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robleohill · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:24 pm Post subject: Whisperroom

Hello all,

This is my first post as I am a new member here at VO-BB. I am running the numbers on purchasing a whisperroom and would love to get some feedback from those who have used them.

I'm looking at the 3.5'x 3.5' model, single-wall no ventilation unit. Before I get a rush of responses about DIY-booths, I must say that I am in a small condo townhouse with little space for a built in sound booth and I'd want to take it with me when I move in a year or two.

Thanks for checking out my thread, happy discussioning!
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Jacob Ekstroem · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 2:28 pm Post subject:

I'm just wondering... what is the alternative to "no", then?

The concensus is, I think, that Whisperooms are okay, but usually needs a little extra treatment. Easier than DIY, anyway. So in your case I don't really see the "why not".
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Bruce · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:08 pm Post subject:

Unless you're suffering from extreme noise coming from the outside world I'd spend a lot less money and treat the whole room or make a sound deadened corner of your room instead. There are lots of ways to create your own "temporary" booth that can function very well.

B
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KaraEdwards · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 3:51 pm Post subject:

Hmmm...that may be a little tight.

Mine is 3.5x5- and even it feels small (and I'm pretty tiny myself!). Mine is double walled and it's amazing how much sound it manages to block out- but it is by no means sound proof. Not sure how the single walled units do.

I said this in a past post and will say it again- my booth is heavily treated with bass traps in every corner- including floor and ceiling. Auralex on all the walls. It sounds KILLER for me. But I had a friend use my booth recently who had a deep, rumbly voice...and it bounced all over the place. Even with all the treatment.

So, I'm not sure how you sound- but it's something to keep in mind. I got mine pretty much brand new (used once) for a steal. I wouldn't give it up for the world!!!

If you can buy local and used- go that route. I got to take mine for a 'test drive' before I bought it Smile

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Frank F · Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 4:22 pm Post subject:

At this time the votes are split evenly, so I thought I would explain a bit of why I answered the way I did.

As Bruce stated (paraphrasing here) unless you NEED to block out a lot of noise, a whisper room is in most cases unnecessary. I also add; for long form sessions they can become quite uncomfortable.

In this situation (to WR or not) you must decide the WHY (you need a WR), COST for a WR versus some easy sound treatment, WHERE you would put a WR versus using an already established room which can be treated, and HOW you are going to put in the room in your current environment.

Good luck on your choice.

Frank F
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georgethetech · Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 12:35 am Post subject:

It all comes down to what problems you are trying to solve.
Acoustics or Isolation?
How severe are the noise issues?
I have many clients in Whisper Rooms because they are in the same boat as you, small places with no room to build, or rental units. Kara hit the nail on the head...
It certainly helps get you the -60db noise floor required for audio books and narration, but may not be enough...
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todd ellis · Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 5:54 am Post subject:

why not look into an inexpensive DIY gobo?

http://riffster.com/gobos/gobo-B.htm

this is just one random link - there are lots.
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Chuck Davis · Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 5:57 am Post subject:

I'm one of those many clients George is referring to....and I have the 3.5x3.5. They can be touchy to get a decent/non-boxy sound from. Mine is treated with bass traps and 2" ADS acoustics panels.

I've never tried with anything but a shotgun mic in there. I can imagine that a LD condenser would more problematic.

All that said, mine now sounds great and insulates me from the street noise outside enough to be very useful...plus I'll be able to take it with me on a future move. That's the distant future.
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bransom · DC Joined: 06 Nov 2008 Posts: 650 Location: St. Louis, MO

I built a 4'x6' booth a couple years ago and, while it's certainly not perfect, it has served its purpose in isolating me from the noise made by a wife, three kids and two dogs plus random neighborhood noise. I would have preferred a full room build but there wasn't a room available.

And, as others have mentioned, it's much harder than you'd think to get a booth sounding good. Prepare to spend a fair amount of time tweaking it.
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TC · Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 3:40 pm Post subject:

As a highly satisfied user of a 3.5'-by-3.5', single-walled Whisper Room, I say this: Don't get one until you're sure that you have no other route to go. Mine was a lifesaver because I was living in an extremely noisy apartment above a busy city street when I got it. I really had no other choice but to get one, and it has long since paid for itself many times over.

But recording in a treated room is always going to be better than recording in a little box, if you can manage it. I've recorded some long audiobooks in that thing, and, particularly in the summer, it got pretty brutal in there. I bought the ventilation system, but that turned out to be useless -- too much noise, not nearly enough ventilation. I just made sure to take breaks as often as I needed them.

For about five years, the only treatment I had in there was the original foam that came with it. I've always made a point of asking clients about the sound quality, and I never had any complaints. One of my ongoing gigs, however, recently changed -- I used to go to a studio to record it, and now I do it at home. The producer noticed the difference in sound right away and asked me to do something about it. So I got rid of the foam and installed some acoustic panels that I made myself, and everybody's happy again.

SkinnyJohnny · Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 4:18 pm Post subject:

I have a 5 by 7 model and it solved the problem of outside noise. I had to have something fast when we moved into our log home. The walls only go up to the beams, so there is about a 5 inch gap between the top of the wall and the ceiling. So there's a good bit of noise coming over the walls. I could have built a studio in the space I have, but not fast enough. I too have acoustical panels covering the walls and ceiling of the booth. I got the ventilation, but as TC said, it's of little use.
The Whisperroom has it's place, but if you can finish an existing room with treatment, quiet down the ac/heater and have another place for your noisey computer, that's the way I would go.
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ballenberg · Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 4:59 am Post subject:

I've not been a giant fan of the booths myself. If they had more isolation, better acoustics--but those are two big if's.

But a question for Philip (aka Shoeless Philip):

What's your booth story, if you care to share?

From photos and memory, it seems you've converted a closet--is that right? It's not very large, but it has a great sound. Not a drop of room ambience that I can hear, and when it comes to bass, you're certainly generating plenty.

What's behind those curtains? Are they sound-transparent and covering something like Owens 703? Are there bass traps in the corner---super-chunks or whatever--or do you even need those? Curious the dimensions of the space--all three--since that's an important part of the equation. And if memory serves me, didn't you have the floor excavated--perhaps for more standing headroom (as opposed to audio headroom).

Is there any ventilation--or just opening the door after the one take that completes each gig? Smile

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Deirdre · Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 8:34 am Post subject:

I made a totally portable both out of stock doors and MDF, covered rigid fiberglass panels and upholstery foam, and IKEA quilts.
It's made so it's never square, so I don't have any troublesome corners.

It's my "recording yurt".

Sounds way better here in Salem, OR than it did in Burbank because the house is a lot more solid and the window in the room it's in is acoustically walled off.
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Charles Nove · Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2012 11:24 pm Post subject:

heyguido · Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 2:56 pm Post subject:

Well stated, Charles. Thank you.
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