UgLy Koerner
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Building a vocal booth????
I am living in a small apt, finally am learning about getting a sick ass vocal sound, I got a berhinger mixer and right now just useing a sure 58 mic but its still great I can hear my voice so good in the mix, just waiting on a condenser... Question is I want to build a vocal booth in here, I am thinking about buying a put together walkin closet from wallmart, then coating the outside with sono-pan, and the inside with carpet, I am a screamer at times, then I rap and sing with melody's but I want to be able to scream at the top of my lungs and maybe even cry death without my neghbors calling the cops and or ambulance on me lol... So any tips from the pros would be great...Does size count? what I use inside to keep the tone good, anything really...Thank U all for being here by the way as always. http://www.myspace.com/Deadsex http://www.myspace.com/UgLyDeadsex
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DW_Mike
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2007/12/16 12:14:43
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A vocal booth is about controlling the sound and having an isolated room to record vocals in by keeping allot of outside interference from bleeding into the mic. What you're looking for is a sound proof room. That is a big difference, and a sound proof room will be very expensive, and quite honestly, almost impossible to build unless you have a concrete bunker in your back yard. Google "sound proof rooms" and you can get some ideas. Chances are that you'll be able to build something that can cut back the noise a little. A soundproof room is air tight and dense walls separated by chambers of dead air space.
Mike
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krizrox
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2007/12/16 12:37:54
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Living in a small apartment - strike one A Behringer mixer and an SM58 - strike two Waiting on a condenser - strike three Wrong forum for these types of questions - strike four (I'll take this one back since Cake moved the thread)  Carpet on the outside of the booth - strike five I have a suggestion. And this is based from years of experience and having been there and done that. Forget building a vocal booth. Save your money for that condenser mic and maybe even a better mixer or vocal channel. Instead, go upstairs and knock on your neighbors door and tell them that occasionally you will be recording vocals in your apartment and that they should not call the cops on you (which immediately puts you at risk in the event someone should break into your apartment and try to rob you). Then get yourself some heavy duty moving blankets, pillows, sleeping bags, whatever and strategically postion them in your bedroom or wherever you are recording. As Mike already pointed out, what you are sort of alluding to is an airtight chamber. You can actually buy prefabed vocal booths but they are expensive. I suspect, even if the thought crossed your mind that you would somehow get the lumber and attempt to build one in your small apartment, the best you could hope for is that it would cut down some of the noise but not all of it. You will find it cramped and uncomfortable. Without some sort of airflow/air conditioning, you won't be able to spend more than a few minutes at a time in there. Then, to add insult to injury, you will have to dismantle this thing when it comes time to move. Do yourself a favor and make the best of it with hanging blankets and such that can be easily put up and taken down. Talk to the neighbors. If none of that works, move. Best of luck - let us know how it turns out!
post edited by krizrox - 2007/12/17 04:56:45
Larry Kriz www.LnLRecording.com www.myspace.com/lnlrecording Sonar PE 8.5, Samplitude Pro 11, Sonic Core Scope Professional/XTC, A16 Ultra AD/DA, Intel DG965RY MOBO, Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz processor, XFX GeForce 7300 GT PCIe video card, Barracuda 750 & 320GB SATA drives, 4GB DDR Ram, Plextor DVD/CD-R burner.
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nprime
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2007/12/16 12:46:24
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Listen Sonar 5PE Intel DP35DP, E6750, 3 GB, 80GB/320 GB Scope (6 DSP) w/A16 interface PadKontrol, Legacy Series MS20, EZDrummer.
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UgLy Koerner
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2007/12/16 12:50:10
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hmmm all those strikes makeing me feel like im out of the ball-game lol :'o) Well thanx for your input, I wont get robbed cause im in a sick building, your right if I build this thing I am going to die inside lol...but the problem is im a screamer..Also I am not sor worried about outside noises, its just me I dont want people to hear, I tend to record and erase alot to get it perfected...Ill have to keep looking to figure it out, thanx for the reality check and sorry I came to the wrong spot, this forum is always my heart to go to for answers so its hard to leave lol...Thank U sir...Have a great day. P.S. saw your web-page proffessional world you got going on there, hope I can achaieve something like that in my life time...Respect. http://www.myspace.com/Deadsex http://www.myspace.com/UgLyDeadsex
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Jesse G
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2007/12/16 13:39:22
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Peace,Jesse G.  A fisher of men <>< ==============================Cakewalk and I are going places together!
