If I replace carpet with wood flooring, will I get too much echo ?

[JohnW63]

My wife is changing out the carpet for new in the room next to my computer/music room. I know me. Once I see how nice the other room looks with new carpet, I'm going to want to keep up and pull out the 1986 vintage stuff and replace it. I was looking at some of the wood type click in place stuff a little up the scale from the run of the mill Pergo stuff. Looking at Bamboo, since it's a very durable material and has interesting grain. But, will I end up with an echo chamber of a room for playing or learning to record in ?

 

[Stuball48]

In my way of thinking, music bounces of and around hard surfaces, spacious rooms and high ceilings. You can help the warmth of your music played on hardwood floors by furnishing room with furniture that has soft surfaces and room with lower ceilings. And, you might like the slight change in sound. "Trial and error" will be your best teacher. If you dislike the sound now, DO IT!! If you like the sound, presently, changing???? My two cents.

 

[jedzep]

In a large room, maybe, but if not, you might appreciate a new 'clarity' of sound that can always be dampened with an area rug or, as was said, furniture.

 

[Balderdash]

At our house with hardwood floors we have partially eliminated any excessive echo effect by intentionally allowing dust to accumulate.
Almost forgot to mention I’ve picked Up a few really sweet rifts from some of the dust bunnies who have gotten better at guitar than me, which I guess wasn’t much of a challenge.

 

[dreadnut]

A few years ago, we replaced all our main floor carpeting with solid 3/4" planks of Santos Mahogany from Lumber Liquidators.

It sounds beautiful! The acoustics are greatly improved!

 

[Nuuska]

Hello

I have about 80m2 = about 900sqf oak flooring - plus some nice rugs covering about 30-40% of it. Never too much echo. Wood frame house.

 

[walrus]

See number 3 in this link, although the whole thing is informative:

How to Set Up Your Recording Room

The #1 Costly Mistake to AVOID With Recording Studio Setup and Design | The Simple 7-Step Guide to Designing a Bad-Ass Home Studio Today.

ehomerecordingstudio.com

walrus

 

[JohnW63]

Cool. I won't worry too much about it, then. I think the room is 12'X14'.

 

[12 string]

As others have stated you can tune the room with furniture and area rugs. Window treatments can help. When we did a similar project the biggest adjustment was and still is having it feel so much colder in the wintertime.

' Strang

 

[Velvet Phelts]

Most high end studios have hardwood floors. Acoustic treatment on the walls and ceiling. Maybe a throw rug or two. I've had both carpeted rooms, and peel and stick tile on concrete. Getting ready to do a floor in my music room. I went to a flooring place they had different floors laid down so you could walk on them. If money wasn't the issue it would me hardwood. Hands down. But will likely end up going with Vinyl plank.

 

[JohnW63]

I don't plan on serious studio stuff, just practice recordings and, maybe , a clip of something I post here. As long as it's not a big negative, I'll be good.

 

[chazmo]

Get a Golden Retriever. Three weeks of dog hair shedding and you won't remember that you have hardwood.



J/K, John. Honestly I have no firsthand recognition of hardwood floors changing anything. My entire house is hardwood with plaster walls and ceilings and I don't feel like I get any echo. My "music room" is perhaps less resonant because it has cherry paneling, but I guess I'd be surprised if you noticed much of a difference after the change. As others noted, an area rug will easily remedy the situation once the carpet is gone. Definitely go for the hardwood. IMO. My $0.02, and that's about all it's worth.

 

[chazmo]

As others have stated you can tune the room with furniture and area rugs. Window treatments can help. When we did a similar project the biggest adjustment was and still is having it feel so much colder in the wintertime.

' Strang

Spoken like a true Californian!

Greetings, 'Strang!!! Been a while!

 

[JohnW63]

"Get a Golden Retriever. Three weeks of dog hair shedding and you won't remember that you have hardwood."

We have a Husky/Malamute/Shepard mix. We got a new vacuum cleaner with a bright light, last year. OMG the amount of hair in the carpet that the Dyson left behind was amazing !