Cheapest way to build vocal booth.

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Lol you would think so! I have so far been to:

B&Q DIY SUPERSTORE
WICKS
Heating & Plumbing Supplies
FOCUS DO IT ALL HARDWARE WAREHOUSE

All these are major DIY/hardware stores and none of them sell the corner connectors for pipes. They only sell flat T-connectors.

I guess USA is more resourceful than the UK?! !"£"£$%£%^

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Update: I have just spoken to a Plumber, who says "it is not possible to get corner fittings for plumbing pvc pipes as it's not something plumbers generally need."

So, even though I have looked at the pictures above, my burning question is, did you use a corner fitting (that goes in 3 dimensions) for the corners of the vocal booth, or something else?

Did you use "plumbers pipes"?

The only type of pvc pipe I can find here in the UK, is "pvc plumbing pipes" and fittings. Is it something else you used? What is the exact name of the pipes? Is it just "PVC Pipe"?

As you can see I am having a lot of difficulty sourcing the parts but it looks so great I am going to keep trying. I guess you could stick egg foam in the inside as well for an even better dry booth! (I know where to get it cheap). If you know any more details about the exact name of pipe and fittings that you used, I would be most eternally grateful :) :D
 
pretty much any PVC plumbing pipe will work, as long as it is tough and doesnt bend easily... I used a corner fitting, yes, but i had to use adapters to connect one side of it to the pipes... the corners were 1"x1"x1/2"... that really surprises me that you cant get them... if you like, I could try sending you some as I still have more than enough for another booth... I probably cant send you pipes, as they are too long, but I can send you connectors, PVC pipe glue and vicegrips to hang your blankets if thats how you intend on doing it... just PM me if you like..
 
matt9b said:
All these are major DIY/hardware stores and none of them sell the corner connectors for pipes. They only sell flat T-connectors.
Click to expand...

I think you have all the parts you'll need... The "corner connector" is a difficult item to find here in the US... BUT you can make one that will work just fine using 2 "flat T-connectors" you spoke about and a simple "90 degree elbow connector"... I'd think you could find these very easily in the UK... I'm attaching a picture of how you can do it, I know it works, this is a picture of the one I built! :)

This picture is taken from the inside of my booth...
 

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Im on the look out for the mentioned Moving Blankets....but in the uk, via google i get nothing of the sort. Is there any other names for this type of product?
 
Just a comment -

The booth made from PVC irrigation pipe and moving blankets is nicely done. For those of you who have never made a structure out of PVC, be warned that it's not intended for structural use and will be pretty wiggly when you are finished. Also, the joints can't take a lot of "racking", so you have to be mindful of it and be gentle with it when moving it around, etc.

If you want something stronger but just as easy to assemble (and more costly but not too much so) use galvanized metal plumbing pipe instead. You can buy pre-threaded pipe in many different lengths, so all you have to do is screw it all together.
 
matt9b said:
Thanks for the info on this great design. Where did you get all your PVC PIPES and connectors from? I'm in the UK and here, I can't find anything like it.
Click to expand...
Hey, matt9b - maybe you should be asking for "irrigation pipe" fittings instead of "plumbing" fittings.
 
Zetajazz44 said:
The "corner connector" is a difficult item to find here in the US... BUT you can make one that will work just fine using 2 "flat T-connectors" you spoke about and a simple "90 degree elbow connector"... I'd think you could find these very easily in the UK... I'm attaching a picture of how you can do it, I know it works, this is a picture of the one I built! :)
Click to expand...

Thanks Zetajazz44, why didn't I think of that design! I went to the store again today, and found the metal pipes and connectors that Zaphod B mentioned. They are about the same price as the pvc ones! :)

Having said that though, I don't know how to cut metal pipes. PVC is safer and won't have sharp edges. I think that metal would need to be glued or soldered together. This means it's not good for dissassembling and transporting the booth. Zaphod B, do you know if this is the case?

Seeing as the pipes all need cutting to size, I'm thinking pvc is overall easier in terms of construction and safety.

mud, I had already checked out that link before. They don't have all the connectors and those prices are high. I know what you mean about the moving blankets. I was going to use either duvets or acoustic foam (If I remember the cheap site for that I will post it here. It means delivery from the US though - how have we survived in the UK til now! :confused: ) .

Okay last question.. Zetajazz44, did you use a four-way connector for the roof? I haven't found one of those yet.. is it 2 connectors glued together?
 
matt9b said:
Thanks Zetajazz44, why didn't I think of that design! I went to the store again today, and found the metal pipes and connectors that Zaphod B mentioned. They are about the same price as the pvc ones! :)

Having said that though, I don't know how to cut metal pipes. PVC is safer and won't have sharp edges. I think that metal would need to be glued or soldered together. This means it's not good for dissassembling and transporting the booth. Zaphod B, do you know if this is the case?

Seeing as the pipes all need cutting to size, I'm thinking pvc is overall easier in terms of construction and safety.

mud, I had already checked out that link before. They don't have all the connectors and those prices are high. I know what you mean about the moving blankets. I was going to use either duvets or acoustic foam (If I remember the cheap site for that I will post it here. It means delivery from the US though - how have we survived in the UK til now! :confused: ) .

