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My New Studio Build (perhaps overly detailed)

#1,381
Traditional triac based light dimmers are a source of noise that can affect all your electronics as John Sayer stated. They should be avoided. As should fluorescent lighting, some motors, compressors, etc.


A variac is one solution, and yes new ones are pretty expensive. Another option is to have adjustable LED based DC lighting. This assumes that the power supply is good for studio work and isn't throwing off noise.

I use a 3PN series portable variac: Portable Variac Variable Transformers. It is a 12A model: Invalid Link Removed. There is also a 10A model in the same series: Invalid Link Removed. I use it to set the line voltage when I'm working on amps. References voltages on schematics are at a set line voltage, such as 120VAC. Vintage amps are often designed to operate at 110, 115, or 118 VAC. So having a variac that allows you set the voltage according to the specification is necessary.

If you plug a vintage tube amp into 120 or 125 VAC and the power supplies were designed to operate at lower levels, the voltages in the amp are going to be higher. This strains the power supply but it also affects the amp's performance. This is where having a variac is handy. Unfortunately, tube amp bias voltage depends on the line voltage. So if the bias was set at 120VAC and you lower the supply to 115VAC, the bias should be checked and it might need to be adjusted for optimum performance. Other equipment goes onto the regulated clean power lines. This is an example of a nice power supply unit:Invalid Link RemovedInvalid Link Removed. It allows you to set a rock solid voltage and the line frequency. Angus Young of AC/DC uses one of these units to set his Marshall amps at 236VAC. He finds this is optimal for his sound. He also has the budget to cover equipment like this. :laugh:

EDIT: Changed the Kikusui power supply link.
 
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#1,383
beans-on-toast said:
A variac is one solution, and yes new ones are pretty expensive. Another option is to have adjustable LED based DC lighting. This assumes that the power supply is good for studio work and isn't throwing off noise.
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I considered this as well, but...

I know the wiring inside the studio is good. I know the sub-panel is good. That said, I know that everything in my house, which is where the main panel that's feeding the sub-panel lives, has a tendency to be pretty buzzy. I have no idea as to the quality of the overhead line that's feeding the house from the street. Ultimately there are a lot of variables at work here that had me rule out that option. It might work brilliantly, or it might be a waste of time and money. I'm not terribly comfortable with playing that particular guessing game.
 
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#1,385
silky smoove said:
I considered this as well, but...

I know the wiring inside the studio is good. I know the sub-panel is good. That said, I know that everything in my house, which is where the main panel that's feeding the sub-panel lives, has a tendency to be pretty buzzy. I have no idea as to the quality of the overhead line that's feeding the house from the street. Ultimately there are a lot of variables at work here that had me rule out that option. It might work brilliantly, or it might be a waste of time and money. I'm not terribly comfortable with playing that particular guessing game.
Click to expand...

If there are transformers on the street that are faulty, they can be a source of noise. Sometimes you can hear street light fixtures buzzing at night. The power company can address that. If there is a local ham radio operator, they can have an issue that can be corrected. Someone welding can cause noise. There are many possibilities in the area that can generate noise, it doesn’t have to be on your property.

An RF detector can help identify noise in the neighborhood. This can be as simple as an AM radio tuned between stations. If you stand under a street transformer and hear a lot of noise out the speaker, the power company may be able to repair the problem.
 
#1,386
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#1,387
beans-on-toast said:
It looks like a good unit. It also comes with a high price. 300W/120V= 2.5A. The price isn’t much less than the portable 10A Staco one. I don’t see any UL/CSA regulatory labels on their product. It may be manufactured from parts.

There are a number of good quality US made used variacs on ebay at affordable prices.
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I spoke with the manufacturer on the phone. Interesting character. He definitely knew his stuff. The kicker with this is that he appears to be the only one making these in old work boxes so that they can be flush mounted on a wall like a typical light switch. Everyone else seems just to just have a standalone variac that needs to be stuffed into a box of some sort. His approach is the only one that, to me, looks like a finished product when installed, and not just some mad scientist knob stuffed into a wall with a random looking plate on it.

I like the idea of having everything integrated, but I'm also still considering having a separate light fixture(s) as the mood lighting setting. My wife suggested 1-2 overhead hanging lights as an option. Something with a vintage style filament LED bulb for a cool aesthetic. It's a good idea. Not as polished as having everything integrated, but... we'll see where this goes...
 
#1,388
I’ve worked with variacs built into metal wall cabinets but not one like RDCO is selling. It’s a good idea. I’d want regulatory agency certification for insurance reasons.

————-

Those vintage filament LED’s are so cool. It’s nice to have a focal point when you are thinking. There’s something to be said of highly polished. At the same time music done that way lacks character and soul.

You wife’s suggestion is good. I don’t think that I ‘ve ever seen a studio that didn’t have some personal touches to add mood or comfort. Her having a creative hand in the design process provides a connection. She’ll remember that it was her contribution that gave the studio the look.
 
#1,389
beans-on-toast said:
Her having a creative hand in the design process provides a connection. She’ll remember that it was her contribution that gave the studio the look.
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Indeed. She's much better in terms of aesthetic choices than I am. Any time I've had a thought about the final look of the space I've got her to weigh in. It's good to know where your skillsets land. Mine are definitely not visual. I'm great with spatial relationships, but the actual finish of those elements within the spatial relationship is where she gets the nod every time. Our tastes are very different, so often times I push back on her initial suggestions, but we usually end up somewhere that I enjoy a good bit more than I would have on my own.
 
