Where to put what.

[Sam Kerr]

If i were to build a vocal booth out of an old cupboard and i had enough foam to cover 2/3rd of the cupboard - where would i position the foam and why? thanks!

 

[Massive Master]

In the garbage.

"Cupboards and closets doth not a vocal booth make." (W. Shakespeare)

Seriously though -- Read around a bit. Closets and the like are far too small to use as recording spaces (except in rap movies). Foam is good for absorbing high end -- The amount of broadband treatment you'd need in a space that small - really, there isn't enough room for it.

That all said - Throw the foam in the closet and put noisy gear in it.

 

[Chili]

That all said - Throw the foam in the closet and put noisy gear in it.

THAT is a good answer.

 

[Sam Kerr]

fuck life. thanks

 

[c7sus]

Hey, my Tupperware diffusor is the bomb!

 

[Armistice]

The well documented arguments against closets as vocal booths aside, why would you just not buy more foam...

 

[Chili]

fuck life. thanks

Yeah, maybe a little too tongue in cheek. Lots of people come here thinking they can make a vocal booth out of a closet, wardrobe, under the stairs, etc. and if they put up a few squares of foam, they're all set and ready to record. Then they wonder why the vocal tracks are muddy.

Truth is use the biggest room you've got to record your vocals. Don't use foam.

Good luck.

 

[jonny deep]

Where's Rami when you need him?

 

[Dogbreath]

fuck life. thanks

yeah...probably not the answers you were lookin for but it's true. Your vocals are gonna sound muddy and lifeless.

Like ChiliDude said, use the biggest room you've got and ditch the foam. Foam's good for higher frequencies but 11 times outta 10, that's not where the problems are. The problems are almost always in the low end with bass buildup and mud.

p.s. foam makes for a nice cushion.

 

[Steenamaroo]

Where's Rami when you need him?

Last I heard he was playing with the Missus' stockings.

 

[Dogbreath]

Last I heard he was playing with the Missus' stockings.

playing with or wearing?

 

[Steenamaroo]

Hey man, I'm not here to judge.

 

[jonny deep]

playing with or wearing?

I think he was playing while wearing. Considering he's a drummer, that might explain the smell.

 

[Dogbreath]

it puts the lotion on its skin.

 

[Jonesey9]

Record your vocals in one corner of the room, facing out.

Hang a double duvet in the corner to stop reflections bouncing back into the mic.

If necessary, stick a Reflexion Filter (or similar) in front of the mic.

 

[MetroCenter]

Yeah I would rather use a large untreated room, than a tiny "treated" (with foam) closet. At least it will sound real.

I've said it before: if you're home is not workable for recording, then see if there are any buildings nearby that you can use for an hour or so. A school gym, a church hall, a YMCA. If you ask around you can surely get an hour or two to yourself.

Practice like hell beforehand, and have everything prepared in advance, so you will waste minimal time once you get there. Then show up with your mic, cable, preamp and recorder/laptop with you, and start recording.

I know it's not ideal. But IMO it's better than squatting in a hot foam-covered closet for a bad recording.

 

[grimtraveller]

If i were to build a vocal booth out of an old cupboard and i had enough foam to cover 2/3rd of the cupboard - where would i position the foam and why?

Hey man, I'm not here to judge.

In this day and age, most of us are out of the closet.

 

[grimtraveller]

In a recording sense, that is.

 

[Dogbreath]

In this day and age, most of us are out of the closet.

In a recording sense, that is.

uh huh.

I DID notice you said "most" of us....










(g'mornin GrimDude )

 

[grimtraveller]

uh huh.

I DID notice you said "most" of us....

"Statistically".