Walking Closet into Vocal Booth? (pics inside)

penz · 16th October 2006, 04:30 AM

I realize I have to deal with room acoustics to get a better vocal sound. My walking closet is the closest thing I've got to a booth so I might as well work with that, right? With the door closed there's a little verb and it sounds alright, but nothing flattering. I'd like to eliminate reflections and just do reverb in production, so I'm just looking for a pleasing dry signal. Pics don't show it but the floor is carpet. I'm willing to take everything out of the room if I have too. Suggestions?

[

Makinithappen · 16th October 2006, 04:41 AM

Auralex?

I don't know if I would want "a little verb" in a booth like that.

picksail · 16th October 2006, 05:17 AM

What is a 'walking' closet?

James Guitar · 16th October 2006, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by picksail

What is a 'walking' closet?

i think he means walk-in.
-J

Sqye · 16th October 2006, 06:05 AM

dudes, i'd pay good money to see a walking closet.

hey, at least it's not a talking closet.

Chuck B · 16th October 2006, 06:09 AM

I had some great success using a walk in closet as a vocal booth. I used two layers of 3/4 inch carpet padding on the walls and ceiling because at the time i was too broke for any sort of "studio foam". it worked great and it cost me about 50 dollars!

penz · 16th October 2006, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck B

I had some great success using a walk in closet as a vocal booth. I used two layers of 3/4 inch carpet padding on the walls and ceiling because at the time i was too broke for any sort of "studio foam". it worked great and it cost me about 50 dollars!

Thanks for the serious reply! Did you have anything else in there like clothes or was it empty?

numrologst · 16th October 2006, 07:38 AM

maybe you should use it as just an iso booth.

I have a closet at my studio that i converted into a iso booth... It's about 10x6... I wouldn't dream of recording a final vocal take in there. It's too dry and thing sounding. To make a room that small usable for tracking, there has to be alot of absorbtion going on. And at that point everything will sound so dead and lifeless.

But it is definately good to put a singer back there to play and sing while a drummer records in the live room. Don't get me wrong, the room comes in handy and gets regular use, but not for a real vocal take.

Sometimes I will put a guitar amp back there for a dry effect, but thats it.

As an aside, at my old studio, we had a beautiful booth. Maple floors, asymmetrical walls-ceiling-floor... It was about 10x10x12... I still hated it, everything sounded super thin.

Now I just record everything in the live room

gainreduction · 16th October 2006, 09:25 AM

If you wanna record good vocals in there, make sure you have good air-supply/exhaust.

A singer fades fast without oxygen.

soundawg · 16th October 2006, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gainreduction

If you wanna record good vocals in there, make sure you have good air-supply/exhaust.

A singer fades fast without oxygen.

Here Here!

I Used to have a Voc Booth made from a walk-in, dimentions = 8x8x8... but we could only last about 15-20 min in there. In the end it ended up being a - uh - walk in closet.

Soundawg

gsilbers · 16th October 2006, 08:32 PM

Danm , i was expceting to see a walking closet and how it could fit in a booth

Chuck B · 16th October 2006, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penz

Thanks for the serious reply! Did you have anything else in there like clothes or was it empty?

nothing else was in there when i did it but some fluffy sweaters could only help the absorption. just don't put any dry-cleaned ( starched ) shirts in there or you'll get a mean flutter echo.
chuck

penz · 17th October 2006, 03:13 PM

Crash · 17th October 2006, 05:12 PM

Pack it full of clothes. I have had to use a small closet, smaller than what you have there, and had pretty good results. The difference is mine was absolutely crammed with clothes on the rods. I put up packing blankets on the bare walls. It worked out pretty well.

penz · 20th October 2006, 05:36 PM

Alright, I'm gonna go the carpet route!

Does anyone know what type of carpet gives the most balance absorption of bass and treble frequencies?

Chuck B · 20th October 2006, 05:41 PM

I would use carpet padding instead of carpet. it's much cheaper and softer. I would assume that it absorbs the high frequencies better than carpet. my 2 pennies.
chuck

mtstudi@pacbell · 20th October 2006, 05:46 PM

For a cheap solution, foam from markertek, and the reflection filter from SE Electronics.

To do it properly I would get some 2X4 sheets of 4 inch rigid fiberglass cover it with nice burlap, and attach to walls and ceiling, with no space between. You don't want any natural reflection coming from that space. You could use the 1 inch rigid fiberglass if vocals is all you plan do to.

www.bluethumbproductions.com

centurymantra · 20th October 2006, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sqye

hey, at least it's not a talking closet.

