red bull studios: vocal booth made of acoustic blankets??

[thisisben]

hello everybody! i just found these pictures from the band LIT recording their new album at the red bull studios. now here's my question: i always thought those acoustic blankets were kind of useless. but in the pictures you can clearly see that the vocal booth is full of them. so was i wrong all the time? are acoustic blankets a good and cheap way to get a nice and dry sound? thanks! ben

[Jens Eklund]

Originally Posted by Jens Eklund

A rug (or any other thin porous absorber) will only absorb the highest frequency range and this is the reason it is usually avoided, at least very large areas of it like wall to wall -carpets.

Flooring question

/Jens

[audiothings]

That kind of 'treatment' is certainly not recommended, for the reason pointed out by Jens. That said, the low frequency reflections *might* actually make the voice sound more bassy, and this might be a desirable thing under the particular circumstance.

Keith Richards plays a guitar with only 5 strings.
Brian may plays with a 6 pence coin.
Bjork sings in the control room, with the mains on and no headphones, through a cheap hand held mic.
The drums for 'When the Levee Breaks' were recorded at the bottom of a stairwell.

Who can argue with what works?

[thisisben]

thanks very much for the responses! so if i desire a vocal sound with a little more bass those acoustic blankets wouldn't be a bad idea?

[audiothings]

Originally Posted by thisisben

thanks very much for the responses! so if i desire a vocal sound with a little more bass those acoustic blankets wouldn't be a bad idea?

Good acoustics will give you a predictable response. What happens when you go with unconventional methods is a matter of intuition, adaptation, and luck, in order of importance. Great records have been made under the most unrecommended circumstances... you *might* get lucky, but the other two components have to be earned...

[gullfo]

mostly you want to cut off slap echoes from hitting the mic. so hanging a heavy packing blanket (or pair) can help. pvc or wood frame is easy enough to make.

[boggy]

Originally Posted by gullfo

mostly you want to cut off slat echoes from hitting the mic. so hanging a heavy packing blanket (or pair) can help. pvc or wood frame is easy enough to make.

+1
Also, it's possible to use microphone stand (set-up which looks like letter "T") instead od wooden or pvc pipe construction.

[RANTARAVE]

thumbs up if you saw the skyline diffuser :D

[GENX]

Originally Posted by thisisben

are acoustic blankets a good and cheap way to get a nice and dry sound? thanks! ben

The short answer you are looking for is yes. See Gullfo's post for more reference.

[sftd]

Originally Posted by audiothings

That kind of 'treatment' is certainly not recommended, for the reason pointed out by Jens. That said, the low frequency reflections *might* actually make the voice sound more bassy, and this might be a desirable thing under the particular circumstance.

Keith Richards plays a guitar with only 5 strings.
Brian may plays with a 6 pence coin.
Bjork sings in the control room, with the mains on and no headphones, through a cheap hand held mic.
The drums for 'When the Levee Breaks' were recorded at the bottom of a stairwell.

Who can argue with what works?

You forgot to add "sometimes" when describing your examples.

Sent from my PC36100 using Gearslutz.com App

[Cegor]

@thisisben
Ironically I just finished an internship at the recording studio where Lit was wrapping up their album. Super nice guys. The studio in question is owned and ran by Matt Wallace (produced Faith No More & Maroon 5). Behind the moving blankets are tons and tons of other stuff for acoustic treatment. That is also studio b in the back rather than the main control room where he usually records his vocalist.

[Ray Sr.]

Originally Posted by Cegor

@thisisben
Behind the moving blankets are tons and tons of other stuff for acoustic treatment.

Not to mention the design of the studio. This was just my assumption.

[Cegor]

Originally Posted by Ray Sr.

Not to mention the design of the studio. This was just my assumption.

Yes, the studio is definitely designed very well

[Cegor]

Oh btw, this isn't Redbull Studios. Its actually Sound City