Building a booth in my room - WITH PICS

[gethypedmusic]

I was going to post this in an already made thread but it looks like the person is done in there so I'll just start this thread! Hope noone minds

JUST took these pics!
http://s694.photobucket.com/albums/vv305/gethypedmusic/


Awesome. Ok. I will only live here for another 10 months but im trying to install a studio in MY ROOM. Its temporary. We only do R and B and hip hop in here. It just has to be good enough to help us stop the reverb from the room and look a little professional for when people come over(Not a business but it helps

I planned on 2 x 4s, drywall and a full glass door from menards as the window was a great idea i was suggested. It doesn't have to be TOTALLY sound proof, it just has to isolate the sound IN the booth. There isnt really any outside noise even though if there was i know the sputnik would pick it up. I read that the size of the booth can really effect the recording so what would be best for hiphop vocals and r and b singing? I have alot of space as you can see.

I planned on having the glass right where you see my desk starts that has reference monitors on it. And it extending exactly out to match the length of the same desk.

I will take the doors off of the closet... As well as everything inside of course. I'm sorry I feel like im forgetting something please let me know what I need to tell you guys to help me. Thank you!

-HyPe

 

[gethypedmusic]

Also if i need to take more pics JUST let me know of what angle. Thanks

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Hello hype. I'm a little confused by some of your information. Maybe we can help you if you clarify a few things first.

I will only live here for another 10 months but im trying to install a studio in MY ROOM.

1. hmmm, the heading of your post says

Building a booth in my room

Then you say you want to "install" a studio. Well, which is it?

Its temporary.

I planned on 2 x 4s, drywall and a full glass door from menards as the window was a great idea

2. Somehow the word "temporary" and drywall/full glass door don't compliment each other.

I planned on having the glass right where you see my desk starts.... ...And it extending exactly out to match the length of the same desk.

And then what? Is that it? Just a "full glass door? In front of your desk? What is the "door" for if your desk is in front of it? And what good is one glass door if the rest of the space is open to your "control" room?

Let me ask you something...are you...or are you not, asking how to build a "booth", as the term "booth" usually implys that it you need to isolate a sound source from your monitoring space...meaning, it "encloses a space" with boundarys built in such way that sound TRANSMISSION through these boundarys is partially reduced if not totally stopped. From your description, it sounds like you are simply placeing a "glass door" in front of your desk. How does that keep sound from FLANKING around the end of this partition?

Furthermore, IF, the "glass door" is the full length of your desk...and thats it, where does the "2x4's and drywall" go? Not only that, but "2x4's and drywall" suggest a "permanance" quality...NOT temporary.

I looked at your pictures but still don;t understand exactly what it is you are trying to do. Do you want to "enclose" that area in front of your desk, by building "partitions"...

I will take the doors off of the closet... As well as everything inside of course.

or are you simply trying to use the closet as a "booth", by replacing the existing doors with a "glass door" ?

I'm sorry I feel like im forgetting something please let me know what I need to tell you guys to help me.

You ARE forgetting something....like telling us your PLAN!
Since the space your studio is in is really only "temporary", is this "proposed" booth supposed to be a "portable" booth? Or is this proposed "construction" going to be a "permanent" alteration of the existing space...which you will simply LEAVE BEHIND, when you move?

You REALLY need to clarify your intent here. Otherwise, NO ONE can help you with a viable solution.
fitZ

 

[gethypedmusic]

Alright ya thanks for the reply! I can answer all those questions! Thanks man


Ok I'm sorry that was stupid the way i explained that. I drew on some pictures like i should have done in the first place so it makes it alot easier to understand. I posted them in that link in my first post.

We have about $500 to make JUST THE BOOTH. and the acoustic foam we are already getting a deal on but that is seperate.