Okay last question.. Zetajazz44, did you use a four-way connector for the roof? I haven't found one of those yet.. is it 2 connectors glued together?
Click to expand...

Yes, I used a 4-way for the roof...

About the structure being wobbly: Mine is pretty sturdy...I have a bad habit of over-engineering stuff I build... Mine is built out of 2 1/2" PVC... Have you ever tried to break a piece of PVC? It's not easy... Don't be stingy with the amount of PVC you use and it won't be non-sturdy... The weight of the moving blankets will be compressing the structure from top to bottom, there is very little strain side-to-side... If you look at the pictures I posted really closely, you can see how I did the sides... Not only does it tie corner upright pieces of the structure together, it makes a dandy place to had headphones..etc... I didn't glue any of the joints, they fit really snug anyways... As a matter of fact, I sanded the ends of the pipe where they go into the fitting so they'd be easier to assemble/disassemble... You'll see what I'm talking about when you get into building one...

I also had planned on drilling through both pieces of the pipe at their joints and putting a pin through it to hold it together, but once it was assembled, there was not much need for it... The weight of the blankets pretty much hold the thing together...

PVC will be much easier to cut and fit like you want it... I think I'd go that route over the metal piping...
 
CHEAP SOUND ABSORBING MATERIAL FOR THE INSIDE OF THE VOCAL BOOTH

Well, I almost have the frame done. After going round lots of large DIY stores, I have managed to find a small plumbing shop which can order the Tee connectors for me! I will have to forgoe the roof connector for now.

Now, I have been researching what fabric to use for absorbing the sound. According to industry professionals, for a vocal booth, you need a material that absorbs "highs, mids, and lows". Most fabrics will absorb highs and mid frequencies. It's hard to find material that will absorb low frequencies well. If you don't get something that absorbs the lows, the vocals will be muddy and boomy. I've been in my friend's home-made booth which had cheap 2cm acoustic egg crate foam lining it- It was very boomy in there, and the vocals he recorded weren't very good to be honest.

I have found a really great cheap material to use which does all of this. It's called "10cm mineral wool", and comes in a roll just like a roll of fabric. It's available for £9.20 per metre length (1.7m width) from here: http://www.customaudiodesigns.co.uk .

So, I can spend £38 and use this to line my booth . And just for the sake of making it look nice, I might also get some egg-crate acoustic foam for £25 from here http://www.sonatech.de and line the booth with it ontop of the 10cm fabric wool. Perfect. :)

I'm not sure yet how to go about sticking material around the booth. Does anyone know if this will work?

ps- by the way I found this cool link on how to build a professional booth for under £500 http://www.projectstudiosolutions.com/ if anyone's interested. I can't afford this at the moment, but I may do in the future. - It looks really nice.
 
matt9b said:
CHEAP SOUND ABSORBING MATERIAL FOR THE INSIDE OF THE VOCAL BOOTH
If you don't get something that absorbs the lows, your vocals will be muddy and boomy.
Click to expand...

I used the heaviest moving blankets I could find...and doubled them... I'm sure it's not the best in the world, but it worked for what I was shooting for... I don't think my vocals sound muddy or boomy... Have a listen here: https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=185195

Let me know if you think these sound muddy or boomy, they all were recorded in the booth that I posted pictures of...
 
Hi Zetajazz,

Thanks. That recording has been produced. Do you have any raw vocal material I can hear? Encoded at 320kbps if it's an mp3.

It does sound like the vocals aren't up-front, but that may be the style you deliberately produced it in.

Here is a recording I made in an old bedroom room I used to be in, with little in the way of hard surfaces. But I have now moved to a larger space which echoes, and I also need to move on and try and get a more professional up-front sound now, especially with vocals which are problematic at loud singing volumes (more reflections). http://www.katesomerset.com/ I'm in my final year of a production degree now and need to get the sound as top notch as I can! :)
 
matt9b said:
Hi Zetajazz,

Thanks. That recording has been produced. Do you have any raw vocal material I can hear? Encoded at 320kbps if it's an mp3.
Click to expand...

No, don't have anything un-produced... I'm not at the studio right now or I'd get a sample for you though...
 
That's really kind of you.. I will probably have to just do with a duvet cover for the time beinig anyway, as I am living off £7 a week at the moment! :eek: .. but I'm just thinking ahead for the future
 
matt9b said:
CHEAP SOUND ABSORBING MATERIAL FOR THE INSIDE OF THE VOCAL BOOTH

Well, I almost have the frame done. After going round lots of large DIY stores, I have managed to find a small plumbing shop which can order the Tee connectors for me! I will have to forgoe the roof connector for now.

Now, I have been researching what fabric to use for absorbing the sound. According to industry professionals, for a vocal booth, you need a material that absorbs "highs, mids, and lows". Most fabrics will absorb highs and mid frequencies. It's hard to find material that will absorb low frequencies well. If you don't get something that absorbs the lows, the vocals will be muddy and boomy. I've been in my friend's home-made booth which had cheap 2cm acoustic egg crate foam lining it- It was very boomy in there, and the vocals he recorded weren't very good to be honest.

