Room Temperature for Mixing

  • Thread starter Thread starter DigitalDon
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DigitalDon

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Maybe it's just my imagination but I noticed something unusual. Tuesday night I started recording a demo. Temperature in the control room was about 70 degrees. Last night I went back in to listen to the tracks. The temperature was about 60 degrees. Also, the humidity Tuesday was about 40% where last night it was about 20%. The outside temperature last night (if it matters) was about 30 degrees. The tracks last night sounded very "harsh." Vocals and especially distorted lead guitar sounded terrible. It was worse on my nearfield monitors (M-Audio SP8's) than on the mains (JBL 4311's). Could it have been the temperature? Lead guitar was recorded in the live room for separation so I had headphones on which were probably too loud too. Has anyone noticed something like this if the control (listening) room is cooler than it should be or were my ears just having a bad night? Hmmmmmm......

DD
 
Im pretty sure that temp and humidity variations alter sound perception. I always make sure the gear is warmed up to about the same temp when tracking and mixing. Sometimes I have to heat things up with a heater because the gear can't warm up the room. Humidity is alot trickier if you ask me. Humidifiers can work if their accurate. I can't mix cold anyhow.

SoMm
 
SoMm - Must have been the temperature. Last night it was a comfortable 70 degrees and things sounded much better. We still scrapped the tracks from the other night though and started over. Drums sucked :D Got a lot better sound from the drums last night.

DD
 
Glad to hear it was an easy fix. I wonder how many people don't hear the difference?


SoMm
 
could've been a little of both (ears and gear).

think about how you feel when cold. your body closes up a little. blood doesn't flow as well to the extremities (and in this case, the ears count as an extremity). yes, you don't hear as well when cold. humans don't do most things as well when they're cold as they do when they're warm/comfortable.

and yeah, the gear is definitely affected by colder temps. we all know that. :D


anyway, i'm also in the basement, and it gets pretty freaking chilly down there at times. i have to have a heater or two down there when mixing. otherwise, everything seems to turn out a little "harsher" than usual.


cheers,
wade
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, (cause I very well may be), but I believe the "pro studios" are usually willing to spend the extra few bucks to ensure they get a VERY reliable environmental control system for that very reason. I remember hearing somewhere that it's very important to maintain a steady environment through the entire project.


'course what do I know... I'm just a desk jocky nework computer geek type guy! hehehe

- Tanlith -
 
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