My New Studio Build (perhaps overly detailed)

[cultrvultr]

Fun spot to have rehearsals. I am using the EV version of those mini column PA and it sounds great. Now that you are having rehearsals in there, you are going to need a mini fridge for some beer!

 

[silky smoove]

Continued furnishing of the studio space to make it more user-friendly during rehearsals, but also when recording as well.

I added four of these Fender Custom Shop bar stools. They’re great for playing guitar since they don’t have arms and have a high place to set your feet. Plus they swivel without making any noise, which is a major bonus when recording.

A hydration station to keep me from running back in my house every time a bandmate or client says “Can I get a glass of water?”

I added a small eight channel snake box (some call this a stage snake, but I think that refers to a different type of product entirely... but I’m not a live sound guy, so I’m probably wrong on all counts, haha). This was to simplify plugging everyone into the PA since the mixer sits on top of my studio rack. Now I can connect everyone to this and the other end is permanently connected to the mixer as seen in the second of these pictures. Makes getting setup much faster and cleaner.

Lastly... It’s the little things. Our lead guitar / trumpet player needed to plug in her pedalboard the other night and it occurred to me that not only was the nearest outlet fully occupied, but I was also out of power strips. It’s not until you furnish a studio that you realize how many little odds and ends you still need to buy!

 

[Carl Hillman]

Did you get one of these to put in the foyer?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Probably totally unnecessary, but I always thought it would be cool to have one.

 

[Stumbo]

A hydration station to keep me from running back in my house every time a bandmate or client says “Can I get a glass of water?”
View attachment 3535232

Everything looks cool and functional.

Kinda dangerous to have partially filled cups on amps and cabs and such.

I suggest a small refrigerator with bottles of water. Some of those tiny 6oz ones are pretty handy.

That way the tops can be put back on.

Just sayin'.

 

[beans-on-toast]

A hydration station to keep me from running back in my house every time a bandmate or client says “Can I get a glass of water?”

Phase 2 of the studio complex.

 

[silky smoove]

Did you get one of these to put in the foyer?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Probably totally unnecessary, but I always thought it would be cool to have one.

I thought about it when I was building, but decided it was unnecessary. Agreed they'd be cool.

Kinda dangerous to have partially filled cups on amps and cabs and such.

I'm not worried about it. My studio isn't open to the general public (i.e. I'm not treating it as a business where I'll sell my engineering services to just anyone), and everyone that comes in I trust. If a little water gets spilled it won't be a big deal, and if something serious happens I trust everyone to cover it.

I suggest a small refrigerator with bottles of water. Some of those tiny 6oz ones are pretty handy.

Refrigerators are among the worst offenders for electrical noise in a studio setting, not to mention the acoustic noise of the compressor motor running. Sonically I don't want a refrigerator anywhere near my studio space. Additionally, I do not support the use of single-use plastic containers at all, so I would never go down that route. The only time I use them is if I'm stuck somewhere without a better option. The airport after passing through security is the most likely offender.

Phase 2 of the studio complex.

View attachment 3535365

That's where I'll be when I decide I'm sick of all this studio nonsense, haha.

 

[JeroB666]

That's where I'll be when I decide I'm sick of all this studio nonsense, haha.

You can prob get at least 145 pages on that build

 

[silky smoove]

You can prob get at least 145 pages on that build

I'm not committing to anything over 120

 

[Inky13]

Phase 2 of the studio complex.

View attachment 3535365

That looks like a good place for a Hobbit to peruse the morning paper.

 

[silky smoove]

Trying out some drum mic strategies for the first time in the space. Starting out with a spaced pair. I’ll try XY using a mic protractor next and then move on to Glyn Johns. I’m guessing XY will win for the ease of setup and phase coherency.

Spaced pair shown here with the overheads placed 54” above the snare. It yielded a pretty balanced sound across the kit. Placing them lower would increase cymbal focus, which is a sound I really only like in live applications and in modern rock/metal.

SM57 rim mounted on each tom and the snare top. SM7B on the snare side of the snare. Beta52a on the kick. Stereo matched Oktava MC-012 each on the hihats and ride, and then subsequently muted in the DAW, haha. Stereo matched pair of true to vintage spec Neumann U87 clones (the original model, not the newer U87ai model that I’ve always found harsh). Cheap, but oddly good sounding, MXL R144 ribbon mic placed about 8’ away from the kit with the top of the capsule aligned with the tops of the tallest cymbals to capture the room sound.

First results were good. Very controlled. Room mic added a nice ambience. Revealed how great my Mapex Black Panther Wraith snare sounds and how poorly my bass drum is tuned.

 

[IconBasser]

that's a hell of a gorgeous setup you've got there, it's awesome to see everything up and functioning at last.

Post some sound clips!

 

[silky smoove]

Post some sound clips!

Only once I’m happy with the results. Still learning the room and these new drum mics.

 

[Door County Bass]

Only once I’m happy with the results. Still learning the room and these new drum mics.

If everything sounds as good as the studio looks, then it’s time to smile and get on with business.

As a faithful follower, I’d like to offer my congratulations and say “Job well done”.

Voltaire was credited with the following: Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.

 

[silky smoove]

Voltaire was credited with the following: Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.

An expression I’m fond of using. With all due credit to Voltaire, I’m not quite to good yet. Except for the snare. The snare sounds awesome

 

[silky smoove]

The room is lively enough that my usual 24” out from the grill bass mic preference was a little too reverberant. I had to compromise between deader for mixing and livelier for drum sounds. Such is the trade off with mixed use spaces. Tomorrow I’ll try recording again closer to the grill and see how it goes. The DI still sounded lovely

 

[silky smoove]

Trying out XY overheads rather than spaced pairs (AB) today. I also switched from LDCs to SDCs. I’m really torn on this setup. XY yields a sound with limited phase coherency issues and is very “realistic” sounding. It’s also much easier to setup correctly compared to a spaced pair. The sacrifice is that the stereo image with XY is narrower than AB. When combined with close mics planned accordingly it spreads out just fine, except for the hihats and ride, which feel more centered than I’d like. It’s a great sound, and I definitely prefer my SDCs to my LDCs for overheads, but I’m missing the stereo spread.

 

[Carl Hillman]

Go AB with the SDCs and stick this guy behind the kit!

He only costs 8 and a half large.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Perhaps room mics can help.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[silky smoove]

Go AB with the SDCs and stick this guy behind the kit!

He only costs 8 and a half large.

View attachment 3538687

I’ve never seen that one before. Designed to mimic ORTF response I’m guessing...?

Perhaps room mics can help.

Invalid Link Removed

I have a room mic up, but it’s not a stereo setup. Fittingly enough I ordered a pair of SDCs and male mic flanges to build a permanently installed room mic’ing setup above the sound door. I’ve seen Simon Phillips use this type of setup, although he does it with a pair of SM7Bs. I’m going to see how it goes. Should provide nice ambience options for things other than drums as well. All that said, I’m sure I’ll vary between XY, AB, MS and ORTF setups depending on the session.

 

[callofcthulhu]

Do yourself a favor and try this variation on Glyn Johns invented by "Recorderman."

The Recorder Man Drum Miking Technique — Jon Stinson