Specializing in a Vocal Tracking Studio?

Corey O · 17th February 2006

I'm interested in setting up a studio for tracking vocals only. This would not be a voice over studio, but a place where local bands/artists can come in with rough mixes/ backing tracks and use a high end set up for lead and backing vocal tracks.

The service would cater to people who want to engineer themselves or have some just hit record.

The studio would offer a limited, but high end sound at reasonable flat rate.

Maybe offer something unique like a live echo chamber.

Anythoughts or ideas on the concept, equipment choices, etc.

A "clean", GML type front end comes to mind.

I'm a newbie so play nice!

kats · 17th February 2006

I think it can work. Just focus on vocals and have some serious choice mics...the BIG ones if you know what I mean. A few choice pre's etc etc.

Anyhow, here's the name for you:

The Vocal Booth

AlexLakis · 17th February 2006

Yeah, it's called a "hip hop" studio. Welcome to the easiest job ever. Just make sure your "red-button-pushing-finger" has been properly streched out and exercised before the session. You might wanna get health insurance just in case you strain it.

Just get a Neumann, an Avalon, and maybe an 1176 and call it a career.

Also, you might wanna ask if the neighbors don't mind smelling blunt smoke at 2am.

Kiwiburger · 17th February 2006

For purely marketing reasons, you will have to accomodate the ignorant snobs. For this reason you must absolutely have the following 'name' brands - even if you don't use them:

Neumann
Avalon/Neve
Apogee
Protools
Lexicon

The time worth explaining to idiots who have a read a few magazines and think they know everything is not worth it otherwise.

Probably safe to say that you need a very dry booth, especially for hip hop. You can always add reverb later, so I would use ample bass trapping and lots of absorbant foam. Once again - appearance is everything, so Sonex or Auralex foam can look impressive.

Have a stack of pop shields that are easily washable, and wash them with disinfectant after every session. Make sure your clients know that you maintain hygene standards.

You need air conditioning - or at the very least a fart extractor. I have a simple fan system, on a time delay. It blows filtered air into my rooms, rather than extractor fans that allow unfiltered air to come in.

Ambiance is important - mood lighting, drapes, sofa - the client must feel comfortable and important, and private.

Some people like to hear reverb while tracking - others hate it. One idea - if you engineer the session from inside the vocal booth, you can have an open mic running into the headphone mixer, which serves as a talkback mic and also some room ambiance. Or get a hardware reverb.

Also - on first playback, your client needs to hear a Wow Factor - so have a big reverb set up for first impressions.

You will need leak-proof headphones. Extreme Isolation headphones are good. Or - you might find some people are better with monitor speakers, and you might want to set up a polarity inverted pair for minimum leakage.

While you need the Neumann to get them in the door - bear in mind that every voice is different. If they end up sounding better with an SM58 then so be it. Let them try a few mics and choose for themselves.

There are many mics and preamps that are probably better than the big names, but ignorant punters don't know that. If you are successful, you will end up with an impressive collection, but the idea is to get the business off the ground first.

17th February 2006	#1
Corey O Gear interested Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Davis, CA Posts: 9 Thread Starter	Specializing in a Vocal Tracking Studio? I'm interested in setting up a studio for tracking vocals only. This would not be a voice over studio, but a place where local bands/artists can come in with rough mixes/ backing tracks and use a high end set up for lead and backing vocal tracks. The service would cater to people who want to engineer themselves or have some just hit record. The studio would offer a limited, but high end sound at reasonable flat rate. Maybe offer something unique like a live echo chamber. Anythoughts or ideas on the concept, equipment choices, etc. A "clean", GML type front end comes to mind. I'm a newbie so play nice!

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17th February 2006	#2
kats Lives for gear Joined: May 2005 Posts: 3,683	I think it can work. Just focus on vocals and have some serious choice mics...the BIG ones if you know what I mean. A few choice pre's etc etc. Anyhow, here's the name for you: The Vocal Booth

17th February 2006	#3
AlexLakis Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2005 Location: Annapolis, MD/Los Angeles, CA Posts: 3,631	Yeah, it's called a "hip hop" studio. Welcome to the easiest job ever. Just make sure your "red-button-pushing-finger" has been properly streched out and exercised before the session. You might wanna get health insurance just in case you strain it. Just get a Neumann, an Avalon, and maybe an 1176 and call it a career. Also, you might wanna ask if the neighbors don't mind smelling blunt smoke at 2am.

17th February 2006	#4
Kiwiburger Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 4,075	For purely marketing reasons, you will have to accomodate the ignorant snobs. For this reason you must absolutely have the following 'name' brands - even if you don't use them: Neumann Avalon/Neve Apogee Protools Lexicon The time worth explaining to idiots who have a read a few magazines and think they know everything is not worth it otherwise. Probably safe to say that you need a very dry booth, especially for hip hop. You can always add reverb later, so I would use ample bass trapping and lots of absorbant foam. Once again - appearance is everything, so Sonex or Auralex foam can look impressive. Have a stack of pop shields that are easily washable, and wash them with disinfectant after every session. Make sure your clients know that you maintain hygene standards. You need air conditioning - or at the very least a fart extractor. I have a simple fan system, on a time delay. It blows filtered air into my rooms, rather than extractor fans that allow unfiltered air to come in. Ambiance is important - mood lighting, drapes, sofa - the client must feel comfortable and important, and private. Some people like to hear reverb while tracking - others hate it. One idea - if you engineer the session from inside the vocal booth, you can have an open mic running into the headphone mixer, which serves as a talkback mic and also some room ambiance. Or get a hardware reverb. Also - on first playback, your client needs to hear a Wow Factor - so have a big reverb set up for first impressions. You will need leak-proof headphones. Extreme Isolation headphones are good. Or - you might find some people are better with monitor speakers, and you might want to set up a polarity inverted pair for minimum leakage. While you need the Neumann to get them in the door - bear in mind that every voice is different. If they end up sounding better with an SM58 then so be it. Let them try a few mics and choose for themselves. There are many mics and preamps that are probably better than the big names, but ignorant punters don't know that. If you are successful, you will end up with an impressive collection, but the idea is to get the business off the ground first.