Diffusers are a form of acoustic treatment that deals with reflections. Just a handful of diffusion panels can be enough to treat large spaces. Not only that, in some cases they're a better solution than absorbers which can sometimes make a room sound too sterile.
Acoustic Panels for Home Studios
There are various acoustic panels that can help improve the acoustics of your home studio, including absorbers which literally absorb sound to reduce echoes, and diffuser panels that scatter reflections to make a space sound bigger and more open.
Different Designs
Diffuser panels are made of hard, reflective material such as wood or hard plastic. While different models feature different designs, what they all have in common is an extremely irregular surface that warps the direction, timing and frequency response of reflections so that they no longer affect the sound coming directly from the source.
Diffusion Panel Placement
Ideally, diffusers are mounted on any surface that reflections can bounce off before they reach your ears or any microphone. This is because, just like light, sound bounces off surfaces at the same angle as it hits them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Diffuser Panels
How effective are acoustic panels?
Absorber panels are by far the best way to improve the acoustics of your studio. That said, installing too many will suck the life out of your sound, so don't forget to mount a handful of diffusers to keep things sounding lively.
How thick should acoustic panels be?
The thickness of acoustic panels determines their effectiveness. The thicker the panel, the more effectively it deals with low frequencies.
