DDev
New member
The last one definitely is an improvement in the room size/shape. If you do mix at the location indicated, though, your stereo image will be off balance since it is not centered in that part of the width of the room. It looks to me like you are planning on sliding glass doors between the 2 rooms, correct? If so, it might be better to put the mixing location at the opposite end of the room. This will allow you to be centered without impeding traffic flow in/out of the room.
Looks like a fun project.
Darryl.....
Looks like a fun project.
Darryl.....
patlang12
New member
yes we are planning on putting a sliding glass door in there. I will consider moving the mixing desk. Thank you for your reply. Anybody else have some suggestions?
C
chippyd
New member
Just been looking at the pics and feel that the width of the control room will be a little tight but ok as long as you don't intend to have a lot of student in there all at the same time.
The other thing I can see is that access to the live area could be a problem.
Will you be using the bottom door for access or the sliding door?
If you have to bring amps and drum kits in and out of the control room to get to the live room it could a problem.
The other thing I can see is that access to the live area could be a problem.
Will you be using the bottom door for access or the sliding door?
If you have to bring amps and drum kits in and out of the control room to get to the live room it could a problem.
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c7sus
Disenfranchised Member
Right on! Keep swinging and thanks for doing this for the kids.
RICK FITZPATRICK
New member
Well, now your getting somewhere. I was going to suggest this 2 days ago, but got tied up on other HR things. 
But here is what I drew. 2 different layouts, but both using the big room as the control room. You DO need more room there.
Here is the first.....just like yours!!
fitZ
But here is what I drew. 2 different layouts, but both using the big room as the control room. You DO need more room there.Here is the first.....just like yours!!
fitZ
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RICK FITZPATRICK
New member
patlang12
New member
Thanks for all the help guys. I will bring this to the attention of the people I am doing this with.
patlang12
New member
Hey Rick are we going to have enough space for a full band to set up in there with your plans that you drew?
RICK FITZPATRICK
New member
Hello Patlang. Well, to tell you the truth, in this day and age it would appear that that concept is pretty outdated. Not many studios record full bands, unless
they are full blown studios with many amenities and large studio live rooms. Most small and homestudios record with multitracking overdubs in mind. Usually it is done in a manner SIMILAR to this, but there is no real formula. The point being is to get the rhythm tracks solid first, and then add the other tracks to it. The fewer the musicians, the fewer the mistakes and less time for getting a good sounding set of tracks.
1st is general song tracks to get an idea of the flow. Maybe a guitarist and a drum machine or drummer. Maybe a vocalist and keyboards. Whatever the song needs to layout the arrangement.
Once the arrangement is laid out, then either a click track is recorded or live drum "timing track". This is NOT the real drum track. It is only for real human timing of the song. Most musicians like the timeing of a live drummer, but if there are lots of midi timing issues, then a midi drum machine or computer may be used. It all depends on the nature of the piece of music.
Next is the rhythm section tracks, usually consisting of live drums and bass direct to the board. Sometimes rhythm guitar or keys at the same time. Once the rhythm tracks are solid, sometimes a mix will be made of this for the vocalist and soloist musicians to practice with. Sometimes not.
Next is the vocal tracks and vocal harmonies.
Then the sweetening tracks are laid down. Guitar and other solos.
Once these are all dialed in then mixing can begin.
So, here is the deal. You have to understand that the most effecient use of your space will be the control room in the larger space. This is because the control room is where MORE people will be a any given time. You wait and see. Especially in a school. Your drum or vocal space is the ONLY space you have to record the LIVE instruments, and anything such as keys and bass, or even guitars can go direct to the board and be in the control room when recording, and fed to the musicians in the booths through headphones, and vice versa. In a nutshell, YES, you can record a whole band, but not the way you are thinking. There are many many techniques at your disposal, such as re-amping, to make a small studio work in big ways. The key is YOUR learning curve. Engineering is no small undertaking, and has taken pros years to master. Mic technique, understanding dynamics and the limits of your equipment,studio and control room monitoring setups, and many other things have to be learned. Not to mention mixing itself and speaker placement. All will have an influence on your final recordings.