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UgLy Koerner
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2007/12/16 14:40:14
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well I am going to try the small closet thing...I guess it might be a waste...I just want to know can it work at all? I mean how much room do I need, I have seen mic boxes on the net for people just recording around there face kind of weird, but I need something kind of neat but not to expence.
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krizrox
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2007/12/16 18:13:51
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Actually, the closet vocal booth is the classic solution to the problem. There are already clothes in there to suck up some of the sound. It's just you - what do you care right? It will probably provide enough isolation to appease your neighbors. It's cheaper than the more expensive commercial solutions and there's nothing to tear down when it comes time to move.
Don't be afraid to be creative. It doesn't have to look good, just work. Let us know how it works out for you. You might come up with an interesting solution to an age-old problem. Cheers!
Larry Kriz www.LnLRecording.com www.myspace.com/lnlrecording Sonar PE 8.5, Samplitude Pro 11, Sonic Core Scope Professional/XTC, A16 Ultra AD/DA, Intel DG965RY MOBO, Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz processor, XFX GeForce 7300 GT PCIe video card, Barracuda 750 & 320GB SATA drives, 4GB DDR Ram, Plextor DVD/CD-R burner.
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UgLy Koerner
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2007/12/16 20:17:31
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Thanx Larry, Hearing you say give it a try gives me the momentum to do so...Ill let U know, I am going to do it over the hoidays...my fingers are crossed...Thanx again and Merry XXX-mas.
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contact@jondunn.org
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2007/12/16 21:30:19
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ORIGINAL: krizrox
Living in a small apartment - strike one
A Behringer mixer and an SM58 - strike two
Waiting on a condenser - strike three
Wrong forum for these types of questions - strike four
Carpet on the outside of the booth - strike five
I have a suggestion. And this is based from years of experience and having been there and done that. Forget building a vocal booth. Save your money for that condenser mic and maybe even a better mixer or vocal channel. Instead, go upstairs and knock on your neighbors door and tell them that occasionally you will be recording vocals in your apartment and that they should not call the cops on you (which immediately puts you at risk in the event someone should break into your apartment and try to rob you). Then get yourself some heavy duty moving blankets, pillows, sleeping bags, whatever and strategically postion them in your bedroom or wherever you are recording.
As Mike already pointed out, what you are sort of alluding to is an airtight chamber. You can actually buy prefabed vocal booths but they are expensive. I suspect, even if the thought crossed your mind that you would somehow get the lumber and attempt to build one in your small apartment, the best you could hope for is that it would cut down some of the noise but not all of it. You will find it cramped and uncomfortable. Without some sort of airflow/air conditioning, you won't be able to spend more than a few minutes at a time in there.
Then, to add insult to injury, you will have to dismantle this thing when it comes time to move. Do yourself a favor and make the best of it with hanging blankets and such that can be easily put up and taken down. Talk to the neighbors. If none of that works, move.
Best of luck - let us know how it turns out!
ps- has anyone tried that realtraps portable set-up? feedback?
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bitflipper
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2007/12/16 21:30:45
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Although sound isolation is difficult to achieve, all hope is not lost because it turns out that vocal-range frequencies are much easier to attenuate than general broadband frequencies. It's why you can only hear the bass from your neighbor's stereo - higher frequencies are more efficiently stopped by walls than low frequencies.
Here's what you can do, even in a rented apartment. It would technically violate your rental agreement, but if you do it well no one will be the wiser.
Add a second layer of drywall to the inside of the closet. Use this stuff called Green Glue, it's an acoustical adhesive for just that purpose. Two layers of drywall should give you about 20-30db of attenuation for vocal-range frequencies, enough that even screaming would be heard about as loud as normal conversational levels through the walls.
 All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
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krizrox
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2007/12/17 04:58:12
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I think I read something about that Green Glue in a recent Tape Op. There was a glowing report about it. From what I remember it was a tad expensive but a good solution when other more traditional methods failed. Whatever you do, the secret is air tightness. Trapped spongy air is your friend.
Just curious - are there people living above or below you?