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#1,390
beans-on-toast said:
I’d want regulatory agency certification for insurance reasons.
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Yep. The guy from that shop mentioned a few "off the shelf" versions of his products from Lumetron and Specialty Electronics, along with the shortcomings of them. His definitely seems to be the most well thought out, but you're right in that at least a UL certification would be nice to see.

beans-on-toast said:
Those vintage filament LED’s are so cool.
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Absolutely. I always used to see the incandescent version of them and wish there was a lower consumption version. Lo and behold there are now LED versions of them all over. Even Home Depot offers them now.
 
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#1,391
After poking around for different light fixtures I’ve decided that I don’t want a separate light (or lights) for the mood lighting setting. I’m going to risk it, buy some tracks that I think look good along with a Variac and hope it works out. Worst case scenario is that I have to go through a few different tracks to find a winner.
 
#1,392
One of perhaps a thousand decisions you will make!

Speaking of tracks, not lighting but music, for those interested in experimenting with a mix, the tracks for a song called Little Love have been made available for download here:

Invalid Link Removed

The tracks were created with the aid of ProTools, but for those that use Logic like I do, the audio files can be imported into Logic with one step. There are 58 tracks including a mixed and mastered track. The difference between the two are quite remarkable. Anyway, it's interesting to see how the song was put together. Also interesting to remix it and see what can be done.
 
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#1,393
BAH!!!! I’m flip flopping worse than an actual pair of flip flops :p

So now I’m thinking that the Variac is a bad idea in general, and that if I simply change the switching scheme for the lights in the studio (one light in the storage vestibule/entryway, and two pairs of tracks [one pair on each side of the vaulted ceiling peak]) I won’t need to worry about dimming.

Here’s my new thought:
  • Orient the track lights near the front wall away from the center of the room to prevent glare on the screen at the mix position, and to keep the room from being too bright. This will be on a dedicated switch.
  • Orient the track lights near the back wall in a split of towards the outer walls and towards the center of the room. This will allow for the back half of the room to be fully lit for setting up mics, wiring up gear, dialing in pedalboards, etc. This will be on a dedicated switch.
  • Put the storage vestibule light on a separate switch.
With this configuration I’ll be able to turn on the storage vestibule lighting to locate and put away gear, turn on all of the main room lighting to get setup, and then turn off the “back” track over the performer’s location to chill out the lighting, give it more mood, vibe, chill, etc., all while the “front” lights closer to the mix position will be lighting up the walls, but not shooting directly into the center of the room

I can do this without needing additional lights, without needing to buy a Variac that may or may not work well with the selected lighting, and will still allow me sufficient control over the light levels in the space. Worst case scenario is that I can add a Variac later in addition to this scheme if it doesn’t work out as well as I’d planned as a Variac can be added downstream of a switch without issue. I’m heading to Sodo (the “South of Downtown” industrial area here in Seattle) tomorrow morning to go to a specialty lighting store. I’m hoping to get some consultation as well as possibly picking out and buying fixtures if they have something I dig.
 
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#1,394
silky smoove said:
BAH!!!! I’m flip flopping worse than an actual pair of flip flops :p

So now I’m thinking that the Variac is a bad idea in general, and that if I simply change the switching scheme for the lights in the studio (one light in the storage vestibule/entryway, and two pairs of tracks [one pair on each side of the vaulted ceiling peak]) I won’t need to worry about dimming.

Here’s my new thought:
  • Orient the track lights near the front wall away from the center of the room to prevent glare on the screen at the mix position, and to keep the room from being too bright. This will be on a dedicated switch.
  • Orient the track lights near the back wall in a split of towards the outer walls and towards the center of the room. This will allow for the back half of the room to be fully lit for setting up mics, wiring up gear, dialing in pedalboards, etc. This will be on a dedicated switch.
  • Put the storage vestibule light on a separate switch.
With this configuration I’ll be able to turn on the storage vestibule lighting to locate and put away gear, turn on all of the main room lighting to get setup, and then turn off the “back” track over the performer’s location to chill out the lighting, give it more mood, vibe, chill, etc., all while the “front” lights closer to the mix position will be lighting up the walls, but not shooting directly into the center of the room

I can do this without needing additional lights, without needing to buy a Variac that may or may not work well with the selected lighting, and will still allow me sufficient control over the light levels in the space. Worst case scenario is that I can add a Variac later in addition to this scheme if it doesn’t work out as well as I’d planned as a Variac can be added downstream of a switch without issue. I’m heading to Sodo (the “South of Downtown” industrial area here in Seattle) tomorrow morning to go to a specialty lighting store. I’m hoping to get some consultation as well as possibly picking out and buying fixtures if they have something I dig.
Click to expand...
I like this idea. Simple and flexible.
 
#1,399
beans-on-toast said:
When you are at the speciality lighting store, there may be some nice phone app controllable light fixtures to check out. Each light can be controlled separately or grouped.
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Yep, they have these advertised. I like the idea of sitting at the mix desk and using my phone to switch off lights and staying on track with the session rather than interrupting it to go to the other end of the structure and fiddle with lights.
 
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