Engineering legend Bruce Swedien has a new book available: Make Mine Music

Read an excerpt

ASC's Quick Sound Field

The Quick Sound Field™ is created out of an arrangement of StudioTraps™. Depending on the type of recording, the QSF could be as few as 8 StudioTraps or as many as 20. The actual QSF is a recording technique that uses StudioTraps to sculpt the direct signal reaching the mic. Recording Engineer Bruce Swedien uses 14 StudioTraps for his QSF, and he never leaves home without them. More than a gobo, the QSF has been developed as a versatile acoustic tool for the modern, digital studio and offers two major recording environments.

First, the typical dead studio sound. Rotate each StudioTrap to face the reflectors outward to get a nearly perfect, boom free, dead space - a quality rarely found even in closed vocal booths. Tighten or open up the spaces between the StudioTraps to dial in low level room ambience.

Second, the bright but dry Quick Sound Field sound. Rotate the reflectors inward towards the mic to create a bright, rich and transparent sound. Use the mic in a figure 8 or omni setting. The acoustic signal from the talent is captured, reflected and diffused inside the Quick Sound Field zone above 400Hz. Bass to 110 Hz is absorbed by the front side of the StudioTrap while room noise is absorbed by the back side of the StudioTrap.

See what all the buzz is about, check out these articles:

• Creating Authentic Vocal Tracks
  (Originally published in Oregon Film & Video Magazine)
• Reflectophobia
  (Some humorously presented technical information by Arthur Noxon)
• History of Sound Fusion Recording
  (everything you need to know about the QSF but were afraid to ask)
• Check out our QSF Application Guide
• QSF Press Release from Cherry Poppin' Daddies
• QSF Technical Information
• AES Article: CONTROLLED REFLECTION ISOLATION BOOTH
• AES Article: SOUND FUSION AND THE ACOUSTIC PRESENCE EFFECT
• How ASC Developed the QSF Concept
• QSF Sightings Page -
  ( ASC TubeTraps and the Quick Sound Field in the media)
• Check out our PDF Flyer

For More Information

• Pricing
• Webmail Inquiry

QSF Applications
The multiple early reflection pattern from the Quick Sound Field produces a saturation of early reflections, all inside the Haas effect window, which effectively produces acoustical compression. The StudioTraps accommodate almost any microphone placement while the reflectors mask any variation or movement of the script stand or talent. The alternating pattern of absorption, reflection and venting eliminates flutter. Mic boom connector kits for the top of the StudioTraps are especially useful when recording drums. The Quick Sound Field will give you a solid recording every time.

Why do You Need a Quick Sound Field?
The QSF is a nearfield acoustic environment that improves the quality of the signal at the mic. It uses StudioTraps to surround and separate both mic and talent from the room. The QSF creates a controlled and very stable acoustic workstation and completes the missing link, the acoustic part of the mic environment in todays digital studio. Sonic structure inside the QSF is so consistent, you can break the kit down, put it away, days later you can casually set it back up anywhere and get the same sound you had before.

Quick Sound Field History

We're proud to announce that the June '07 issue of EQ Magazine features an article by Mr. Noxon covering the history and development of our Quick Sound Field system. Here's a link to EQ's online version. Or download the PDF of the full unedited version. We've also created a web version of the full unedited article.

The article contains all our secrets, everything you need to know about how QSF works as well as a comprehensive history behind its development.

New Travel Bag Now Available

After all these years, ASC has finally come up with a nifty nylon carrying bag for our famous StudioTrap. For folks with the Quick Sound Field setup or anyone with StudioTraps, this bag makes portability a snap. It's also a great way to store your Traps and keep dust and dirt out.

It's a slip cover with a convenient carry handle, placed to perfectly balance the StudioTrap when lifted into a horizontal position. We used durable 240 oz. black coated cordura nylon fabric and super tough nylon webbing for the handles. Plus it comes with a drawstring at the base to keep the cover from slipping off during transport.

If you do a lot of travel and don't want to leave your StudioTraps at home, consider picking up some travel bags, bargain priced at $39 per bag. Made in the USA.

Copyright 2008 Acoustic Sciences Corp.