Setting up an in-house recording studio allows you to customize the setting to your own preferences. Quieting and soundproofing a room are the primary steps in converting that basement or unused bedroom for recording purposes. Knowing the basics not only makes this a doable project but also saves you time and money.
Instructions
1. Use a sound meter to identify nulls and standing waves in the room you have chosen. Determining acoustic issues before you start allows you to design remedies in from the beginning.
2. Soundproof the room by placing egg crate foam on all walls, ceilings and over windows. This helps control echoes and insulates sounds from coming in and getting out. Staple the foam or use drywall screws to secure it in place.
3. Quiet the room by placing equipment like computers into closets or the next room. This eliminates the sound of the fans from entering as background noise. Locate any items in the room that resonate with specific frequencies. Move the object or use tape or other materials to secure the offending item and remove the resonation.
4. Mount any wall equipment such as speakers and perform another resonance check. Speaker grills and loose mounting attachments are frequent sources of undesirable resonations. Use a pink noise frequency sweep at high volume and correct any vibrations.
5. Set up any furniture and equipment and hook it up. Wrapping metal legs in bubble wrap removes audio reflections.
6. Bring in bass traps and audio calibration materials and calibrate their location using the sound meter. Perform pink noise frequency shifts while moving acoustic treatments to determine positioning. Test microphones and amplifiers for feedback before starting a recording session.
Tags: noise frequency, pink noise, pink noise frequency, room placing, sound meter