For information on this, please refer to the current "Ghost in the Studio" thread...

4stringerfinger · 23rd November 2006, 01:09 AM

I use our fuctional master closet for an ISO. It is chock full of clothes on all the rods (even modded to add a 3rd tier at top ala vaulted ceiling.) The clothes are a natural deflection material. I can have a singer or tube combo in there and you can't hear it in the living room. My son can sleep at night and I can practice, record whatever without issues. My girlfriend can hear the TV without turning up the surround. I'll post pics tomorrow. When its not an ISO room it is a closet. Dual feature. Practical.

Acoustic Cloud · 23rd November 2006, 06:24 AM

MAN!!!
That closet is a goldmine!! Treat the heck out of it, with permanent or temporary stuff. People pay a 2-5 thousand dollars for a whisper room, (which aint worth it) to try to block outside noises from reaching a mic with acoustic instruments and singers.

You have a built in one!!!

And no, no small rooms acoustics are worth using, IMO. Keep it dead, you dont want to hear any "small room"...unless you are going for the lo-fi bedroom sound.

Thats a cool closet..... you wanna sell it?!?!

If its a walking closet, have it mosey on over here!

excellrec · 23rd November 2006, 11:46 AM

I predict a thread entitled "All of my vocals sound like they were recorded in a closet, any suggestions?".

tomdarude · 23rd November 2006, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by excellrec

I predict a thread entitled "All of my vocals sound like they were recorded in a closet, any suggestions?".

480L/PCM91/EMT-140 plate (solidstate)/Altiverb/Sony DRE777

u b k · 24th November 2006, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penz

Suggestions?

i suggest buying some clothes that aren't black or grey.

gregoire
del
ubk
.

H-Rezz · 24th November 2006, 04:45 AM

You guys are cruel

4stringerfinger · 24th November 2006, 06:46 PM

This is my ISO closet.

4stringerfinger · 24th November 2006, 06:52 PM

Yea, that's one of them clothing store extendo sticks. We installed a third tier that required quite a reach and luckily we have a commercial fixture store in town.

el cochino · 24th November 2006, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4stringerfinger

Yea, that's one of them clothing store extendo sticks. We installed a third tier that required quite a reach and luckily we have a commercial fixture store in town.

Damn, you got everything in there - clothes, shoes, toilet paper, lube...

4stringerfinger · 24th November 2006, 07:00 PM

I cut a piece of plywood, glued carpet on it and use it on a furniture dolly to move amps in and out of the ISO booth.

MattiMattMatt · 24th November 2006, 11:02 PM

That's a combination of

cool

vs.

too much information.

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16th October 2006, 04:30 AM	#1
penz Gear nut Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 97	Walking Closet into Vocal Booth? (pics inside) I realize I have to deal with room acoustics to get a better vocal sound. My walking closet is the closest thing I've got to a booth so I might as well work with that, right? With the door closed there's a little verb and it sounds alright, but nothing flattering. I'd like to eliminate reflections and just do reverb in production, so I'm just looking for a pleasing dry signal. Pics don't show it but the floor is carpet. I'm willing to take everything out of the room if I have too. Suggestions? [

16th October 2006, 04:41 AM	#2
Makinithappen Gear addict Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hot Louis (Nellyville) Posts: 499	Auralex? I don't know if I would want "a little verb" in a booth like that. __________________ http://www.jupiterstudios.net/ The hours are long, but at least the pay sucks!

16th October 2006, 05:17 AM	#3
picksail Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Hollywood Posts: 3,314	What is a 'walking' closet? __________________ Stewart Cararas Seventh Level Productions Myspace Profile Discogs _________________________________ The new is necessarily abstract - Rudolf Borchadt

16th October 2006, 06:05 AM	#5
Sqye Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: undergound railroad Posts: 6,928	dudes, i'd pay good money to see a walking closet. hey, at least it's not a talking closet. __________________ Sqye (sky) *wired planet new music CREDITS link directly above ipod player *wired planet *fallen planet "he who is the author of a war lets loose the whole contagion of hell and opens a vein that bleeds a nation to death" .... Thomas Paine

16th October 2006, 06:09 AM	#6
Chuck B Gear nut Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: chicago Posts: 143	I had some great success using a walk in closet as a vocal booth. I used two layers of 3/4 inch carpet padding on the walls and ceiling because at the time i was too broke for any sort of "studio foam". it worked great and it cost me about 50 dollars!

