Acoustic Room Mode Calculator
Enter your room dimensions to find the resonant frequencies (standing waves) that will cause bass build-up at your listening position. Identifies the worst clusters to target with bass traps. Nothing uploaded.
Statistics
Frequency Ruler — red = clustered modes
Worst Mode Clusters — treat these frequencies first
Learn more: room modes, bass treatment, and FAQ
What is a room mode and why does it cause problems?
Room modes are standing waves that form when a sound frequency has a wavelength that fits an exact number of times into the room's dimensions. At these frequencies, sound builds up dramatically - you hear excessive bass. At positions along the null, you hear almost no bass. This makes it impossible to make accurate mixing decisions at low frequencies.
Why your mixes sound different on other speakers
When you mix bass at your desk in your home studio and the mix sounds muddy on every other system, room modes are usually the cause. Your room resonates like a tuning fork at certain bass frequencies, making those frequencies seem louder than they are. You compensate by cutting bass. But that cut is too much - on flat systems your mix sounds thin. Knowing your room's modal frequencies tells you which frequencies to be sceptical of when mixing.
The Schroeder frequency and bass treatment
The Schroeder frequency (or modal transition frequency) is the crossover point above which room acoustics behave diffusely and below which individual room modes are clearly audible. For a home studio room it is typically 200-400 Hz. Bass treatment below this frequency is where acoustic panels have the most impact. Bass traps should go in corners - especially tri-corners where two walls meet the ceiling or floor, which are the points of maximum pressure for all room modes simultaneously.
Optimal listening position
The calculator identifies the optimal listening position (typically 38% of room length from the front wall) which minimises the worst mode effects. Sitting in this position during mixing helps you make more accurate bass decisions.
FAQ
What is a room mode and why does it cause problems?
Room modes are standing waves that form when a sound frequency's wavelength fits exactly into the room's dimensions. At these frequencies bass builds up dramatically, making those frequencies impossible to judge accurately when mixing.
What is the Schroeder frequency?
The crossover point below which individual room modes are clearly audible. For home studios this is typically 200-400 Hz. Bass treatment below this frequency has the most impact.
Where should bass traps go?
In corners - especially tri-corners where two walls meet the ceiling or floor. These are the highest-pressure points for all room modes simultaneously.