ABSTRACT
Different surfaces and materials can affect the acoustics in a room. Too much of one material applied to a wall or surface is generally destructive to a sound. Professional recording environments are typically constructed with many types of surfaces and materials. This chapter focuses on the basic acoustic terms and concepts, as the science of acoustics is too complex to be covered in a beginner's guide to audio. It also provides a do-it-yourself (DIY) section to learn how to make the room sound better by building acoustic treatments such as gobos, diffusers, broadband absorbers, and bass traps. Absorption is the process by which acoustic energy is reduced when a sound wave passes through a medium or strikes a surface. The ability of sound to bend around an object and reform itself is known as diffraction. Besides absorption, diffusion is another way to control reflections and standing waves.
