New studio-- any input from you?

[bmcclure]

I am building up my equipment to build a poor-mans studio in the very near future. I will soon have a room in my home available for my studio. I'm first looking for input from you on the best way to make it sound good. What I was thinking:

Put Auralex bass traps around the bottom and put Auralex corner pieces in all corners. Put sheets of auralex across the ceiling. Then for the main portion of each of the four walls, get large, heavy, wavy curtains. That way if I'm looking for natural reverb I could just open the curtains, right? Anyone who'e done this, let me know. I'm new to it!

As for equipment, what I've got so far:

Mixing:
Behringer 16-channel Eurorack

Drums/Synth:
Roland MC-505 Groovebox

Compressor:
Behringer 2-channel compressor/limiter

Guitars:
Peavey Predator
Ibanez RG320fm lavender

Amps:
Small fender amp
Behringer V-AMP Pro Amp Modeler

DI:
Behringer GI DI Box w/ 4x12 Speaker Cab sim.

Monitors: Alesis Studio One MKII Powered Monitors

Computer:
Home built, Athlon XP 2100+, 512 MB DDR, 40 GB HDD, slides onto a shelf in my current rack system (not really a rack system, just a shelving unit from an old stereo that happens to fit rack equipment). Software I use right now is Adobe Audition. I plan to learn Cubase or Cakewalk soon since I'll be needing MIDI support and everything. Everyone's thoughts on these packages?

I have no official studio furniture aside from a keyboard stand for my drum machine. I'm using an old stereo shelvign system to hold my computer, mixer, and two rackmountable items. My computer monitor is sitting on top of that. My Alesis monitors are sitting on top of the old floor-standign speakers that match that shelving unit.

What are your suggestions for studio furniture? The room is something like 8 x 10 .. id have to measure, maybe it's a little bigger... It's nto verybig though, my whole house is small. Thanks a lot! I'll be glad to provide any more information.

Ben McClure

[bmcclure]

Forgot to mention,

I've got a 48-point patchbay (PX2000) in the mail now. What's the best way to utilize this with my current setup? Thanks!

[c7sus]

You don't want the "reverb" of an 8x10 room. Stand in the center of the room and clap your hands. Hear that? It's flutter echo and you don't want it on your recordings.

I'd recommend against Auralex, too. Check out John Sayer's studio design site for designs and ideas on how to treat your room.

I have my outboard I/O through a patchbay. Stick with sending LINE LEVEL ONLY through your pb. NO PHANTOM POWER!!!

When you get to using MIDI I'd suggest using a USB interface with seperate I/O for each MIDI device. You can thank me later.

[Ethan Winer]

Ben,

> The room is something like 8 x 10 <

With a room that small you need some serious bass trapping to get the low end even close to flat. I'm not sure foam corners will do what you need. Much better is to get some panels - either DIY or commercial - based on rigid fiberglass, and put them across all of the room corners.

--Ethan

[bmcclure]

Thanks for the tips, any more would be really appreciated.

I'll check out both options. What would be a DIY type setup? I spent all my money already so I have to start savign again for whatever I want.

I talked to a guy yesterday who had soem insight, he said even like those panels they use in office cubicles work well for enclosing instruments and thigns sicne they have sound deadening stuff in them already and they're pretty cheap on sale. I was hoping to get the whole room sounding good so I didnt' have to keep repositioning things as often though, unless this isn't really feasable.

I'm not lookign to record other people's stuff really i this studio, it's for my own albums and projects mostly, so I want to get my equipmetn in there and leave it in there and beable to use it whenever I want.

Also, what do you recommend as a good mixing console and studio furniture (desk, chair, etc.)? What kind of monitor stands arebest for studio? The Raxxis ones that you can fill with sand, or just the metal ones? Which is better for accoustics?

Are those Auralex pads to go under the monitors really worth it?

Thanks again!

[Ethan Winer]

Ben,

> Thanks for the tips, any more would be really appreciated. <

I got a million of them.

Have a look at the Acoustics FAQ, second in the list on my Articles page:

www.ethanwiner.com/articles.html

As for monitor pads, if that really is a problem - and it isn't a problem with many setups - you can use thin cardboard boxes or even kitchen sponges. Get the kind of sponges that get stiff when they dry out. But before you even bother, have a couple of friends pick up your speakers while music plays. Chances are good you'll hear no difference.

--Ethan