Before I would throw any money at the problem, I'd try the simple cheap solutions first. Ideally, I guess, you could have someone stand in your neighbor's apartment(s) while you screamed your head off and see how bad the leakage actually is. It might not be as bad as you think. Even just standing in the living room or wherever. This method, of course, assumes you are in good graces with your neighbors to begin with. Also, another reason to try this first is to make sure that the closet solution is actually a good place to record from an acoustics standpoint. You might find out, depending on the size of the closet, that your vocal tracks don't sound so good in there. I would try a recording first just to see what kind of results you get before going too much farther.
Larry Kriz www.LnLRecording.com www.myspace.com/lnlrecording Sonar PE 8.5, Samplitude Pro 11, Sonic Core Scope Professional/XTC, A16 Ultra AD/DA, Intel DG965RY MOBO, Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4GHz processor, XFX GeForce 7300 GT PCIe video card, Barracuda 750 & 320GB SATA drives, 4GB DDR Ram, Plextor DVD/CD-R burner.
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Lanceindastudio
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2007/12/17 05:42:53
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The fact that you just wanna isolate your vocal from them more so is easier really. Not much bass. Keeping bass and room noises out is hard. The closet should do as long as it isnt adjacent to the neighbors dwelling area above or on a side. Damp it as much as you can and still have room. Vocals are WAY easier to mask then the bass from your speakers. Lol bit just read your post, and we wer on the same page. Good idea about the extra layer of sheetrock and green glue. Is it is air tigh sealed, it will do a lot. Make sure to cover the sheetrack with acoustical foam or something because in a smaller space, lot of slap back can happen so ya need to dampen the sound, especially since you are screaming.
post edited by Lanceindastudio - 2007/12/17 06:00:30
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joshhunsaker
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2007/12/17 18:37:48
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i was about to offer some advice but then I checked your myspace page and realized the last thing i wanted to do was assist someone in their quest to record songs about sex with dead people.... i'm totally kidding. the closet idea is a very good one. i would recommend (just in the way of upgrades) a cheap soundcraft mixer to get rid of the ridiculous amount of noise cheap mixers (like behringer) tend to create and a large-diaphragm condenser. While it is true you can spend money on the expensive isolation foam you can do just as well with the egg-shell camping pad stuff, massive comforters, and heavy blankets.
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Lanceindastudio
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2007/12/17 19:26:42
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Yeah dont buy auralex. Find a deal.
Foam by mail or something like that has deals...
Asus P8Z77-V LE PLUS Motherboard i7 3770k CPU 32 gigs RAM Presonus AudioBox iTwo Windows 10 64 bit, SONAR PLATINUM 64 bit Lots of plugins and softsynths and one shot samples, loops Gauge ECM-87, MCA SP-1, Alesis AM51 Presonus Eureka Mackie HR824's and matching subwoofer
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smashcut
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2007/12/18 12:43:46
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Hello
I am currently building a vocal booth and need some advice. What will I need interior xlrs and 1/4 inch, AC plugshow many /set up /installation etc. Mics, good choices, etc.. The interior is 4'10" x 5'10". Ceiling is 7'3". Two new walls are three layers of sheet rock, ultra touch cotton insulation, I used green glue and sound iso clips. Two existing walls from outside in are stucco, studs with Fiberglass insulation , drywall, green glue and quiet rock as the final layer on the interior.
2x2 window on one wall 30"door on adjacent wall. Floor has sub floor 2x6 frame sitting on cement then linoleum, a 3/4 inch layer of plywood . acoustical under layment then carpet. Need advice on acoustical treatment for walls /fabric wrapped panels / and set up, placement on which walls. Also... what silent light source is recommended and does anyone have plans for baffled ventilation system.
I have Pro Tools LE with an M-box. Running on a Mac. I will be using the booth for vocals and guitar one or two singers at a time. Also for voice over work. Any experienced advice is appreciated.
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gullfo
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2007/12/18 18:04:58
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i'd recommend 2'x4' porous absorbers (2" rigid insulation covered with flame ****ant treat cloth) centered top-bottom on each of the walls and one overhead. for lights - consider LEDs in track lights as small and bright and less heat. for ventilation, a plenum box made from 3/4" MDF and lined with "duct liner" - about 2 1/2' - 3' long with one opening into the booth, and a set of fans on the output opening side drawing air out. another box of the same type which is the supply side.