Yes the booth is temporary. We have to take it down when we move. But hopefully we will have everything recorded by then right

We know it seems like wasting money to make it NOW and just destroy it later... But thats fine if we get some quality music done. It can have the "Permanance" Property that's what we want. Ill take the time to take it down later.. because the way we see it.. We are moving the LA when the 10 months are up anyways so we wouldnt need it wherever we built it after we made it anyways : )

As for the glass door im speaking of. Im talking about a FULL GLASS DOOR with no handle IN THE FRAME as the window from menards. $140 sounded cheap to me on sale. Thats what i was recommended... By the menards guy as another idea

It doesnt have to be PERFECT. Seeing as how it will be destroyed. But it does have to be as perfect as we can get it without spending obsurd amounts of money. I would have no problem spending thousands if 1) i had it 2) it was going to stay.

And yes the

"construction" is going to be a "permanent" alteration of the existing space...which you will simply LEAVE BEHIND, when you move?..

Except we will destroy it when we move haha

Thanks rick... ANYMORE info im missing? Or pictures let me know. Im sorry i dont know how to Quote what you said like you did to make it easier!!!!! I posted the new pics to make it easier to understand

http://s694.photobucket.com/albums/vv305/gethypedmusic/

 

[KineticSound]

I may be overstating the obvious here, but:
* You have a big room for mixing, and seem to just want to have an area where someone can perform vocals without being in that same big room where the console is. I'm not calling it a "booth;" just a portion of the room that is somewhat distinguished from the rest.
* You have a big, almost empty closet.
* You have (or will soon have) a load of acoustic foam with which you intend to deaden the vocal area.

Why not just remove the doors from the closet, replace them with one large glass door, and treat the closet area? It wouldn't be the most ideal space for singing vocals, but it seems like it would be roughly the same as what you're proposing to build. Plus, it would be much easier to retro-fit later by simply swapping back to the old doors. Line it with your foam, put a couple of bass traps in the corners - it looks like it already has lighting - and with a glass door, you'd be able to see the performer from the room and vice versa...

 

[DrumArtist23]

I may be overstating the obvious here, but:
* You have a big room for mixing, and seem to just want to have an area where someone can perform vocals without being in that same big room where the console is. I'm not calling it a "booth;" just a portion of the room that is somewhat distinguished from the rest.
* You have a big, almost empty closet.
* You have (or will soon have) a load of acoustic foam with which you intend to deaden the vocal area.

Why not just remove the doors from the closet, replace them with one large glass door, and treat the closet area? It wouldn't be the most ideal space for singing vocals, but it seems like it would be roughly the same as what you're proposing to build. Plus, it would be much easier to retro-fit later by simply swapping back to the old doors. Line it with your foam, put a couple of bass traps in the corners - it looks like it already has lighting - and with a glass door, you'd be able to see the performer from the room and vice versa...

+1

Once again I find myself agreeing with you.

It is a simple solution to a common problem. Since you are going to have to remove everything you build, just make it easy on yourself. Plus you could take the 500 and pay someone to professionally install the door so that you can guarantee the door is sealed correctly.

 

[gethypedmusic]

+1

Once again I find myself agreeing with you.

It is a simple solution to a common problem. Since you are going to have to remove everything you build, just make it easy on yourself. Plus you could take the 500 and pay someone to professionally install the door so that you can guarantee the door is sealed correctly.

I would totally agree with that because i never thought about it! except that im 5 foot 9 and 220 pounds solid muscle... i cant fit in the closet... I JUST TRIED haha. id say the closet is about 3' x 8' which IS huge as you stated but... not quite big enough. Also i heard that you need a little bit more space... i dont want that BOXY sound you get from very small recording spaces... like i used to when i used to insulate my grandmas closet with mattress pad haha!

I am taking those closet doors off thats a must. But dang... I just tried it AGAIN its like... It just seems to small to JUST be in the closet... u know.
But now your giving me other ideas... but those being just making the booth a bit smaller. But room size does matter ive read on here... Whats the best size for R and B vocals?

Thanks Drum for your input i appreciate it! You got me to thinkin lol

 

[KineticSound]

But room size does matter ive read on here... Whats the best size for R and B vocals?

