Vocal Booth

[RobertN]

How big does a vocal booth have to be?

Can it be in a closet, an enclosed corner,etc.?

 

[RobertN]

No one knows anything?

 

[apl]

My cheapo vocal booth:

In the bedroom do you have a closet with sliding or bifold dorrs? Open the doors as wide as you can exposing the most hanging clothes. That would be my wife's at my house. Put the micstand in between the clothes so that the mic is outside the clothes by about 6". Stand in the bedroom and sing toward the clothes.

The clothes act as a major kickin' good absorber acting on almost 180° of your projection. There is very little left to go bouncin' round the room and hit the mic again. The bed is a big absorber, too. Open up the other closets if you can. This makes for a very localized acoustically dead space which will take care of 99% of those echoes and reflections.

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

This makes for a very localized acoustically dead space which will take care of 99% of those echoes and reflections.

I'm sure it will take care of that plane that just flew over while you recorded the best take of the day too. Treatment is one thing, isolation is another animal altogether. "Booth" implies both. If you need no isolation, then the previous posters experience can apply. However, its cheap.
fitZ

 

[apl]

Hadn't thought of the airplane problem. Good call, Rick.

 

[StarvingEyes]

my vocal booth is a very very small closet right next to control 'center'. its about 3x3 feet. the only problem was i was hearing a tiny little bit of echo, a trained ear could definitely tell that you were in a closed space with 4 walls around you. so i got some foam and place some behind the mic stand and behind where the singer would stand to catch any 'bounce backs' from the vox. it sounds great now. im not sure if more foam would make it sound more dead or not..

 

[RobertN]

My closet is jammed. No way I'm putting anything else in there.

 

[apl]

My closet is jammed. No way I'm putting anything else in there.

Then it's probably very good for my cheapo approach above.

 

[NL5]

Here's what I did....

Won't solve the airplane problem either......

http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=147133

 

[RobertN]

Nl5 how much did that cost?

 

[NL5]

Nl5 how much did that cost?

I spent less than $50.


If you bought everything it would be a bit more (I had some of the wood already, and used regular fiberglass insulaton (not pressed fiberglass 703) - because it can be reversed and used as a reflector.

 

[RobertN]

Could you me a list materials and instructions please?

 

[NL5]

Could you me a list materials and instructions please?

Somehow I knew you would ask that. Give me a few and I will find some pic's of the assembly.

Here is the "supply list"

2X4 frame
1/4" plywood or ??? (I used pine that I got free)
Some R-13 Insulation batts (I bought 2 rolls - my panels are 32" X 7')
3 $2.97 twin sheets from Walmart
4 eye bolts
4 "Gate hinges"
1-2 tubes of liquid nails

 

[NL5]

Crap - I guess I don't have pics. Here is the panels from the back -

 

[NL5]

The other post shows the hinges.

I just glued the insulation (kraft faced) with liquid nails to the wood. Then folded and stapled the sheets over the front.

The actually do a pretty god job of knocking the reflections down. I have a 24 X 32 room with hardwood floors, and it's REALLY reflective.

 

[RobertN]

Okay thanks.

 

[steveanthony]

Here's one I built. It cost about $500. The bass traps added another $550.

http://www.anthonymedia.com/booth/booth.htm

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Look here. I am just finishing up the plans for a very isolated booth. There is a plan section and a few details of the door in plan section. I will post the complete set when I finish.
https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=150797
fitZ