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Philip
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2007/12/18 20:57:26
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I started with RealTraps portable vocal recording booth and suppose I've reached a happy medium: but added insulative-fiberglass pieces (that i painted black) above and below to help prevent vertical echoes; that really helped take the dreaded 'vox in the box sound' out of my vocals. You can save most of the $300 by just buying hard fiberglass insulation for your base-trap and getting creative; but the RealTraps PVC adheres to your mic-stand fairly well (with prior proper planning IMHO). Heaven forbid I knock down my mic-stand with that huge RealTraps PVB on it  Then behind me (about 4-5 feet) I have a Quilt hanging from the ceiling in semi-circle ($40 for a huge sexy one), to stop rear echoes. So, the vocal booth I have is slightly sexy, cozy, and perfect (until 18 wheelers rumble by  ). Please use a beautiful quilt on your rear ... not a moving blanket  ) -------------------------------------------- EDIT: As per Lance and Gullfo; also, RV#19 insulaton (behind wood or sheetrock) is recommended by many to sound proof outside noises (when feasible). Now, someone might chime in and utterly ridicule our crudely sexy vocal booths; just ignore them  .
post edited by Philip - 2007/12/18 21:17:27
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Philip
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2007/12/18 21:09:17
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a cheap soundcraft mixer Josh, please elaborate for dummy-me; where is the soundcraft mixer in your signal chain ... before a sound-card or interface?
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joshhunsaker
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2007/12/18 22:50:02
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ORIGINAL: Philip
a cheap soundcraft mixer
Josh, please elaborate for dummy-me; where is the soundcraft mixer in your signal chain ... before a sound-card or interface?
I personally don't have one - I sold my Alesis MultiMix 8 to start saving for one that wasn't suffering from severe interference problems (you'd think with an external power supply, it'd at least be usable but...) I was assuming that the op's soundcard didn't include mic pre's and he was using the behringer for that purpose. Of course he could just buy a cheap 1 or 2 channel pre but for a little bit more you could get a decent (lower-end) soundcraft mixer with 4 pre's, equalization options, fx returns, and a dedicated heaphone output. I'm assuming that one day he might want to mic a drum kit and this gives him a little bit of expandability for the future while not costing him an arm and a leg...
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Philip
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2007/12/19 09:59:50
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Thanks Josh,
The main thing the Op should realize is that a *very good* ad-hoc Vocal Booth can be made in a couple hours with materials from Walmart and Lowes (based on our posts) ... a sexy one at that.
While building a large VB with windows and room for instruments is an ambitious over-kill (IMHO), the end will probably only be *very good*. To be *excellent* (which our ears might not notice) probably requires a professional VB builder. The end result may be non-sexy, completely-vain, and a bulky nuisance ... wouldn't work for all types of vocal recordings (like multiple singers, instruments, etc.)
So the Op should only concentrate on his room echoes, outside sounds, a possible closet, fiberglass base-traps, and/or 'sexy' quilts. He really shouldn't make it ugly and chaotic.
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garrigus
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2013/02/28 09:22:16
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batsbrew
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2013/02/28 10:25:46
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check out clearsonic http://www.clearsonic.com/ in particular, the vocal booths  these are not cheap. and they don't stop all sound, not even close... but they are temporary, portable, small footprint, look good, and to a decent degree, they work.
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Cactus Music
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2013/02/28 11:08:19
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That's 2 threads from 2007 mr abbicory has dug up??
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Beagle
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2013/02/28 11:18:48
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Cactus Music
That's 2 threads from 2007 mr abbicory has dug up??
and he's a spammer.
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garrigus
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2013/02/28 15:02:21
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spacealf
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2013/03/01 15:52:51
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Cactus Music
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2013/03/01 16:02:33
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For some strange reason I'm in the habit of reading the OP and checking the date. If I'm real bored I'll click on the user name and see what their up to.. A real common one is thread starters who ask questions and never reply, Funny how those threads will go on and on without anyone noticing. :)
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Beagle
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2013/03/02 17:00:18
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Cactus Music
For some strange reason I'm in the habit of reading the OP and checking the date. If I'm real bored I'll click on the user name and see what their up to.. A real common one is thread starters who ask questions and never reply, Funny how those threads will go on and on without anyone noticing. :)
I always read the OP and the date. and 99% of the time read ALL of the replies before I reply. but that's just me. I'm anal.
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AT
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RE: Building a vocal booth????
2013/03/02 17:36:27
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oh, Beagle, you're no fun.
https://soundcloud.com/a-pleasure-dome
http://www.bnoir-film.com/ there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. 24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.
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