isolation for recording...

[nopoetic]

hi, im looking to record in my basement with some good mics and a digital setup, i think i have the equipment figured out but i'm wondering if anyone has any good ideas for "walls" or something to isolate the mics without costing me much, like building your own stuff sort of. thanks for anyone's help.

 

[DJL]

Checkout this website http://www.ethanwiner.com/basstrap.html

 

[ausrock]

nopo,

Try doing a search here on the word "gobo". These would be much more applicable to sound isolation than Ethan's bass traps.

Also have a look at John Sayers site........http://johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/index.php

 

[DJL]

Also read what Ethan said about basement studios in the link gave you in my above post and also checkout his FAQ page...
http://www.ethanwiner.com/articles.html for some more info and idea's. And thanks for the cool link ausrock.

 

[Innovations]

gobos are used to isolate mics or instuments from each other. Bass traps and other absorbers reduce the reflections of sounds so that it does not sound like you are recording in a harsh concrete room. Absorbtion is different than isolation. Since the walls and floor in a basement are heavy and thick your primary isolation problems come from;

1. The casement windows

2. Noise from furnaces, ductwork, and plumbing running through the basement.

3. Foot traffic noise from the floor above.

4. If you are recording to a noisy desktop computer then the computer itsself.

 

[hasbeen]

Packing blankets rule for the least expensive way out!

 

[c7sus]

Build yourself some 2x4 frames, backed with either 1/4" or 1/2" ply, fill the void with 2" OC 703 or Knauf Rigid Fiberglass Soundboard. Cover the fronts with muslin or similar cloth so you don't shed fibers all over the place.

Build them in pairs and hinge them together so they'll stand up by themselves and not fall over on you or your mics.

Bingo! Isolation.

Check out some other stuff from Sayers site.........

http://www.johnlsayers.com/HR/index1.htm

http://www.saecollege.de/reference_material/index.html

Scroll down and click on "absorbers" for great info and some ideas you can modify to fit your needs.

You don't necessarily want everything to be full absorbative because it can make your recordings sound too "dead".

 

[nopoetic]

thanks for everyone's help, i'll be checking out those pages, if anyone else reads this thread, post any info you can give, im looking for anything, im sort of new to micing things and such so i'll be happy to take any advice.

 

[nopoetic]

another question, and just to clarify what im really looking for.

i have isolation solved for amps with various methods ive picked up and tested out etc. my main problem is micing my drumset, i get leakage from the mics, i need something that will isolate the drums from the rest of the instruments the best i can without having to build another room. im not looking for a studio quality recording because i know i cant get that in my basement unless im willing to spend a few thousand dollers. those isolation boards someone suggested sounded like a good idea, so im gonna try everyone ideas here. any other suggestions or links that will give me ideas on building those type of things?

 

[DJL]

another question, and just to clarify what im really looking for.

i have isolation solved for amps with various methods ive picked up and tested out etc. my main problem is micing my drumset, i get leakage from the mics, i need something that will isolate the drums from the rest of the instruments the best i can without having to build another room. im not looking for a studio quality recording because i know i cant get that in my basement unless im willing to spend a few thousand dollers. those isolation boards someone suggested sounded like a good idea, so im gonna try everyone ideas here. any other suggestions or links that will give me ideas on building those type of things?

You can buy fiberglass drum shields or buy/build gobo's or build a drum isolation booth... take your pick.

 

[c7sus]

For drums you really want to build slot resonators rather than just absorbative panels. Slot resonators will enable you to "tune" the frequencies that are absorbed and reflected, and help control the lower frequencies much better than using insulation by itself.

 

[nopoetic]

i'm hearing about something called a "gobo" but i cant find any info on it in any of the searchs i've done. can someone explain what they are, im not sure if i know, i think i have an idea.

 

[DJL]

They look like those office partitions used to divide office spaces... in fact you could use those office partitions... checkout your local used office equipment store for used ones... you should be able to get them for about $20 each or so.

Oh, and in a pinch... you could try using mic stands with boom arms and hang packing blankets (movers blankets) over them... you can get movers blankets from Harbor Freight Tools for about $7 each... you should have some of these anyway... they always come in handy.

 

[nopoetic]

thanks, i'm clear on what they are and what ideas i have i can use. thanks for everyones help.

 

[ozraves]

here's a great article on the subject...

www.mojopie.com/foam.html

 

[Innovations]

another question, and just to clarify what im really looking for.

i have isolation solved for amps with various methods ive picked up and tested out etc. my main problem is micing my drumset, i get leakage from the mics, i need something that will isolate the drums from the rest of the instruments the best i can without having to build another room. im not looking for a studio quality recording because i know i cant get that in my basement unless im willing to spend a few thousand dollers. those isolation boards someone suggested sounded like a good idea, so im gonna try everyone ideas here. any other suggestions or links that will give me ideas on building those type of things?

Then what DJL is saying is true. You need gobos or a drum shield. Wnat a gobo is...what C7sus described in his post is a gobo.