Music Production Calculator
Reverb Time Calculator. Calculate RT60 room reverb time using the Sabine equation. Estimate acoustic treatment needed for studio and live room design.
Specialist tool for Music Production1 documented formula2 recommended next stepsPrivate in your browser
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A quick decision brief for this specific tool
Inputs that matter
Room Length, Room Width, Room Height, Floor Material, and 1 more
Output to expect
RT60 Reverb Time (Sabine)
How it works
1 documented formula across 1 calculation mode
- Confirm that every value uses the unit and time basis shown before comparing scenarios.
- Change one input at a time to see which assumption materially changes the result.
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Reference & details
How it works
Updated July 2026
How it works
Updated July 2026Sabine Equation
V is room volume, A is total absorption in sabins (surface area × absorption coefficient summed for all surfaces). Metric: RT60 = 0.161 × V / A (V in m³).
RT60 = 0.049 × V ÷ A (V in ft³, A in sabins)Total Absorption
Calculate each surface (walls, floor, ceiling) area multiplied by material absorption coefficient at target frequency. Sum all surfaces.
A = Σ (Surface area × Absorption coefficient)Target RT60 by Room Type
Different spaces need different reverb times. Dead spaces for recording vocals; livelier rooms for drums and orchestral recording.
Control room: 0.3–0.4s | Live room: 0.8–1.5s | Vocal booth: 0.1–0.3sUpdated: July 2026
Example Scenarios
1440 ft³ untreated RT60 ≈ 0.8s. Adding carpet, curtains, and 4 bass traps targets 0.35s for mixing accuracy.
400 ft³ room with wood floors and drywall at 0.6s RT60 — add reflective diffusion panels rather than absorption to maintain liveness.
64 ft³ booth needs heavy absorption (foam, fiberglass) to achieve 0.15s RT60 for dry vocal capture.
FAQ
Reverberation time — duration for sound to decay 60 dB after the source stops. Measured in seconds. Shorter RT60 = deader room; longer = more reverberant.
ITU-R BS.1116 recommends 0.2–0.5 seconds for control rooms depending on size. Smaller rooms target lower RT60. Even decay across frequencies matters.
Values 0–1 indicating how much sound a material absorbs at a given frequency. Concrete: 0.02. Carpet: 0.3. Acoustic foam: 0.7 at mid-high frequencies.
Sabine is accurate for moderately absorptive rooms with diffuse sound fields. Very dead or very live rooms may need Eyring or measured RT60 for precision.
Use RT60 measurement apps with calibrated microphone, or clap test (rough estimate). Professional acoustic consultants use impulse response analysis for precise results.
About Reverb Time Calculator
RT60 is the time for sound to decay 60 dB in an enclosed space — the standard measure of reverberation. Enter room dimensions and surface absorption coefficients to calculate RT60 using the Sabine equation and identify treatment needs.