VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

IC Voiceman

Hi all, I'm new here and looking forward to meeting some of you, listening to your VOs and learning all I can from VO training and techniques to sound production and processing.

I live in a single room apartment meaning the bedroom, kitchen, sitting room and toilet area or all kind of in.... ONE.

I've tried various techniques at curbing the noise around here. The neighbour has a cage full of budgies, there are plenty of dogs barking and a Cock crows every morning...plus traffic noise. I am on a tight budget. I created an 8" deep, shallow box covered in high density foam and find the recordings from the mic have improved dramatically. I live with my wife, so can't really expect her to remove all our clothing from the one cupboard we do have!
Anyone have any ideas on how to lower the outside noises dramatically in a cheap and accessible way without making our small home look like a tent factory? Really appreciate any advice! Thanks guys...and girls. Smile

Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

As a start use fabric wall hangings that are nice to look at to help acoustics in this situation.

kberkery · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 8:16 am Post subject:

Maybe use room dividers like this: https://secure.img1-fg.wfcdn.com/lf/maxsquare/hash/7640/26970962/1/Proman-Products-67-x-60-Paris-Folding-Screen-4-Panel-Room-Divider.jpg

Arrange them like a phone booth and cover them with fabric or blankets temporarily while you're recording?

Kristin
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IC Voiceman · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 8:36 am Post subject:

Thanks so much to both of you! Fabric hangings are a great idea. I really like the room divier thought... What a brilliant idea. That should do it...Going to take my wife shopping and tell her it's to beautify our home Smile

Really great ideas. I've been racking my brains. Thank you both for taking the time!

Bruce · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 9:12 am Post subject:

You may need two things in your sound panels: denseness to keep outside sounds from coming in (or going out from you, bouncing against hard objects in your room and coming back to your microphone) and some deflection (scattering) of sound inside your space to keep it from coming back to your microphone in an organized manner. You don't have to get these items particularly but many people on a budget use moving blankets for density and and fuzzy cloth, in my case velvet curtains, to cut down on sound bounce.

Creativity is the key. If all else fails, there is also, "The Cone of Silence" they used in Get Smart: https://youtu.be/g1eUIK9CihA?t=19s

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

Bruce · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 9:21 am Post subject:

This group has already done a ton of research for you. So click on Search above, type in:

moving AND blanket

and start going through those threads that are offered. You will find loads of suggestions from super cheap to super expensive not just on blankets but many other sound deadening methods.

Happy hunting!

B
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VO-BB Member #31 Enlisted June, 2005

I'm not a Zoo, but over the years I've played one on radio/TV. .

Eddie Eagle · M&M Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 2393

Mmmmm velvet curtainsss......

FinMac · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 10:53 am Post subject: Maybe this would help?

You might consider something like this...

http://gikacoustics.co.uk/product/pib-portable-isolation-vocal-booth/

These guys will also give you free advice Smile

They have always been very helpful.
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IC Voiceman · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 11:12 am Post subject:

I'm really glad I signed up here. Seems like a great place to learn new things. We all need advice...The beauty of life, learning from each other and never thinking we've "arrived". Appreciate all the feeds and suggestions. Thank you to all of you Smile

Deirdre · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 12:33 pm Post subject:

I lived in a studio apartment in Burbank CA for a couple of years. Built my own booth.
Interior doors, MDF, Quilts from IKEA, upholstery foam, moving blankets.
Hinges, casters.
JM Insul-shield semi-rigid acoustic panels, covered with fabric.
Grommets, screw hooks. String.

Yes, I had to pause when a Maserati would wind it out on Olive Ave, but this beastie served me well and was portable. I used it in 2 places in Oregon as well.

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kberkery · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 1:37 pm Post subject:

IC Voiceman · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 1:50 pm Post subject:

Hi Deirdre. The challenges one can face but always satisfying when you find a way! Very nice. Innovative! Yeah, a Maserati could be a problem Smile

Amazing how shrill little budgies can be too! Keep up the work. I'd like to listen to some of your demos sometime

ConnieTerwilliger · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 2:51 pm Post subject:

Stick the mic in the wardrobe right along with all the clothes.
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IC Voiceman · Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 10:27 pm Post subject:

I have tried that. My cupboards pretty small and the recording comes out muffled and "Boxed" in....and it's full of clothes.
Thanks for the input! Smile

Lee Gordon · Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2017 12:10 am Post subject:

I was going to make the same suggestion as Connie, but if the closet sounds too muffled, why not introduce something hard into the mix as a reflective surface. You can experiment with its placement to see if anything improves your results.
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