Does the mix desk have to face the live room?

[filthyrich]

I have a 16 long X 10 ish' rectangular room to mix in. The problem is that the most convenient way to do it is to mix with the speakers facing away from my live room. That is along the "long wall." The speakers face the other long wall; and it's not that far behind me. From what I understand; this is less than ideal and would be better suited along the short wall with 1st reflections of the long wall treated. The problem is that my sound will be coming at me from the "outside of my left ear" through the long wall.

Thanks.

[filthyrich]

Right now, my current desk is facing south. From what I understand; it should be facing west with my new desk.

[PRobb]

Having worked in studios with both designs, I really value the connection of having the console oriented to face the live room.

[soundawg]

All that matters is a nice comfortable line of sight between you and the performer - for comunication.

Equally important is the ability to close this view off (drapes or whatever) in case the 'tallent' is shy and performs better when they feel they aren't being watched.

Soundawg.

[Tony Shepperd]

Check out Russ Berger designed rooms.
A lot them don't face the live room.
This is a a picture of a Russ Berger design: Paragon Studios in Nashville.

[filthyrich]

It's ok. There is no window currently..only the windows to our souls...or something.

Although...I'm thinking about mounting a cheaper flat panel monitor on both walls where a window would be...with 1 way security cameras.

Plus..I could record their session to vhs or set up a cheap computer to capture live digital video.

Seems like it wouldn't be much more expensive to do than a quality soundproof 2 plane angled window...plus no hole to possibly patch someday if I sell my house.

[chris carter]

I think it depends on how much isolation you have between the control room and the tracking room. If you have decent isolation, then it wouldn't bother me at all to be off to the side. BUT, if the isolation isn't that great, it could make things like tracking drums a little problematic. You could hear everything balanced in the monitors but also hear the boom boom boom from the kick through the wall/window off to your left causing you to feel like your kick is pulled slightly to the left and you might run around adjusting your room mics for the wrong reasons. Then you try to mix and you're like "WTF my room mics are totally off center!"

[filthyrich]

Couldn't I throw on some cans to get the stereo image right during drum setup?

[soundawg]

If your isolation isn't sound (ha) then there are a lot of things you will have to adjust to, like bass leakage (ewwww).

Mostly this will involve recording and then quickly checking your results while the tallent takes a break.

A hassle yes - but something you will maybe get used to sometime, possibly.

Getting familiar with your room, speakers, mics, pres etc... all are learning curves.

The better the stuff the less f'n around to get used to it.
The worse the stuff the more f'n around to get used to it.

Soundawg

[Rick Sutton]

Originally Posted by filthyrich

Although...I'm thinking about mounting a cheaper flat panel monitor on both walls where a window would be...with 1 way security cameras.

real eye contact can be very important.

[Mike Caffrey]

I moved my console away from the window and I found it improved sightlines.

If you're concerned about the intimacy of face to face communcation not having a massive console betwee you and the window is the way to go.

[davey boy]

Check out my studio web site. I'm facing a wall and love the side being open. Nothing blocking my view. Easier for me to make eye contact plus clients can look into the live room easier. Also, when I play guitar (which is a lot), I can track and make eye contact with the singer in the other room. Way cool.

[Mike Caffrey]

Originally Posted by chris carter

I think it depends on how much isolation you have between the control room and the tracking room. If you have decent isolation, then it wouldn't bother me at all to be off to the side. BUT, if the isolation isn't that great, it could make things like tracking drums a little problematic. You could hear everything balanced in the monitors but also hear the boom boom boom from the kick through the wall/window off to your left causing you to feel like your kick is pulled slightly to the left and you might run around adjusting your room mics for the wrong reasons. Then you try to mix and you're like "WTF my room mics are totally off center!"

If it's really that bad, you can check it on a test playback before you start to track.

[octatonic]

I have my back to the live room.

I prefer it- I don't like having people look at me when I am working and I find singers relax if people aren't glaring at them through the glass.

Also, I sit on a big blue ball so it is easy to turn around.

[Faderjockey]

I like it to the side best... If I'm looking that way I already have my tones... I don't need to sit in front of the speakers if I'm doing vocals or whatever..

But when tracking bands... I don't look out there much.. It's usually gtr, scratch vocal coming from my control room so those guys need to look out there more then me and they aren't looking over my shoulder.

