Monitos and cigarette smoke

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carlosguardia

carlosguardia

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I have a small home studio and sometimes other musicians come in to record their demos in my studio. Recently I had some people that came in to the studio and they all told me that I shouldn't smoke in the studio because cigarette smoke affects the speakers of the monitors in the long run. I thought it was a bunch of BS and that they were telling me that just so they wouldn't have to inhale second hand smoke (which I totally respect). I put out my cigarette and continue to work recording their music; but now, I just was wondering if there was any truth to their argument. I paid quite a few hundred bucks for my studio nearfield monitors and wouldn't want to ruin them by blowing smoke into them so my question is: Do any of you guys know if smoke affect the speakers?!

Thanks,

Carlos
 
...well, I dont think smoke willt damage your speakers, but if there is something electronic in it, it's not good. Not better as smoking near you PC, soundcard, console, and anything.

Nobody's ever smoke in my studio, and nobody wont EVER. In a few week, a movie master here in Quebec will come to make narration over a song in a project I'm producing. TQS, witch is like CBC in the USA let him smoke in their tv studio! He was smoking on tv... ...but in fact I dont give a crap. I wont let him smoke in here.


hope my english is not bad enough to make you wonder what I'm talking about :|
 
I've never heard of smoke specifically affecting speakers but it does leave a filmy residue over everything after a long time with little ventilation. It's not good for any electrical contacts and it's particularly bad for analog tape recording heads.

I smoke and I'm not fanatic about it but I prefer not to smoke around the equipment. I've had gear last for years in smoky clubs so I think the true effects are negligible but it can hurt your resale value.
 
carlosguardia said:
I have a small home studio and sometimes other musicians come in to record their demos in my studio. Recently I had some people that came in to the studio and they all told me that I shouldn't smoke in the studio because cigarette smoke affects the speakers of the monitors in the long run.
Click to expand...

That would have to be a very long run... :)

However, the smoke will leave residue on all mechanical parts, like the sliders and pots in your mixer desk, and on the thin foils of your condenser mics, and so on...

So, as others have said: Don't smoke in your studio. Ever.

Well, heck, you shouldn't smoke at all, and this is a reason as good as any. :)
 
I wouldn't worry about it... I think by the time you would notice anything your hearing will have gone down hill enough that you woun't be able to tell;) I smoke around my stuff and have never had a problem.

On the other hand I would not blow smoke into my cond. mic all day either.



F.S.
 
smoking around your gear not only lessens the value of it,it shortens its life span.
pick any room in your home,smoke in it for one year,and wipe a paper towel across the wall.
 
:( Cigarette smoke raises hell on tape heads, rotary/stationary.



da MUTT
 
I played in bars extensively for 10 years. Used the same acoustic guitar during this period.

That was 20 years ago. The smell of smoke is the first thing that greets me to this day when I open the case on this guitar. I have cleaned and polished the wood many times to reduce the smell. It also has turned the wood a dark yellow color.

That's what happens to your studio gear over time.

Ever see the gear that sells on ebay? I always opt for non-smoking environment gear. It may pull down a few more bucks out of my pocket but I don't have to smell the air that was in someone else's lungs.
 
Carlosguardia,

I used to be a smoker so I understand where you are coming from and I am not bashing smokers. After I quit (cold turkey) I alway notice a smoker's room, car, clothes, etc. right away and find it so distracting. To give you an example, I would NEVER buy a smoker's used car. Just clean regularly.
 
Hell I'm a smoker and I wouldn't buy a smokers used car:D
Some of them must smoke with all the window up all day long.
But I would buy his used monitors or guitar or eq etc.




F.S.
 
:D
I always opt for non-smoking environment gear. It may pull down a few more bucks out of my pocket but I don't have to smell the air that was in someone else's lungs.

Same here!


da MUTT
 
I smoke my @SS-OFF in my basement stoo-dee-o and the ONLY equipment that has been seriously affected or damaged are
my heart and lungs!!! Everything else is fine!!!

Hence I've embarked on the path of the elimination of my stank-@ss habit!
 
Well I don't smoke as much in the studio (maybe 2 or 3 cigarettes a day) and always clean the ashtray right after using it, plus I have a housekeeper that cleans the studio everyday and disinfects almost everything once a week. For respect towards non-smokers I chose not to smoke any more when there are other people inside the control room.

Carlos
 
When you sell your stuff in ebay May be you can't put " Kept in Smoke Free Studio" :)
 
I don't think it's that big a deal except related to good mics. Diaphragms measured in microns do *not* need smoke. Of course, if you don't blow smoke into an SM57, you'll never get the sound you got at that club!-LOL-Richie
 
I've been in many pro studios, and never in any one was there smoking (of any kind...not even 4:20)permited. Some of them had smoking rooms that were no where near the gear, but never in the control room, or sound rooms. It's funny to read this, because it never even crossed my mind that anyone would smoke in a studio where they PAID for all the gear themselves. I would tell god to go outside and smoke.
 
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