Need some advice

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songwritten

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So, I'm recording in my bedroom. Pretty standard stuff...basic drywall with some posters hanging up...some of the room is carpeted, the rest is hard wood. I find that I'm getting way too much room in my mics even when I close mic. My recordings are sounding pretty boxy, a bit heavy on the bass end and pretty rough sounding/noisy...especially vocals (I record acoustic guitar and vocals). I'd like to get less room sound and get more of a neutral/clean feel. I've read about rigid fiberboard, the PVC/moving blanket booth, DIY reflection filters, and the SE Electronics reflection filter. I can't treat my entire room because it is too big and I'm pretty tight on cash right now.

My question is: Which one of these would be most suitable for my room? Should I dedicate an area of my room to building a booth? Or should I build my own reflection filter out of rigid fiberglass? Another material? Or should I do a bit of both?

Thanks in advance!
 
can you record your vocals facing, or in, a well-clothed closet area? the acoustic guitar will be tough to tame unless you enclose yourself when recording. as much as i don't like the idea, i'd say your cheapest bet is going to be moving blankets w/ a PVC frame. i know how being tight on money can be, but of course rigid fiberglass absorption would be best.

or - something in the middle of the two - maybe make 2 or 3 4" gobo's. basically 4" rigid fiberglass on stands (not hung on the wall) so you can move them and create a small area to record in.

good luck.
 
Yeah...a couple of 4" gobos might be just the thing...ready-made or DIY, either way. Of course, the blanket/PVC frame would be cheaper, but it won't sound as clean.

Frank
 
Thanks for the help guys. I spent all night researching some more and was thinking about building 6- 4" gobos. Would this Roxul Rockboard be acceptable to use? http://www.atsacoustics.com/item--Roxul-Rockboard-60-Case-of-6--RB60.html

I DO have a closet that I can sing into, but not get completely in. It doesn't have a door either. Should I surround the closet with the gobos (behind me and to the sides) and sing into the clothing hanging in my closet?
 
A closet isn't likely to sound any better than what you've got going on with the room noise...it's far too small a space. Guys will try and treat it with a bunch of foam, which just makes it worse. Better to use the larger room acoustics to some advantage while minimizing the negative room effects with a couple of gobos.

Frank
 
yeah, the 4" Roxul you showed is a good deal. great site to get it from too! use those for some gobos so you aren't confined to any one area, and you can move them as needed. run to Wal-Mart or your fabric store for some cheap burlap.

the closet idea isn't recommended, i was just saying that's what some people have done at the very least... sing into the clothed closet. i used to have a rather large walk-in, so "small boxy room" sounding recordings weren't an issue for me. i'd opt for the gobos if i were you. your project should run you around $100 after all material costs.
 
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