hear after the direct sound from the monitors or the loudspeakers. The reflection can confuse the listener because it adds extra information in the direction of the listener and makes it very difficult to distinguish the true sound projecting from the speakers because it adds unwanted clutter. It is only after you have eliminated this first reflection can you truly appreciate stereo imaging and soundstage and achieve a clean sound. After the first reflection has been removed you will appreciate increased definition, enhanced accuracy and better timing. The treatment of the first reflection point is vital in mixing rooms, listening rooms, home cinema rooms, editing suite or control room.Where is the first reflection point?The first reflection point is the mirror point between the monitor or loudspeaker and the listening position. These are on the two walls either side of the mixing or control desk. The third reflection point is found on the ceiling between the monitors and the listening position. To find the first reflection point you will need a mirror and an assistant. While sat in your listening position get your assistant to drag a mirror along the left hand wall starting from the position of the monitor. When you can see the left monitor through the mirror you have found the first reflection point for the left channel. Do the same with the right hand side. In most cases this will be same distance from the corner as the left but depends on the position of the two monitors in relation to each other. The next point to find is the one of the ceiling. Directly in front of the listening position get your assistant to drag the mirror along the ceiling until you can see the two monitors in the mirror. If you only have a small mirror you may have to do each channel separately. Once you have found these three points you have the most vital positions of your acoustic treatment.What acoustic treatment should I use?In these areas that you have found you need install clusters of acoustic tiles or single acoustic panels such as our 2ft by 4ft Acousti-Slab Panels. The thickness of acoustic foam you choose is also important. If you only install thin acoustic treatment then there is a smaller and higher frequency range that is going to be absorbed. The thicker the acoustic foam the lower it can absorb to. The maximum thickness you would want to install at the first reflections points is 4inches (100m) thick. At these points you are only going to effectively absorb from the lower of the mid range frequencies upwards. The panels will absorb the low end frequencies but only a small proportion will be absorbed. After you have treated these three areas you will notice a big improvement in the sonics of the room. You will find that the sound emitting from the monitors or loudspeakers will be cleaner and more direct. The slap echoes will be totally eradicated enabling you to better distinguish between each channel. So if you are treating a control room or a mixing room it will have the positive effect of giving you much more defined stereo image and help you to discern more accurately each channel level. If you are treating a listening room or a cinema room treatment of the first reflection points will widen the soundstage and remove the clutter that comes from over reflective surfaces giving you a cleaner sound. In both cases you will bring focus to the room and create a space that works with you.Why don