Home Studio Soundproofing

Hi, I’m an independant artist working on my computer and pro microphone. I’m wanting to take things to the next level. I’m sending my tunes onto local radio’s, going to be checking out a great studio to record my next album on (agathistic beliefs.). So I’ve been looking through alot of the studios around my area. And I’m amazed on how they look and feel. Just the pictures by the way, I’ve never entered a pro studio as of yet.

I’m wanting to build up my own studio, not at home though. A want a smallish area to be able tos et my studio, with basic hand held USB microphones (3-4), a mixer, maybe a DJ set or two. I want to get proper soundproof foam, i want it all really. I’m going for a low budget
but im not really worried about the stuff, i got that all handed, I just want to know, what would be the small apartment area I’d be looking for… i wouldnt be looking for a house, so? what am I looking for.

an apartment is not a good place to record. it would be almost impossible to get it soundproofed. with apartments you have water going through pipes in the walls, noise from neighbors and outside. and also most apartments will not allow you to run a business (especially music which tends to get loud) out of the apartment.

just throwing some foam on the walls will not make a place sound proof. you will need to build an isolation booth.

In the movie "The Right Stuff" when Chuck Yeager breaks the sound barrier, the light outside starts looking weird. Does this actually happen?

No . . . Unlike what Hollywood depicts, it looks just like you would see when you fly at subsonic, (slower then the speed of sound), speeds. Nothing changes in your outside view.

I have recently got tinnitus due to a many loud music nights but the last one just topped it and now i have a constant ringing in my ears.
The thing is, i don’t plan on giving up music concerts or parties and i have a festival coming up this summer where the music is going to be very loud. Can anyone suggest some good noise reduction ear plugs and where to get them? I’m willing to pay good amounts for good ones.
Thank you.

I suggest you go to a hardware store, home center store or drug store and check out what they have for they all will have them. ON the package you will see the noise reducing amounts they are supposed to do and you pick the one that is going to do the most for what you want. Best way I know of to get the right thing.

Hey there, me and my friend are beginners at making recording studio’s. So far we’ve got a few bits of advice from different people and sources. And we’ve decided to collect the following equipment:

-iMac (Second Hand)
-Logic Software
-Studio Monitors
-Condenser Microphone
-Dynamic Microphone
-Mixing Desk
-Sound Card
-Microphone Stand
-Pop Filter

I just wanted to ask if this was the right way to go? Is this the equipment we’ll need to get us started?
Also could you guys recommend some good studio monitors?
So far we’ve already got a mixing desk, it’s a pretty decent one. Were all saving up money as we speak, so this may take a while!
We have a room to set up in, it’s very soundproof already, and has a good amount of room.
We want to record instruments (bass guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar) we have an electric drum kit, so no need to mic that up. We also want to record vocals.
I hope i’ve given enough information? Or maybe i’ve given to much Thanks anyway

iMAC- From my understanding, MAC or PC will do the trick, everyone that says it wont, is ego riding, so dont so much think you need a MAC. If your settled on MAC, it comes (usually) with garage band which you can use as your recording audio software. I on the other hand use a PC and it works just fine. Just make sure you have a dual or higher processer, and a whole lot of ram.

Logic- You’ll have Garage band in your MAC if you decide to go that route, so I’d let Logic take a back seat on lists of purchase’s. Ive heard good things about Logic, and it is an uprgrade from garage band so of coarse i encourage that purchas, but maybe look into Pro Tools or Cubase?

Studio Monitors- These are a big need especially if you plan on recording instruments. I personally have 2 KRK Rockit 5s and for the price they’re definitly worth it. Dont let the size full you either, the sound is impecable. When purchasing monitors take into consideration the acoustics of your room! Bigger speakers isnt nesecarily better. you’ll want to decide on Powered or passive, and to learn the difference read this article. http://www.sweetwater.com/shop/studio/studio-monitors/buying-guide.php You might also want to consider some studio head phones, like shure, Audio Technica, AKG, the list goes on and on.

Mic- Definitly essential so take your time finding the right ones(s). You’ll definitly need more than one, so if i were you I’d spend some time researching a all around mic, which doesnt really exist, but a best fit for everything possible untill you can expand your artillary. Condensers require a pre amp, usually found on Audio Interfaces, and A.I.s are a soundcard so that covers both ares. Look upbrands like Rode, Shure, MXL, Audio Technica.