Back in the day I liked to face the window.. But in todays times with big LCD screen and big monitors it's hard to see around that stuff.. So my joint has my live room to my left and a smaller ISO room to my right and a little vocal booth behind me..

So I'm in the middle..

[filthyrich]

I think I might be convinced. It looks like I have my weekend project. Do most people construct their own window or just buy one?

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by filthyrich

I have a 16 long X 10 ish' rectangular room to mix in. The problem is that the most convenient way to do it is to mix with the speakers facing away from my live room.

You'll do best (acoustically) to have the speakers fire the longer way down the room. If that puts the window into the other room off to the side, no big deal. And if you don't even have a window yet, maybe consider a video camera and small monitor. That will cost less than installing a window, possibly avoid having a window at a reflection point, and also avoid sound leakage through the window and window seal.

--Ethan

[filthyrich]

Thanks again Ethan,
Yeah, I have already considered doing a flat wall monitor on both sides of the wall and 2 cheap 1-way security cameras. Plus, I can record the session for the drummer on vhs or some digital medium.

I'm up in the air on the window/monitor thing; but I'm sure I'm going to move my desk to the better mix position.

[Jonboy79]

I'd think that the best place to have your desk in your mix room is wherever your acoustics are the best. Sure it's nice to see the talent but really isn't your mix position more important than being able to see everything?

[Dan]

The video monitor has the added advantage of being able to position the camera, so you can actually see more clearly than a window. And of course you can put the monitor where it's comfortable. BTW, what's a 1-way camera? Is there such a thing as a 2-way camera?

[filthyrich]

BTW, what's a 1-way camera? Is there such a thing as a 2-way camera?

Nope. I'm dumb.

[CommunityMart]

Equally important is the ability to close this view off (drapes or whatever) in case the 'tallent' is shy and performs better when they feel they aren't being watched.

That would suck if you installed the window, and every performer wanted the drapes closed.

I just that means your (1)good and (2) creepy.

Good luck with setting the window in and stuff.

[Drumsound]

My window is to my left and I love it that way. I don't like the performers to think that some guy is watching them as they perform. If I need to have eye contact I just look to the left. I'm also in a long rectangular room so I wanted to monitors to point towards the long part.

Here's a really old picture...

[Glenn Kuras]

At one time I had a place with a window and thought trying to work without one would suck. Now I do not have one and don't miss it at all. Well only when the talk back stops working.

Glenn

[PhilE]

I for one dont like the window being in front of me at the console- I a window to the side- thats how it is at all my fave rooms when I think about it... ho hum- window out in front this week!

[carival]

Originally Posted by Jonboy79

I'd think that the best place to have your desk in your mix room is wherever your acoustics are the best. Sure it's nice to see the talent but really isn't your mix position more important than being able to see everything?

Jonboy79 speaks the truth. Do you want to work harder, or less hard to know what you're hearing? The behavior of your room should mostly determine where you and your stuff should be placed, providing you're more concerned with what things sound like than what they look like. I had a window in front of me that viewed my live room at my old studio for ten years. The curtains were closed the whole time. The window in front of me in my new studio views trees outside. When your clients question the rebel setup, just ask them if they need to see you to be able to play their music. If it's not a commercial room, you should set it up however works best for you.

[NuSkoolTone]

I have a similar situation for an upcoming home (1 car garage) build I want to do. Behind me I'll have glass doors (Most likely) and that's where some tracking will happen.

I though perhaps a BIG mirror in front of me behind the monitors could be a solution?

That way we would have communication for Tracking. Then for Mixing I figure I have some drapes/curtains in front of it I could pull to kill the Mirror's reflections. (Plus who wants to stare at themselves all day!?)

I figure that's cheaper and less bulky than a 2 camera/TV setup. I've also never felt a camera staring at you was good for the vibe anyhow.

[peat]

the studio i work in
the console is turned 180 degrees from where you would usually have it
so if you are sitting at the console looking forward
your back is to the window and the live room

its a pretty sweet setup
except i find i spend a bit of time sitting sideways
this is ok once you have everything set up and images correctly set up

although i find when im mixing i tend to mix the left channel a bit louder than the right as i am sitting further away from it
the computer screen is also off the the right of the console
oh well
im working on that

[Baddo]

Originally Posted by Tony Shepperd

Check out Russ Berger designed rooms.
A lot them don't face the live room.
This is a a picture of a Russ Berger design: Paragon Studios in Nashville.

wow, that's my dream studio.