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Hart
Assistant Asylum Chief
Joined: 03 Jan 2006
Posts: 2107
Location: Foley, AL
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 Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:13 am Post subject: A "portable" sound booth |
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If you've read the book "The Voice Actor's Guide to Home Recording" by Harlan Hogan and Jeffrey P. Fisher then you've read about this idea. I had some spare acoustic foam lying around so I thought I would build it this past weekend:
If you have power tools it would be easy enough to cut your own panels, but the Lowe's down the street sells pre cut 2 x 2 plywood so I just bought some of that. I've secured it with duck tape, but you could use hinges I suppose. The book goes into more detail than I will here, but the gist of it you can see in the picture. 2 x 2 panels, foam attached to that. The book suggested laying a towel down on the table, but the foam pictured worked better for me.
Here's a clip I recorded in it so you can hear the sound. Mind you the audio is cheesy. It was for a friend of mine who does a morning show down in the Caymans.
Sample
Conclusions: I've recorded a few things in it. In an empty room (lots of echo) it does a good job killing a lot of , but not all of the reflections.
I moved it to a bedroom (with the bed, drapes, an upholstered chair) and it did a great job. In the empty room, if I drape a blanket (the ugly yellow one in the picture) over the box and me then it takes care of what little reflection was left.
I don't think I would use this as a primary method for recording, and of course it does nothing for the concept of "sound proofing," but overall I like it. I can definitely see taking it along with my laptop, mic, and firebox next time I go on vacation so I can still record. |
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Bailey
4 Large
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
Posts: 4336
Location: Lake San Marcos... north of Connie, northwest of the Best.
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| Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 9:57 am Post subject: |
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I like seeing stuff like that! I reassures me that you don't have to spend an arm and a leg to get started in the VO business. Makes me wonder if you could do the same thing to one of the portable cardboard "voting stands" that you see during election time.
_________________
"Bailey"
a.k.a. Jim Sutton
Retired... Every day is Saturday, except Sunday.
VO-BB Member #00044  .gif" alt="W00T" border="0" />
AOVA Graduate 02/2004 ;
"Be a Voice, not an Echo." |
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Hart
Assistant Asylum Chief
Joined: 03 Jan 2006
Posts: 2107
Location: Foley, AL
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| Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 10:01 am Post subject: |
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| I don't see why not. The foam doesn't weigh much at all. The book suggests foam board as an alternative as well. And that's available at any office supply or Wal-Mart type store. |
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BBeen
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| Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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| t I had one question which I will address here. do you actually stick your head inside the box????? No seriously I need to know before I build one |
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Philip Banks
Je Ne Sais Quoi
Joined: 20 Jun 2005
Posts: 11048
Location: Portgordon, Scotland
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| Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 4:25 pm Post subject: |
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| RE20 inside an outsize motorcycle crash helmet plugged into an ipod? |
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Hart
Assistant Asylum Chief
Joined: 03 Jan 2006
Posts: 2107
Location: Foley, AL
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| Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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| BBeen wrote: | | t I had one question which I will address here. do you actually stick your head inside the box????? No seriously I need to know before I build one |
You know, the book isn't really clear to me on that. That sample I posted, yes I did stick my head in the box. You can see the script propped up inside. Got a bit dark. Also, having to bend over like that compromises your diaphram a bit (not the one on the mic  ) I've been playing with sitting up right in front of the box. I THINK that in a normal room this is the way to go. However, I'm set up in my empty room so I'm still getting a little echo or reverb.
If anyone's interested, I'd be happy to post some samples of dry reads in and out the box.
One more note:
I forgot to mention this in my first post. For any one not familiar with acoustic foam I'm quite sure this would not work with your run of the mill egg crate stuff you put on your mattress. That stuff is terrible for acoustic treatment, no matter what your friend who records his band in his mom's basement may say. Spend the extra bucks to buy 4 or 5 2x2 acoustic panels. Two inch (which is what I used) is fine, but 3 inch would be better.
EDIT: I thought I should explain why my recording room is so empty and "echo-y" at the moment. Here's the other small project I'm working on. I like to think of it as the box's little brother.
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Bailey
4 Large
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
Posts: 4336
Location: Lake San Marcos... north of Connie, northwest of the Best.