Soundcard- Well you can run an Audio interface USB or Fire wire depending on your set up, and if you can run it Fire Wire. USB is still ok. You mentioned having a electronic drum kit, so i expect that means it runs through MIDI, or can, so look up Audio/Midi Interfaces such as this one which just might be set for you http://www.amazon.com/Tascam-US1641-Interface-digital-Connection/dp/B000X2T5EM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1288974287&sr=8-1

I hope that helps you, and to answer your question easily, yes your group is heading in the right direction. All roads lead to Rome, just depends which route you want to take. If you have any questions shoot me an email. GoodLuck.

these are all very good sites to browse through for equipment ideas:
http://www.sweetwater.com
http://www.zzounds.com
http://www.musiciansfriend.com
http://www.guitarcenter.com
(theres a plethera, but i use those three the most and compare prices with amazon.

If am object traveling faster than the speed of sound makes a sonic boom then if an object could travel faster than light would it make an equivelent "sonic flash" ? And if so is there and where is there evidence to support this. There is a sound berrier at like I think around 600 mph is there a similar light barrier at the speed of light or 186,000 miles per second?

Nothing can travel faster than the speed of light in vacuum. However, it is possible for objects (small particles in particular) to travel faster than the speed of light in certain mediums, in which case they can create a sort of ‘photonic boom’.

The most common occurrence would be Cherenkov radiation, which occurs when electrons travel faster than the speed of light in water (it happens in nuclear reactors). The effect is that a seemingly sourceless blue light appears in the water.

Hey there, me and my friend are beginners at making recording studio’s. So far we’ve got a few bits of advice from different people and sources. And we’ve decided to collect the following equipment:

-iMac (Second Hand)
-Logic Software
-Studio Monitors
-Condenser Microphone
-Dynamic Microphone
-Mixing Desk
-Sound Card
-Microphone Stand
-Pop Filter

I just wanted to ask if this was the right way to go? Is this the equipment we’ll need to get us started?
Also could you guys recommend some good studio monitors?
So far we’ve already got a mixing desk, it’s a pretty decent one. Were all saving up money as we speak, so this may take a while!
We have a room to set up in, it’s very soundproof already, and has a good amount of room.
We want to record instruments (bass guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar) we have an electric drum kit, so no need to mic that up. We also want to record vocals.
I hope i’ve given enough information? Or maybe i’ve given to much Thanks anyway!

That’s a good start. The most important thing is the software. Logic is ok. I use Pro Tools and it’s still the industry standard. The best studio monitors in my opinion are JBLs. The sound from a JBL speaker is just far superior. You probably also want to add a subwoofer to your monitor configuration. I don’t mic any of my instruments. I believe you get a much cleaner sound when you record them direct of the effects pedals. I use a BOSS GT-10 multieffects guitar pedal and the BOSS GT-10B for bass. I also play an electric/acoustic guitar that I record through either a BOSS Acoustic simulator pedal or my Roland Juno-G keyboard synthesizer which has a multitude of the best sounding guitar effects on the planet. I can make my inexpensive Yamaha steal-string acoustic sound just like a nylon string classical guitar or even a steel-guitar. For vocals, I record from a BOSS VE-20 vocal processor and I also use the VE-20 to produce special effects. The music I’m producing, for the most part comes out nearly broadcast quality. A little mixing and mastering and it sounds extremely professional. I would highly recommend that you consider getting a Roland Juno-G keyboard synthesizer. They are on sale right now and the Juno-G has the same synth engine that you find in the Roland Fantom which sells for upwards of $3000. You can get the Juno-g for around $700 right now. It is the very best investment I have ever made in a musical instrument. I can use it like an effects pedal for guitar or bass and it has a lot of very good drum kits and drum track built into it. http://www.zzounds.com/item–ROLJUNOG

I play guitar, bass and now keyboard (taught myself over a two year period). I have been adding chords and keyboard fills into my recordings now for about two years. When you’re recording, you only need to play a measure at a time perfectly. The keyboard and the synth sounds and beats and ambient tones that the keyboard adds to your recordings really enhances your sound capabilities. Today, may of the recording I’m producing are recorded entirely from the keyboard. Even the bass and guitar parts.

