VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[KaraEdwards]

This is a topic I have researched and researched and I still can't find a definitive answer.

I have spent countless hours recording in vocal booths of all sizes, and feel very comfortable in one. But, I hear horror stories about how the rooms sound 'dead' or 'boothy' (is that a word?)

Anyway, I have come across a used vocal booth- it's a Whisper Room 3.5 x 5...smaller than I would like, but it has double walls. In a few weeks, I'll have the chance to check it out in person.

I e-mailed 2 sound guys I really respect and received 2 totally different answers. One said NO WAY...use a closet or a small room and blankets/ sound panels. The other said ABSOLUTELY- great deal and will work perfect for what I do.

Now, my current set up is perfect, no need to change...but I'm thinking of the future...so I'd love to hear from those that have Whisper rooms. What do you love/ hate- and would you buy them again?

Thanks in advance!!
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Threadjackers local 420

Kara Edwards
http://www.karaedwards.com
kara@karaedwards.com

[Mike Sommer]

If you like what you got, keep it.

Don't think about getting a whisper room, they're just a wood box that will need to be treated once you get it home. Then after treatment with absorption, you'll lose another 4 to 8-inches on the inside walls.

From what I remember of your sound, you have good isolation (just turn of the pool pump), and you just need a little more treatment on the walls and ceiling- A couple hundred bucks and your done.

If you want to think about the future, save your money.

If you need help, MP me and I'll send you my number.

Be well~
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Acoustics are counter-intuitive. If one thing is certain about acoustics, it is that if anything seems obvious it is probably wrong.

[KaraEdwards]

Mike- thanks for the advice!

I'm good with my current set up- several studios signed off on it last year when I got ISDN.

I'm considering a different set up in a different location, which is why I'm asking questions. I've always been curious about vocal booths- and how lovely it would be to buy a place and not have to consider how large the closets are, or if the neighbors have noisy children. I hear the double-wall whisper rooms can go a long way.
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Threadjackers local 420

Kara Edwards
http://www.karaedwards.com
kara@karaedwards.com

[Rob Ellis]

I have a 4X4 Whisper Room. It has eliminated most of the outside noise issues that used to plague me.

But proper treatment is essential, especially if you'll be using the 416 in one.

Add about $500 to your budget for treating the walls and ceiling. Very rarely a rumbling Harley Davidson motor can creep into the silent spaces between words, but that is rare.

Overall I'm glad I got it. But 3.5' dimensions may get a little cramped, especially when you add inside wall treatments.

[Lance Blair]

My feelings towards recording spaces -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMnLoOnrwbg
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[KaraEdwards]

Yeah- I'm worried about that 3.5. I was hoping for 4x6 at least.

I'll have the chance to check it out in a few weeks and do a sound test. That will help me decide.

Lance- I'll check your video
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Threadjackers local 420

Kara Edwards
http://www.karaedwards.com
kara@karaedwards.com

[anthonyVO]

Kara,

For the past two years, since closing my remote studio down, I've been recording out of a furnished 12'x12' bedroom in my home with very little treatment. The sound is better than what I used to get at my proud little fully treated and built former studio's 4x4 booth. No weird buildups and it's much livelier. You'll have to *force* me to go back into a 4x4 or small space again.

Some booth is not *always* better than no booth. I'm proof of that.

-Anthony

P.S. Since moving home, the only "installation" I've done, beyond putting up the equipment, is installed a way to turn off my doorbell.

[kgenus]

Buy low, sell high.
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Genus

[bransom]

Kara,

I didn't have a room, or even a closet, that I could convert into a permanent studio so last summer I built a 4x6 booth. Basically, I took the DAWBox plans and used them as a starting point. I assembled it in my unfinished basement as a stop-gap until I can finish the basement and create a more proper studio.

Initially, it sounded awful but now, after fooling with the room treatment (a lot!), it sounds much better. And it serves the intended purpose, blocking out most of the noise of my wife, three kids, two dogs, and various leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and other suburban nonsense. It's not perfect, and it's too damned small to spend all day in, but it makes it possible to record without clearing everybody out of the house and putting the dogs on the second floor. (Those clicking nails on the hardwood used to drive me NUTS.)

Bob
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Bob Ransom
"I really need a pithy quote here."

[Lance Blair]

[Rob Ellis]

As I suspected vocal booths really ARE the source of all that is evil and just plain bad in the world today

But hey, if there's ever a nuclear war us booth owners will have the last laugh, won't we

[KaraEdwards]

Yeah- clearly I hit on the 'Mac vs PC' of the audiorecordingspace world.

It's all good- I'm learning a lot! OK, not really...but I feel like I am, and that's enough for me

Edited to add- and I just noticed under my name it says 'M&M' and now I'm craving candy. 'k? 'k.
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Threadjackers local 420

Kara Edwards
http://www.karaedwards.com
kara@karaedwards.com

[Philip Banks]

Convert a room, do not buy a purpose built thingy as the former will be cheaper and you will will get what you want in terms of sound.

[Lizden]

Kara,

I don't have one now, but in my former employment we used one.

I will tell you that I wasn't impressed.

It was nice to have because we didn't have to build anything when we moved into the new space,...BUT we were never able to use the AC in it because the vent/piping that came with it never worked correctly & added god-awful noise floor....because of no air we had to open the door every 15 minutes or so, so the talent didn't pass out! ....and it was nowhere near as soundproof as you'd think.

That's really the reason that I didn't consider getting one when I set up my own space....I knew I could do better.

That's just my $0.02
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Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
English/French Bilingual VO w/ ISDN
HireLiz.com / liz@hireliz.com

[Deirdre]

I converted a pantry.
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