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 5:08 am Post subject: |
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| BBeen wrote: | | t I had one question which I will address here. do you actually stick your head inside the box????? No seriously I need to know before I build one |
Instead of bending over... sticking your head IN the box... why not attach the box to a cord/rope, and then lower it from the ceiling OVER your head and microphone?... some of us may need a bigger box.
_________________
"Bailey"
a.k.a. Jim Sutton
Retired... Every day is Saturday, except Sunday.
VO-BB Member #00044 .gif" alt="W00T" border="0" />
AOVA Graduate 02/2004 ;
"Be a Voice, not an Echo." |
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Deirdre
Czarina Emeritus
Joined: 10 Nov 2004
Posts: 13016
Location: East Jesus, Maine
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 5:44 am Post subject: |
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| Banksey wrote: | | RE20 inside an outsize motorcycle crash helmet plugged into an ipod? |
Banksey-- have you been peeking into the New Development section at Camp Cooper?
heh
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DBCooperVO.com |
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mcm
Smart Kitteh
Joined: 10 Dec 2004
Posts: 2600
Location: w. MA, USA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 5:47 am Post subject: |
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Or, you could suspend it from a tall building, and then get a hot air balloon to take you UP to it!!!! And in between those sessions, use the balloon to take you to other studios all over the world, thereby avoiding ISDN charges!!!
And then you could use the balloon to come to MA and build me one of those contraptions in your second picture. Nice work Brian. Very cool. Please post more pictures as it starts taking shape! |
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billelder
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:04 am Post subject: |
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| LOL! Some great suggestions. I have a friend who made a sound booth out of three doors. Well...three doors and a top. Sounds great and works well. He went to a hardware store and bought three hollow doors and hinged them together. Apply your choice of acoustic foam (on the same side as the talent) and speak appropriately! |
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Hart
Assistant Asylum Chief
Joined: 03 Jan 2006
Posts: 2107
Location: Foley, AL
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:31 am Post subject: |
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| mcm wrote: | | Nice work Brian. Very cool. Please post more pictures as it starts taking shape! |
Will do. I'm keeping a photo journal of sorts on the build with notes.
Oh, for what it's worth, my wife said she heard wives all over the world cringe when I posted the box. She thinks it's really hideous. Maybe I'll paint or stain it so it doesn't bug her so much.
Bill,
I've built a few production rooms, built two radio broadcast studios, helped with a home studio, and one other vocal booth in my career. Along the way I've seen and read about lots of various ways to build a booth. The door idea seems to be fairly popular. Some people use those panels they make office cubicles out of. On another forum, I've even seen a contraption made out of PVC pipe and moving blankets. Not pretty, but it apparently does the job. What is it they say? Necessity is the mother of invention.
Last edited by Hart on Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:35 am; edited 1 time in total |
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CWToo
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:32 am Post subject: |
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Markertek is a good place to buy cheap audio foam.
Several years ago I got this portable audio booth from them:
http://www.markertek.com/SearchProduct.asp?item=PMB%2D2&off=4&sort=prod
The price has gone up considerably, but it sounds great. Plus it's made money for me by renting it out to video production companies wanting to do voice overs on their sound stages. |
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Hart
Assistant Asylum Chief
Joined: 03 Jan 2006
Posts: 2107
Location: Foley, AL
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 6:37 am Post subject: |
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| That's a very intersting option, and nice way to bring in a little side cash as well. How long does it take you to break it down/set it up? |
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billelder
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:05 am Post subject: |
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Hart,
I've done the PVC pipe things for some acoustic foam here in my studio. Works great and looks good enough not to embarrass me when company comes over. I have also bought from Markertek. Great company, but the shipping will kill you on those big pieces of foam. I just ordered from Foam By Mail. They seem to have great prices and you can get colors too. Free shipping on any purchase over $50. I'll post here if it's any good. Today I got a 48" X 72" of eggcrate in brown for $42. I'll let you know if I get the free shipping before Easter. |
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CWToo
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:16 am Post subject: |
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| Hart wrote: | | That's a very intersting option, and nice way to bring in a little side cash as well. How long does it take you to break it down/set it up? |
Maybe 15 minutes or so. |
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