My uncle is a home laborer and he was taking apart a music studio. the sound proofing they used was done with eggcrates and he decided to put them in a bag and give them to me so i can soundproof my vocal booth with them, so i left them in the backyard until my mother came home. when my mother came home she said not to bring them in because roach eggs can be on them and she doesn’t want roaches in the house. but if there were roach eggs on them couldn’t i see the eggs on them? they’re big right? and if i spray the cartons off with something wouldn’t they be ok to bring in and use? i dont wanna risk a roach problem but i didnt see any type of egg on the egg cartons, and i need the soundproofing badly…

let me know! thanks.

hi im mike ok the eggs r oval shaped and brown about a 10th of an inch yes u should be able to see them and no spay may not penatrate the eggs just shake them out and look all over if u dont see anything they will b ok hope this helps

Are honeycomb shades really effective for noise reduction? I live on 57th Street in Manhattan, where trucks are constantly passing by and two bus stops are right in front of my window. I’m contemplating buying honeycomb shades, but am skeptical as to their results. Please let me know. Thanks!

no. There’s no seal at the edges.

im opening a new studio what r the best 4 recording instruments and vocals

Hi, Cahit,

You don’t mention price, so I’m going to assume some middle-of-the-road ($300-$1000) priced mics.

I **LOVE** my AKG 414B for vocals, and a Blue Bottle does WONDERS (with all the attachments [aka: TOPS] it has.) (Although, the Blue retails for about $6k…)

Check out the Baby Bottle by Blue too! It’s a more reasonable $400, though i’ve never used it specifically. (My partner has a Blue Woodpecker, and I **ENVY** him for it… [I'm gaa-gaa over ribbon mics.])

The AT4040 (by AudioTechnica) is also very nice. And it runs for about $300.

CAD makes some great vocal stuff. I’ve used (but don’t own) an E100S (Equitek.)

Shure DMK57-52s are nice for micing an acoustic drum set.

Mics from Neuman and Audio Technica are nice, and Sure as well (for the lower end, sub $100 range.)

Best advice:

ISOLATE THE SOUND!

If you’re going to plunk down $1000 for a mic, spend at least $100 for audio isolation foam to make sure the room is "dead." And, if you’re going to spend good money on a mic, make sure you have a great preamp too. (It doesn’t have to be a tube preamp, just make sure it DOES deliver nice, clean sound.)

Make sure you match the mic to the instrument you are recording. (I’ve actually gotten some PHENOMINAL sounds from an acoustic guitar using Sony LAVALIER mics!!!) AND: ***NEVER*** buy a mic (especially if you’re going to spend more than $500 on it) without first looking at THAT SPECIFIC MICROPHONE’S INDIVIDUAL FREQUENCY RESPONSE SHEET!!! (YES!!! INDIVIDUAL!!! I wouldn’t TOUCH a $500+ mic if it had a "generic" Freq. Response sheet.)

Use a Pop filter or two wherever necessary for better mic quality too.

Hope that helps.

- Z

I’m thinking of filling a wall cavity i’m going to build (plywood on both sides, not sheetrock) with sand for soundproofing of a home studio.

It got me thinking if this would be a good technique for insulating outer walls of a house, but I’m not sure - it seems like it would be both goo insulation, AND thermal mass.

That’s not possible because those two properties are opposites, right?

Not a bad idea. I thought of doing that myself. Be very certain that the floor can handle the weight. Also you need to build either a staggered stud or double wall for that to work. You need to add mass in the path of the sound, so if you simply pour sand into a normal wall with plywood on both sides of each stud, the sound will pass though the wood and only be minimally affected by the sand.

By putting in sand you can avoid the sound resonance problem that walls have. Think of the wall as a drum. Due to the air in the middle of the wall, the wall has a resonating frequency that is doesn’t protect against sound transfer at. Either build a solid wall filled in with a solid mass, or a hollow wall with insulation and a wide cavity to lower the resonating frequency as much as possible.

Also you should be looking at professional products for soundproofing. You can buy either treated plywood or drywall, or you can buy the compound to treat building materials with. The compound is a gel that turns vibration into heat, thus removing energy from the sound waves.

To your question, sand is a horrible insulator for temperature. Insulation is a horrible insulator for sound. Insulation will only protect against frequencies of sound that are lighter than it. Low frequencies will go with no problem.

For using sand as an insulator, solid mass likes to lose heat quickly to its colder lighter side, and drains heat from the warmer lighter side. The more dense it is the quicker that will happen. It is the basic of osmosis of heat. Any mass will try to push heat to where it is less concentrated, and gain heat from where it is more concentrated. Lose broken up material is very poor at moving heat, which is why fiberglass batts work. Dense material is a good conductor of heat.

You might also want to find putty fire proofing pads for wrapping your electrical boxes. They cost between 3 and 7 dollars a piece. Metacaulk and QuietRock are two brands for them.