There's a lot more that goes into it than just the dimensions... Properly treated, small rooms can sound fine. Poorly treated, large rooms can sound terrible. Here's a photo of Nick Lachey's home studio - his vocal booth is 4'x6':

If you can't fit comfortably in the closet area, I'd probably ditch the construction idea and opt instead for making a couple of gobo's that you could take with you when you move. You can buy these pre-made from Real Traps www.realtraps.com or you could fabricate your own:

It just doesn't seem worth the effort, frustration, and unknown sound results to build something on the scale you're describing, only to tear it down within a year and start over. That money could be much better spent on things that you can maintain and reuse over the long term. I know it doesn't look as cool, but nobody listening to your CD cares what your recording space looked like.

 

[gethypedmusic]

There's a lot more that goes into it than just the dimensions... Properly treated, small rooms can sound fine. Poorly treated, large rooms can sound terrible. Here's a photo of Nick Lachey's home studio - his vocal booth is 4'x6':

If you can't fit comfortably in the closet area, I'd probably ditch the construction idea and opt instead for making a couple of gobo's that you could take with you when you move. You can buy these pre-made from Real Traps www.realtraps.com or you could fabricate your own:

It just doesn't seem worth the effort, frustration, and unknown sound results to build something on the scale you're describing, only to tear it down within a year and start over. That money could be much better spent on things that you can maintain and reuse over the long term. I know it doesn't look as cool, but nobody listening to your CD cares what your recording space looked like.

Very true and also.. Im aware of those types of portable recording items that you can move and stuff. When we are recording also I keep the monitors on on the outside of the booth to make sure The artist inside is staying on beat etc. So a wall-less structure is a no no. Plus I wont need a booth in a year. Or any of my own equipment. Long story short. Im moving to LA already connected. Im on probation here thats why i cant move from chicago for another 10 months. All I need is 10-15 properly recorded tracks and I should be fine. ***Not tooting my own horn or bragging about anything***. Just letting you know why the portable is useless to me and my team right now (and very pricey as ive seen)They have everything down there in LA already. : )

That was a GREAT idea though especially since you knew I would be destroying it in the future! thumbs up for that idea!!!

Thanks for the post! Any other input aside from the portable? : )

 

[DrumArtist23]

Well, since you seem to be interested in what people have to say, I will throw out some ideas...

You could modify your closet, add to the existing structure by widening the door, and making an addition to it. I dont have access to your pics at work, but it would be a decent fix.

To avoid having to build a room at all you could get isolation headphones and and instead build a box for your computer and recording equipment (anything that makes noise) and close the lid on the box during recording.

You could set up 2 very heavy blankets in the corner of your room, have them overlapping in the middle (about 2 feet overlapping) with the mic 1 foot from the blankets. You will be singing into a corner with this set up.

You could record in the room, and move your equipment into the closet, while only closing the door during the recordings so you dont run the risk of overheating your equipment. You would only need your CPU in there since your monitor doesnt make noise, and your keyboard wont make noise, and your mouse wont make noise. Just turn off your speakers before recording so you aren't pumping in white noise to the room during a recording.

BAsically there are hundreds of ways to get a decent recording in a small room without having to spend very much money. You want it to look somewhat professional, so you could get some MDF and build feet for them so they will stand up tall. You could cover the MDF with your foam, and just make 2 of the standing partitions so you can turn them into a "V" and sing into them. They will look nice, and they will be easily removed when you leave. Heck, you could probably sell them to someone in your city for $100 when you leave. Just be sure to build them so they will stand over time.

These are the most realistic ideas for you. Building a seperate room is not inexpensive at all. I built 1 wall, and installed a door in my basement - It cost me more than $500 after it was all said and done. You have to take into account cost of all the supplies. And believe me, there are more than $500 in supplies in building a booth. 4 walls and a ceiling.

I will try to name some stuff:
calk
nails
screws
chop saw/table saw
drill
hammer
drywall
mud/tape
2x4's
door
*how are you going to get your wires in and out of the booth?
wall plates
solder
paint
paint supplies
carpet?
sandpaper
liquid nail?

I don't know what else off the top of my head, but believe me when I say that it is easier to just say no. Do what it takes to record, but think about that $500, you could buy an entrylevel preamp and some decent headphones, and that would help you out more than trying to build a booth for $500.

I wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to do with the build, and I will offer any advice I have (but I would talk to RICK F. if you want it done right the first time. Just be sure you know what you want before asking a question. Answer his questions if he has any for you, he can help you only so much as you are willing to let him.)

Nick

 

[doulos24]

ok I see some cheap gear in a untreated space. what decent mic are you using for said vocals? portable gobos work damn good in any studio in about any situation it's a great investment vs some cheap half ass construction in your untreated room. Making a small booth in that room with a glass door is proably going to turn it into a very large bass trap and be hell to get decent tracks in, but I'm at a loss cause 500 isn't much to treat the room your in now let alone build a booth. If I only had a budget of 500 bucks I'd quiet the pc and gear and get a portable vocal booth or make one out of 2 to 4 inches of oc703 or mineral wool etc. add some wood frames or shadow boxes, That's your only decent option. If I wanted to use all of the 500 I'd make a portable vocal booth on stands a small iso box for the pc on the cheap then use whats left to rent a real vocal mic to rerecord the tracks you laid down.

When we are recording also I keep the monitors on on the outside of the booth to make sure The artist inside is staying on beat etc. So a wall-less structure is a no no

ever heard of headphones even average ones would give you a much better responce then your untreated room and you could take them to la as well

Just letting you know why the portable is useless to me and my team right now

if your that damn inclined to then throw it away after you build it. It's still going to give you the best sound in your situation at your price point period no if ands or butts. you can't aford construcition that would cut out the monitor's bleed. That level of construction would have to start with floating the floors and go up from there

you simply have no clue about acoustics or getting a good sound. I could get near perfect tracks in that room with 2 3/4 inch panes of plexiglass for the computer a mic with a figure 8 pattern or have them record with the monitors on with a dynamic mic like a shure sm7 and the monitor phase trick

 

[gethypedmusic]

Alrighty. Well for one. My gear is...

M-Audio Sputnik Microphone

MOTU Traveler Pre Amp

Sony MDR 7506 Headphones

And 7 years exp. with CEP now AA (I learn more everyday, keeps me loving life )

Samson 65a Active reference monitors (Which are the ONLY weak link in my chain)

I already have all my gear(mostly)... I purchased the most important items first. My next purchase after the booth and acoustic foam is my yamaha hs80m's then a Sony VX2000 for our music videos....

The only reason im not wasting money on the throw away booth is because the camera cost 2k soft lights green screen and other gear etc.

Treating the room is cheap i have a connection for 3" pyramid acoustic foam colored to my fancy : )

And Drum more great ideas! I'd go with a couple of them but you have to have the Aura when your in the booth that you feel professional I think that's one of the main reasons I'm making myself make a booth even if its pricey i need to feel the professionalism while im recording. I can't do the poor mans way to far... only to an extent but i want to feel like I got what i was looking for! I TOTALLY CONTRADICTED MYSELF HERE. But it needs to LOOK AND FEEL professional. Covers ive seen especially for R and B vocals in studios... But there is just as much hip hop vocals. : )

I already own the saw, hammer, drill and the floor is carpeted.... Wood is cheap... drywall is cheap.. caulk is cheap... Glass is the most expensive part... and the booth will already have a ceiling because it will reach the ceiling in my room... why do i feel like its not going to be but about $500 max?

also DOULOS the $400-$500 im speaking of doesnt include the treatment of the room... just the construction of the booth itself. The treatment I'm speaking of seperate. Thats simply spray and stick as far as i can tell... just dont overlap it's what i read. And my gear isnt cheap. (Except my monitors. which I will be replacing with Yamaha HS80s before i mix anything) I purchased exactly what i set out to buy. I didn't want anything else. Im happy with what i own! Very! : D

And you said headphones. My preamp only has one headphone jack? How do i connect 2 pairs? 1 for inside the booth and one for me out here? I just tried plugging the phones into every plug on the back JUST NOW and theres no sound through any but the MAIN outs which the monitors go through. ive thought about the 2 headphone thing but where do i plug in the second one?
***I'll definately take that tip*** If you can tell me how to SPLIT the signal

