Tech: Best room to record

Subject: RE: Tech: Best room to record
From: Jim Lad
Date: 25 Oct 08 - 09:46 PM

"to make sure yer computer isnt confused and playing what you record back thru yer speakers."

Actually, I leave the monitors turned on in the computer room.
Probably doesn't make a difference but to my way of thinking, if I want to bury the unwelcome sounds from other rooms then what better to do it with than the sound I'm recording?

Subject: RE: Tech: Best room to record
From: Bernard
Date: 25 Oct 08 - 05:41 PM

A cheap way of making baffle boards is to buy some inexpensive sapele print doors and cover them with cheap contract carpet. Either borrow a staple gun or use carpet tacks...

Microphone suspension mounts can be expensive, but it's easy enough to make them from cheap plastic drain tubing and elastic bands!

Using the right type of microphone helps - an SM58, for example, is a close vocal mike more suited to PA use, and will sound a bit 'thin' for 'loose' miking.

Also remember that a close vocal mike will 'pop' on explosive consonants unless you're either touching it with your lips (not good when recording) or at least 6 inches away... the worst 'pops' happen if you're about an inch away.

Most importantly, never record using reverb effects and so on - you can put them in afterwards, but you can't take them out!

Subject: RE: Tech: Best room to record
From: Tim Leaning
Date: 25 Oct 08 - 01:31 PM

ANd watch you dont sit tappin yer feet on the mic stand feet!
OH and if you got yer cans on have listen without then to make sure yer computer isnt confused and playing what you record back thru yer speakers.
Blush

Subject: RE: Tech: Best room to record
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Oct 08 - 01:26 PM

We also take the bell collars off the cats.

And empty pockets of keys and loose change (which we neglect to return).

We also duct tape feet to floor!

And remove all phones from the room.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Tech: Best room to record
From: TIA
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 04:00 PM

Thanks folks. I think we'll be doing some fun re-arranging experiments this weekend.

Subject: RE: Tech: Best room to record
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 11:40 AM

Jim Lad said 'Then there's the usual fridges, computers, light bulbs fans and flatulence.'

Setting aside the flatulence, he is talking about this: the various hums, rattles and clicks of the house turn into the hiss on a recording. So turn the fridge up, the furnace down, the fans off. Set your mic as far from other noisemakers (including the fan on your computer) as you can.

In my house, it is essential to stop the cuckoo clock.

Subject: RE: Tech: Best room to record
From: Lowden Jameswright
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 10:06 AM

Very interesting article Sminky - thanks - and access to some great Tab too

Subject: RE: Tech: Best room to record
From: GUEST,Joseph P on new computer
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 07:44 AM

My melodeon still sounds best in the bath. Whether it has water in it or not is up to you ...

Subject: RE: Tech: Best room to record
From: GUEST, Sminky
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 06:31 AM

Here's an interesting article about that very thing. Although guitar-specific, I assume it would apply to most instruments.

Subject: RE: Tech: Best room to record
From: My guru always said
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 05:53 AM

I've recorded a couple of songs in my garden complete with birdsong. Granted we're a way from the main road, but the sound of a plane overhead was quite effective at the end of 'Follow the Heron'!

Subject: RE: Tech: Best room to record
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 03:28 AM

Weird Al Yankovick - used to record in his school's tile walled restroom.

For a grand piano - in a friend's large carpeted living room - we place a masonite board on the floor under the piano's sounding board.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Tech: Best room to record
From: s&r
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 02:48 AM

Not possible to comment without some facts: what equipment did you use; what medium did you record on to; is it a straight recording or have you done any post record processing etc.
With a 'soft' room you will probably have to add reverb, with a 'hard' room you'll have too much. Otherwise what Jim lad said

Stu

Subject: RE: Tech: Best room to record
From: Jim Lad
Date: 24 Oct 08 - 02:27 AM

I'll give it a go then.
Not in the bathroom.
Choose a room with lots of furnishings etc. to get away from any echo.
Spare bedroom is often a good place.
You didn't say what didn't sound right but I'll guess that you have a little bit of room reverb going on.
That can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on what else you choose to do but it's impossible to edit.
So find a room that doesn't talk back to you.
If you have a spare mattress or foam pad, you may want to prop it up against a wall.
In addition, rather than try to fix up a whole room, there are small enclosures which mount on a microphone stand and will enclose the back end of the mic. to protect you from room noise. You could make such a thing.
Then there's the usual fridges, computers, light bulbs fans and flatulence.
Enjoy!
Jim

Subject: RE: Tech: Best room to record
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 10:56 PM

I'll be interested in watching this. I've recorded in professional recording studios, and the Paton's living room recording studio, as well as recording in our "Great Room" with a tile floor and drapes.
If you're recording at home, I think that the best thing to do is to try in two or three different rooms to see what sounds best to you. I'm going to start doing a new CD soon, and will be doing just that, myself.

No expert.

Jerry

Subject: Tech: Best room to record
From: TIA
Date: 23 Oct 08 - 10:43 PM

So, we finally got around to recording a few demo songs. Did it in the living room, with minimal dog barks interfering. The few who have heard have been complimentary 9even the ones who didn't have to be). Here's the question - the sound just isn't right, and I don't know enought to know what is wrong. In general, should we be in a large or small room? Curtains or no curtains? The shower stall? I really don't know much, so even simple tips are welcome.
Thanks!