Two things real quick. These are by NO MEANS a set of plans. Just a general idea of what I think should be done with the space. Many things could alter this in a heartbeat. One thing I left out was a set of double doors to the booths. You need this to load equipment in and out, plus it is a safety factor.
Second, think flexibility. In this small of space, it is the MOST important issue of all.
Well, for the moment thats all I can offer you till you decide exactly what CAN be done, via official approval of a PRELIMINARY plan. Then it should be taken to a design professional for articulation and code analysis. Hope this helps a little. You have a LONG way to go on this, so don't rush it. You need every square inch of space, and you have many things that will eat it up. Have you decided on any equipment yet. This will determine fixturing too. Anyway, good luck with the preliminarys and keep us up to date. We'll be here.
fitZ
they are full blown studios with many amenities and large studio live rooms. Most small and homestudios record with multitracking overdubs in mind. Usually it is done in a manner SIMILAR to this, but there is no real formula. The point being is to get the rhythm tracks solid first, and then add the other tracks to it. The fewer the musicians, the fewer the mistakes and less time for getting a good sounding set of tracks.
1st is general song tracks to get an idea of the flow. Maybe a guitarist and a drum machine or drummer. Maybe a vocalist and keyboards. Whatever the song needs to layout the arrangement.
Once the arrangement is laid out, then either a click track is recorded or live drum "timing track". This is NOT the real drum track. It is only for real human timing of the song. Most musicians like the timeing of a live drummer, but if there are lots of midi timing issues, then a midi drum machine or computer may be used. It all depends on the nature of the piece of music.
Next is the rhythm section tracks, usually consisting of live drums and bass direct to the board. Sometimes rhythm guitar or keys at the same time. Once the rhythm tracks are solid, sometimes a mix will be made of this for the vocalist and soloist musicians to practice with. Sometimes not.
Next is the vocal tracks and vocal harmonies.
Then the sweetening tracks are laid down. Guitar and other solos.
Once these are all dialed in then mixing can begin.
So, here is the deal. You have to understand that the most effecient use of your space will be the control room in the larger space. This is because the control room is where MORE people will be a any given time. You wait and see. Especially in a school. Your drum or vocal space is the ONLY space you have to record the LIVE instruments, and anything such as keys and bass, or even guitars can go direct to the board and be in the control room when recording, and fed to the musicians in the booths through headphones, and vice versa. In a nutshell, YES, you can record a whole band, but not the way you are thinking. There are many many techniques at your disposal, such as re-amping, to make a small studio work in big ways. The key is YOUR learning curve. Engineering is no small undertaking, and has taken pros years to master. Mic technique, understanding dynamics and the limits of your equipment,studio and control room monitoring setups, and many other things have to be learned. Not to mention mixing itself and speaker placement. All will have an influence on your final recordings.
Two things real quick. These are by NO MEANS a set of plans. Just a general idea of what I think should be done with the space. Many things could alter this in a heartbeat. One thing I left out was a set of double doors to the booths. You need this to load equipment in and out, plus it is a safety factor.
Second, think flexibility. In this small of space, it is the MOST important issue of all.
Well, for the moment thats all I can offer you till you decide exactly what CAN be done, via official approval of a PRELIMINARY plan. Then it should be taken to a design professional for articulation and code analysis. Hope this helps a little. You have a LONG way to go on this, so don't rush it. You need every square inch of space, and you have many things that will eat it up. Have you decided on any equipment yet. This will determine fixturing too. Anyway, good luck with the preliminarys and keep us up to date. We'll be here.
fitZ
mshilarious
Banned
In the debate of control room vs. live room I think your program needs to address some important issues regarding the focus of the coursework. Simply put, there isn't enough room for both, so you will have to favor one over the other. If the classroom focus is on mixing, then I've choose a larger control room. If it's tracking, then a larger live room. If the live room has to be multipurpose, such as band rehearsal space, that also means a larger live room. On the other hand, if you have to cram 10 kids into the control room to demonstrate to a class the effects of mic selection and positioning, then you'd just need a small recording booth and a giant control room.
Lots to think about.
Lots to think about.
patlang12
New member
Thank you for all your help. We are going to address these issues soon. I will report back when I have answers. I do believe they were considering using the area as also a rehearsal space, but I am not sure.