16th October 2006, 07:38 AM	#8
numrologst Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,894	maybe you should use it as just an iso booth. I have a closet at my studio that i converted into a iso booth... It's about 10x6... I wouldn't dream of recording a final vocal take in there. It's too dry and thing sounding. To make a room that small usable for tracking, there has to be alot of absorbtion going on. And at that point everything will sound so dead and lifeless. But it is definately good to put a singer back there to play and sing while a drummer records in the live room. Don't get me wrong, the room comes in handy and gets regular use, but not for a real vocal take. Sometimes I will put a guitar amp back there for a dry effect, but thats it. As an aside, at my old studio, we had a beautiful booth. Maple floors, asymmetrical walls-ceiling-floor... It was about 10x10x12... I still hated it, everything sounded super thin. Now I just record everything in the live room

16th October 2006, 09:25 AM	#9
gainreduction Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,648	If you wanna record good vocals in there, make sure you have good air-supply/exhaust. A singer fades fast without oxygen.

16th October 2006, 08:32 PM	#11
gsilbers Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,361	Danm , i was expceting to see a walking closet and how it could fit in a booth

17th October 2006, 03:13 PM	#13
penz Gear nut Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 97

17th October 2006, 05:12 PM	#14
Crash Lives for gear Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Antonio Texas Posts: 987	Pack it full of clothes. I have had to use a small closet, smaller than what you have there, and had pretty good results. The difference is mine was absolutely crammed with clothes on the rods. I put up packing blankets on the bare walls. It worked out pretty well.

20th October 2006, 05:36 PM	#15
penz Gear nut Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 97	Alright, I'm gonna go the carpet route! Does anyone know what type of carpet gives the most balance absorption of bass and treble frequencies?

20th October 2006, 05:41 PM	#16
Chuck B Gear nut Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: chicago Posts: 143	I would use carpet padding instead of carpet. it's much cheaper and softer. I would assume that it absorbs the high frequencies better than carpet. my 2 pennies. chuck

20th October 2006, 05:46 PM	#17
mtstudi@pacbell Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Burbank, CA Posts: 887	For a cheap solution, foam from markertek, and the reflection filter from SE Electronics. To do it properly I would get some 2X4 sheets of 4 inch rigid fiberglass cover it with nice burlap, and attach to walls and ceiling, with no space between. You don't want any natural reflection coming from that space. You could use the 1 inch rigid fiberglass if vocals is all you plan do to. www.bluethumbproductions.com

23rd November 2006, 01:09 AM	#19
4stringerfinger Gear maniac Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Space City, TX Posts: 240	I use our fuctional master closet for an ISO. It is chock full of clothes on all the rods (even modded to add a 3rd tier at top ala vaulted ceiling.) The clothes are a natural deflection material. I can have a singer or tube combo in there and you can't hear it in the living room. My son can sleep at night and I can practice, record whatever without issues. My girlfriend can hear the TV without turning up the surround. I'll post pics tomorrow. When its not an ISO room it is a closet. Dual feature. Practical.

23rd November 2006, 06:24 AM	#20
Acoustic Cloud Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: around the corner Posts: 1,964	MAN!!! That closet is a goldmine!! Treat the heck out of it, with permanent or temporary stuff. People pay a 2-5 thousand dollars for a whisper room, (which aint worth it) to try to block outside noises from reaching a mic with acoustic instruments and singers. You have a built in one!!! And no, no small rooms acoustics are worth using, IMO. Keep it dead, you dont want to hear any "small room"...unless you are going for the lo-fi bedroom sound. Thats a cool closet..... you wanna sell it?!?! If its a walking closet, have it mosey on over here! __________________ If the Earth wasnt created, where'd all the dirt come from?

23rd November 2006, 11:46 AM	#21
excellrec Gear maniac Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: minneapolis Posts: 226	I predict a thread entitled "All of my vocals sound like they were recorded in a closet, any suggestions?".

24th November 2006, 04:45 AM	#24
H-Rezz Lives for gear Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,368	You guys are cruel Attached Thumbnails

24th November 2006, 06:46 PM	#25
4stringerfinger Gear maniac Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Space City, TX Posts: 240	This is my ISO closet. Attached Thumbnails

24th November 2006, 06:52 PM	#26
4stringerfinger Gear maniac Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Space City, TX Posts: 240	Yea, that's one of them clothing store extendo sticks. We installed a third tier that required quite a reach and luckily we have a commercial fixture store in town. Attached Thumbnails

24th November 2006, 07:00 PM	#28
4stringerfinger Gear maniac Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Space City, TX Posts: 240	I cut a piece of plywood, glued carpet on it and use it on a furniture dolly to move amps in and out of the ISO booth. Attached Thumbnails

24th November 2006, 11:02 PM	#29
MattiMattMatt Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 881	That's a combination of cool vs. too much information.