I have found a really great cheap material to use which does all of this. It's called "10cm mineral wool", and comes in a roll just like a roll of fabric. It's available for £9.20 per metre length (1.7m width) from here: http://www.customaudiodesigns.co.uk .

So, I can spend £38 and use this to line my booth . And just for the sake of making it look nice, I might also get some egg-crate acoustic foam for £25 from here http://www.sonatech.de and line the booth with it ontop of the 10cm fabric wool. Perfect. :)

I'm not sure yet how to go about sticking material around the booth. Does anyone know if this will work?

ps- by the way I found this cool link on how to build a professional booth for under £500 http://www.projectstudiosolutions.com/ if anyone's interested. I can't afford this at the moment, but I may do in the future. - It looks really nice.
Click to expand...
I looked for the specific mineral wool you mentioned and could not find it on their site. Do you know what the density of the wool is? Also, you wil NOT want to have exposed mineral wool around you. It is very itchy if touched. you will want to get some open weave fabric and cover it to make a sort of quilt. If you do so it will be an excellent mid to high absorber but not get you a lot of isolation. If you use the mineral wool then skip the foam. Ordinary eggcrate foam is not as good as the mineral wool as an absorber and if not fire treated can be a hazard.
 
Thanks for the info, but according to the very people who sell them, the mineral wool does absorb lower frequencies. graph here: http://www.customaudiodesigns.co.uk/soundproofing/amwgraph.htm

wool here: http://www.customaudiodesigns.co.uk/soundproofing/amw.htm

Anyway, I have decided to forgo it for the time being as i have no money and little time at the moment.

I read of all these 5-minute pvc pipe vocal booths being built all over the place. I'm still working on mine, and have been for almost a week now. Here's how far I've got:

1. Went to FOCUS DIY, but they didn't sell Tee connectors
2. Went to Homebase, again no Tee connectors
3. Emailed around 12 plumbing/DIY shops from google to see if they sold Tee connectors- no luck
4. Borrowed a friend and went to a few more big DIY stores- still no Tee connectors
5. Asked in a local plumbing/gas service repair centre where we could get Tee connectors, they recommended a plumbing shop further down the road (which we then looked for for half an hour but couldn't find).
6. Drove to a tiny Handy Centre in southall to look for these elusive Tee connectors. Again, nothing. The guy said he could order them in next day. So, we thought "HEY! Grreat! finally!" we ordered them, came back the next day only to find the shop was closed, hung about for half an hour, then the owner came back to open the shop. Went in to get the connectors we had ordered, but the man said with a sad face "sorry I couldn't get them. They don't exist I'm afraid." I said "waHuuuhhh?? LOOK at these pictures!" I showed him pics of all the booths you guys have built. He looked perplexed and said "hmm.. I don't know where they got those, they don't exist in this country."
7. I went to B&Q Warehouse, found some "Swept 88.5 degree Tee's" So I got some of them (they're not perfect as they're not 90 degrees but by this point I felt like I was going to explode so didn't care), and the rest of the pipes to build a basic frame.
8.Got home, excited in the anticipation, I finally built the frame.

But...


disaster struck..


The frame was wobbly and could not stand up on its own.

9. Went back to B&Q warehouse to get some more supports for the frame. I got 8 more pipes (at £1.78 each they aren't cheap), and some more 88.5 degree Tee's.
10. Got home, cut up the pipes and tried to fix them to the frame..


Disaster struck..

The pipes don't fit into the fittings!!!!

These new pipes have written on them "32mm" and look JUST like the other pvc pipes, but are "ABS" pipes and are for some unknown reason actually slightly to big to fit into the fittings.
11. I call up B&Q to ask if I can come back for a refund and replace the pipes. The guy said that as I have already cut them to size, they will not offer a refund. So, I have to go back there when I can borrow my friend and his car and get 8 more pipes... AGAIN!!

I have so far spent a small fortune on this saga, and there is no end in sight. At £1.78 per pipe, £2.50 per fitting, the cheapest duvets I can find and safety pins/nylon string to put them up, almost a whole week of full-time effort/stress.. total cost is coming up to around £160 ($283). I have sourced the cheapest parts I can find, and that doesn't even include petrol.

I wish I could say this was a one-off saga. All I can say is, to anyone considering building this, although I am sure you will succeed with comparable ease, please spare a thought for me and my ordeal. Thanks :)
 
Grr.. no it wouldn't! That would annoy me further. Just I've been googling hours on end all week and posting on seriously loads of forums and only now when I've waited out for long enough and finally gone and bought most of the stuff do you post this! First one would have been useful for the Tee connectors, but too late now.. second one is in the US, not the UK. I've committed myself to these parts already now as I cant take them back. Thanks anyway :)
 
mud said:
Im on the look out for the mentioned Moving Blankets....but in the uk, via google i get nothing of the sort. Is there any other names for this type of product?
Click to expand...


dude what did you use in the end? I just bought 5x 10.5 tog duvets from ebay, but they are useless at absorbing sound.. :rolleyes:

if anyone has any ideas what us poor british sods can use instead of moving blankets, please enlighten us! :)
 
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