officeRecording - what would U do?

[girvan]

Hi,
I've had a few threads about reno-ing my home for a studio. Getting the house ready 4 sale so... in the meantime I have a friend that wants me to record her. I run a graphic/web design studio & digital print shop. I want to use my rented office space to record in evenings and weekends. I cannot modify the space but I can treat the room. Treatment must be movable. I'm thinking building gobos to cover the windows and then reuseing them to create a 'control area' to mix in. Attached are photos and a floor plan that is 90% to scale. What would you do to treat this space?

 

[Hart]

1st thing: Nice office!

How does it sound now? Seems to me a space that big won't need too much for recording your friend.

Can you put curtains up on the windows? Gobos seem like a good idea to me.

 

[travelin travis]

i see you're right on the street. is it busy? how's the traffic noise in there? it looks like you have a decent amount of space.

 

[girvan]

Thanks.

It sounds ok. In the smaller odd shaped office there is a nice sweet spot fo acoustic guitar. I have an old beater Yahama 6 string and my brother inlaw couldn't believe it was a $100 pawn shop guitar when played in that spot of the room.

I am right on the main street of town. Get a bit of noise in here. Subway Subs in adjacent int he same building but I don't here them. A while back I set up my drum kit in here and had my son pound on them. I went outside and all I heard was a small rumble, not bad at all.

I plan to record in evenings when the traffic is somewhat less. I know gobos won't isolate but I think they should trap some low end well and kill the reflection off of all the glass in here.

All input welcomed.

 

[Bill Furnett]

Some gobos and a handful of moving blankets would be ideal, but other than maybe PVC fashioned "Stands" to hold blankets i don't see an easy, effective and non-invasive way to cover the windows.

What are you recording instrument wise and in what configuration, that is to say, will you be recording a live band or getting a track at a time?

With a well placed gobo you could use the back office as a vocal area and even the bathroom MIGHT have some natural sound for effect like on a mic'd amp ambiant solo or back up vocals maybe (But who knows, might sound boxy as heck too).

How about the lights and the power there, will they cause a buzz in your gear?

Overall i think it's going to be a great space to record in, but keeping the drums on the late night non-attention gathering downlow is going to be a bit of the same old challenge and yet, if you track those 1st in the earlier evening, then you should be good to go all night with the rest of the work.

 

[girvan]

She is a singer songwriter. I will track all the instruments myself and get in a guitar player for some parts. Lights and electricity make a bit of buzz, flourescent tubes. I will probalby just use some nice soft lamps. I was planning building traps on stands that will stand up to the height of the windows.
Scott.