And as for me having NO idea about acoustics. I read before I posted hoping Rick would help me out. I know where i need to apply foam to my mixing room and where to put bass traps. Then pad the booth. This thread is more for reassurance that the way i had planned was proper? The tips and ideas are great add ons though. I was going to build the booth to contain the vocals from bouncing around my room. ***And do some smooth mixing to dry vocals.*** I figured if i asked if the room should have certain dimensions for my specific goaled vocals someone could enlighten me to what those dimensions might be. And help me get an idea as to if its necessary to make a full fledged booth or just go with my idea of a sound deadened booth and record then mix : )

Am I being too confusing? If so im terribly sorry.

 

[doulos24]

gethypedmusic foam will only get you so far, but it's a start the reason I'm saying no to the booth is quite simple the smaller the space the bigger the bass problems in the room, also it's hard to seal out monitor bleed with glass mass is the only real way to decouple a room and thus it gets more expensive from there. A booth tends to sound boxy so they require a bit of work to learn. Alot of thought goes in to it's design not just pad the whole room with foam thats not really the best way to do it. Some have diffusion mixed with some absorbtion and alot of bass trapping, but you will get better sound quality without a booth many professional studios work in 1 large room with gobos everywhere it's not that uncommon. A green screen is simply a wall with a green or blue sheet nothing fancy to do that best lighting for that is 8 dollar halogen outside lights with homemade light diffusers, also pick up a baby stroller they make a great substitue for track and carts and fly by shots. if you want crappy sound spend the 500 on a booth if you want great sound concentrate on one thing, your room acoustics It's more important then anything else. I'd rather have your monitors in a decent mix room then a 5,000 monitoring chain in your current space and thats real talk.

And you said headphones. My preamp only has one headphone jack? How do i connect 2 pairs? 1 for inside the booth and one for me out here? I just tried plugging the phones into every plug on the back JUST NOW and theres no sound through any but the MAIN outs which the monitors go through. ive thought about the 2 headphone thing but where do i plug in the second one?
***I'll definately take that tip*** If you can tell me how to SPLIT the signal

headphone splitter

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-BEH-HA400-LIST 29.95

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-ART-HEADAMP4-LIST headphone splitter with 4 sets of headphones

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2404397 splitter cable

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2893064 splitter cable with seperate volume controls

pick one lol

 

[gethypedmusic]

gethypedmusic foam will only get you so far, but it's a start the reason I'm saying no to the booth is quite simple the smaller the space the bigger the bass problems in the room, also it's hard to seal out monitor bleed with glass mass is the only real way to decouple a room and thus it gets more expensive from there. A booth tends to sound boxy so they require a bit of work to learn. Alot of thought goes in to it's design not just pad the whole room with foam thats not really the best way to do it. Some have diffusion mixed with some absorbtion and alot of bass trapping, but you will get better sound quality without a booth many professional studios work in 1 large room with gobos everywhere it's not that uncommon. A green screen is simply a wall with a green or blue sheet nothing fancy to do that best lighting for that is 8 dollar halogen outside lights with homemade light diffusers, also pick up a baby stroller they make a great substitue for track and carts and fly by shots. if you want crappy sound spend the 500 on a booth if you want great sound concentrate on one thing, your room acoustics It's more important then anything else. I'd rather have your monitors in a decent mix room then a 5,000 monitoring chain in your current space and thats real talk.




headphone splitter

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-BEH-HA400-LIST 29.95

http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-ART-HEADAMP4-LIST headphone splitter with 4 sets of headphones

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2404397 splitter cable

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2893064 splitter cable with seperate volume controls

pick one lol

Thanks for the splitter links! And yes i understand that there are room size acoustic differences. thats why i asked what the best size for the booth would be for Rap and R and B vocals.

And monitor bleed wont be a problem now that you got me some headphone splitters


And okay so what are you recommending now? For my room? You can see how big it is in the pictures I think its a 12' x 15'. What should I do? Bass traps and acoustic foam on the walls in specific areas?

And that baby stroller idea is bad ass! Good thinking. Any other good idea for music videos you can toss my way.