4x4x7 Vocal Booth, possible?

[lucasmusic]

I've purchased Auralex foam from a Auralex dealers suggestion and Im still getting a boxy sound especially seems the lower the voices. The walls and ceilings are like 87% covered with 2 inch foam but Im still getting a bit of the boxy effect, is there something that could kill that? I sit in my car which is very small and it actually sounds great in there. Is it the glass? Would getting some plexi glass in there help? Suggestions I really gotta make this work if i can.

[Jens Eklund]

Originally Posted by lucasmusic

I've purchased Auralex foam from a Auralex dealers suggestion and Im still getting a boxy sound especially seems the lower the voices. The walls and ceilings are like 87% covered with 2 inch foam but Im still getting a bit of the boxy effect, is there something that could kill that? I sit in my car which is very small and it actually sounds great in there. Is it the glass? Would getting some plexi glass in there help? Suggestions I really gotta make this work if i can.

The answer is very simple; a 2" velocity absorber is going to do very little below the midrange:

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/6280707-post37.html


Oh, and a car usually has limited modal issues due to the lossy boundary conditions.

Oh, another edit: 4 x 4 (feet, I guess) is very VERY small ... I just designed a 2 x 2 x 2,4 (meter) booth and I thought that would be tricky but it worked out very well by using velocity based absorbers (5-6”) only on the upper half of the walls and in the center of the ceiling. The lower part of the walls and sides of the ceiling was covered with pressure based absorbers.

[lucasmusic]

So, throw some bass traps in there?

[Jens Eklund]

Originally Posted by lucasmusic

So, throw some bass traps in there?

Yes.

If only vocals, you only need to worry about the range above approx. 60-70 Hz.

[lucasmusic]

I'm doing acoustic guitar and vocals. So you would suggest maybe putting bass traps along the top corners and lower (below the waist) along the side walls?

[Jens Eklund]

Originally Posted by lucasmusic

I'm doing acoustic guitar and vocals. So you would suggest maybe putting bass traps along the top corners and lower (below the waist) along the side walls?

You place treatment where it needs to be in order to be effective. Trace your most troublesome modes and place absorbers accordingly.

[lucasmusic]

its hard for me to discern where exactly the problem is coming from because its so small in there, but it seems like frequencies in the 250khz down to 50hz really contribute to the problem. It sounds like its happening in the top corners and towards the bottom of the booth. like its collecting in those areas. Would something like Auralex cornerfill on the top sides help? Auralex 4" CornerFill (Charcoal) | Sweetwater.com

[Starlight]

Hi lucasmusic. I am not sure how much you have studied acoustics for your studio but one thing to bear in mind is the wisdom of John Brandt who warns (here), "DON’T record your final vocal in a booth! If you do, it will always sound like you did it in a little booth or box ... Always record your ’star’ vocal track in a room of at least 1500 cubic feet."

4x4x7 is a mere 112 cubic feet, not even 10% of the recommended minimum size. The amount of trapping to manage the bass in your booth means I don't think you will all get in there: you, your guitar, mic, acoustic treatment and oxygen.

[Jens Eklund]

Originally Posted by Starlight

DON’T record your final vocal in a booth!

+1

/Jens

[Jens Eklund]

Originally Posted by lucasmusic

Would something like Auralex cornerfill on the top sides help? Auralex 4" CornerFill (Charcoal) | Sweetwater.com

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/6789367-post2.html

[Glenn Kuras]

I would cover the every inch of the walls with 4" panels made from rigid fiberglass and if possible straddle 4" panels in the upper corners where the wall and ceiling meet. I also agree with avoiding a small booth all together if possible.

[lucasmusic]

Well Im just trying to get the deadest most dry sound I can (adding reverb and delays later in the mixing).

[Tom Higgins]

Originally Posted by lucasmusic

Well Im just trying to get the deadest most dry sound I can (adding reverb and delays later in the mixing).

Effectively, you've already made your booth sound dead/dry at HF. You've been experiencing problems with bass. Follow the advice and use bass trapping so the booth is more even.

Conversely, most of the time it is recommended to set up your mic in a larger (treated) room.