Which is more important: Control room or vocal booth?

[Phroggy]

Hey guys,

I just moved my studio from my bedroom to another empty bedroom. Im using that room mainly for recording only and nothing else. I've decided to treat the room to the best as much as I can afford right now. It's almost a perfect square room with a window on to my right sitting in the mix position. To the left of the mixing position is the closet with a closed door which I turned into a vocal booth.

My question is, if I can only treat one room at this time, which would make a bigger improvement for my mix - Control room or the vocal booth?

After the move, I just threw two 2'x4'x2" Auralex Studiofoam wedge on the back wall and two of the same wedge on the side wall in the back corners cause I'm not really sure what to do with them at this time.

When sitting in the mix position, I hear only little bass, but when stand against the back wall, it's almost like the bass is dominating the whole mix. I know I need to get some real bass traps to tame those low ends but right now my budget is only $400.

Thanks in advance for any advices or inputs.

[chrisrnps]

$400 buys a heck of a lot of OC703 or mineral wool panels, fabric, small-dimension finish lumber, screws, eyehooks, and picture wire.

[wesarvin]

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/4365255-post722.html

This is my room. It's a 12'x11'x8' bedroom with windows and concrete floors. I built SIX and a half 8' long corner wedges (3in rockwool/10in fluffy), TWO 2'x'4'x4in clouds, one 2'x4'x7in back trap, and FOUR more 2'x4'x4in rfz panels and front traps for a grand total of $250.

My bass response is +/- 4dB at mix position.

Like chrisrnps said: $400 will take you a long way. Vox will be fine in your CR as long as your gear is quiet. Here's a clip of vox in that room: Indie Grüv (Call the Grüv Line at 832-514-4289) on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Videos

[mixmkr]

I'm certainly no acoustician, but I'd put all my money on the control room, being the first to treat. After all, if you can't hear what's going on correctly in your control room, who cares what it sounds like in the vocal booth.

Along those lines, treating the recording spaces next will then improve what you're recording, but you HAVE to hear what you're recording before you can think of doing anything else. Besides, a lot of close mic'ing is going to elimate much of the room anyway. Much less of a difference than hearing an "unbalanced" playback.

Anyrate, I think I HAVE to be right with this opinion, I'll ask where do I pick up my diploma for junior, assistant, in training, apprenticiship, on the job, pre management acoustical expert???

[Phroggy]

Originally Posted by chrisrnps

$400 buys a heck of a lot of OC703 or mineral wool panels, fabric, small-dimension finish lumber, screws, eyehooks, and picture wire.

Where is a good place I can buy these materials from? Menards?

What is OC703?

I've never done any DIY before, will it be as effective as the ones done by professionals?

How many panels of 2'x4'x6" bass traps can I get for $400?

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by Phroggy

Where is a good place I can buy these materials from? Menards?

What is OC703?



How many panels of 2'x4'x6" bass traps can I get for $400?

OC703 is a rigid fiberglass. Do some searching on this website and you will see 1000s of threads about building and where to get it in your area.

I've never done any DIY before, will it be as effective as the ones done by professionals?

Most of the time YES. If nothing else you will receive a good plan on where to put acoustic products and know (if the product is tested) it will work.