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Single Speaker for recording

NKUSigEp

NKUSigEp

Supporting Member
Jun 6, 2006
5,232
208
Bright, IN
#1
Kicking around the idea of building a single 12" speaker box for recording. I'm thinking about maybe an isolation box so you can put a mic in and close a lid -any recommendations or has anyone had any success doing this?

I'm just tired of lugging my cabinets up and down a NARROW staircase (cabinet is 22.5" wide, staircase is just over 23"!!!!) to record.

:help:
 
#2
NKUSigEp said:
Kicking around the idea of building a single 12" speaker box for recording. I'm thinking about maybe an isolation box so you can put a mic in and close a lid -any recommendations or has anyone had any success doing this?

I'm just tired of lugging my cabinets up and down a NARROW staircase (cabinet is 22.5" wide, staircase is just over 23"!!!!) to record.

:help:
Click to expand...

I had great success using a small sealed box with a nondescript 12" speaker using a close mic with baffles around it to stop leakage into the drum mics. But that was at low volume on the amps and everything monitored through headphones. In fact that was how the old rock records were recorded. My cabinet was about 18"x18"x12" deep made from 1/2" plywood and stuffed with fiberglass insulation. There was absolutely no engineering involved. It recorded beautifully driven by an Ampeg B15 head and sometimes a 50 watt Bassman head. I also used a little Polytone MiniBrute II combo that was just as good.

I know that a couple companies have tried making boxes such as you describe but none of them made it on the market for long. One of the Nashville session players was reported to use one but I don't know if he still does. And Bassplayer magazine some years ago did an article on one where they built a cabinet inside a cabinet. The whole setup was huge and the idea a bit ridiculous when it can be done just as well with one simple box. I don't know if it's worth the trouble when you can just mic up a good small cabinet-as long as you can baffle it off in the studio. One demo studio I used to record at for paying sessions was up a flight of stairs. They had no baffles so I stuck my amp in an isolation booth (actually the coffee machine room) and miced it up. It worked fine. Soon after I talked the owner into building some baffles for his main room and that did the trick.

But do a search and look at what was tried. I think SWR tried it and maybe IAmp, although my memory is fuzzy on that.

I find a single speaker, a 12" was ideal, and no tweeter works the best. But for a cabinet with a mic inside maybe go to an 8" speaker.

But a 23" staircase! That must break any fire code.
 
#7
A friend of mine brought one of these isolation cabs over the other day to show me. It was DOA and wouldn't fire up for some reason but interesting non the less. It was for guitar and had a 5-6" speaker. I thought he paid waaaaay too much for it. oh yea... and the mic couldn't be repositioned either!

This all got me to thinking about building a better version for myself.

First job was to figure out the box. I'm pretty broke so I spied a nice old anvil case sitting here and thought that it looked like the perfect size to fit a speaker into.

Next I thought that the best speaker size would be a 12" because I want to record bass as well as guitar and I have a pretty big selection of 12's laying around ( JBL, Fane, EV, Texas Heat Eminence, CTS, Eminence Delta... lots of stuff)

I think I could build the speaker baffle inside the box to be easily reposistionable in order to change the "cabinet" volume behind the speaker by using slots built into the side of the box. Simply slide the baffle with the speaker mounted to it into the next slot forward or back.

Flex goose neck for the mic.

Roxul 2" insulation panel covering the entire interior.

The anvil case I have has a flip top lid and is 28" long x 19" wide x 16" tall.

The only trick would be to prevent the movable baffle from vibrating. Any thoughts? maybe I'll line the channel it slides into with rubber.
 
#9
bottomend! said:
A friend of mine brought one of these isolation cabs over the other day to show me. It was DOA and wouldn't fire up for some reason but interesting non the less. It was for guitar and had a 5-6" speaker. I thought he paid waaaaay too much for it. oh yea... and the mic couldn't be repositioned either!

This all got me to thinking about building a better version for myself.

First job was to figure out the box. I'm pretty broke so I spied a nice old anvil case sitting here and thought that it looked like the perfect size to fit a speaker into.

Next I thought that the best speaker size would be a 12" because I want to record bass as well as guitar and I have a pretty big selection of 12's laying around ( JBL, Fane, EV, Texas Heat Eminence, CTS, Eminence Delta... lots of stuff)

I think I could build the speaker baffle inside the box to be easily reposistionable in order to change the "cabinet" volume behind the speaker by using slots built into the side of the box. Simply slide the baffle with the speaker mounted to it into the next slot forward or back.

Flex goose neck for the mic.

Roxul 2" insulation panel covering the entire interior.

The anvil case I have has a flip top lid and is 28" long x 19" wide x 16" tall.

The only trick would be to prevent the movable baffle from vibrating. Any thoughts? maybe I'll line the channel it slides into with rubber.
Click to expand...

That sounds interesting...like ya said, I'd be concerned with vibrations and even wind dynamics - in a closed box like that a mic is gonna pick up everything including leaks where air is escaping.
 
#11
NKUSigEp said:
That sounds interesting...like ya said, I'd be concerned with vibrations and even wind dynamics - in a closed box like that a mic is gonna pick up everything including leaks where air is escaping.
Click to expand...

I've built a few engines for cars so I know I can seal something... oh wait! I cant seem to get that stupid roof to stop leaking over my mixing board!!!!
 

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