Unfortunately, a quality microphone, while necessary, will only get you so far. If the acoustics of your recording studio are not quite right, your recording will still sound slightly off. That’s where acoustic treatment comes in.
Acoustic treatment is essential both for recording and mixing. When you’re recording, sound waves bounce off the walls and ceiling, often coming back to be picked up by the microphone. This is known as reverb, and while reverb can be a meaningful element of recording, it’s better to control it rather than simply accepting the reverb of the room you’re in.
Because of reverb, your voice and music recordings all have the qualities of the space they were recorded in. The sound quality of your bedroom or garage is not ideal for a professional recording. Home acoustic treatment can improve that sound quality, giving you a better recording.
Overall, acoustic treatment is not meant to eliminate reverb. Rather, it allows you to control it.
Acoustic treatment is also helpful while mixing. If you’re mixing your sound in a small room with no acoustic treatment, the room will affect what you hear.
If you’ve controlled and balanced the room, you can make more informed choices about your sound recording. Acoustic treatment allows you to capture a better sound that is easier to mix, giving higher quality results.