The Perfect Practice, Rehearsal, Recording Studio- Part 1

If you hear of one, please let me know. Until then, let me show you the best I have ever designed and built. To construct the best of all worlds in these areas is imposable for each requires its own elements. The best recording studio may not have the correct attributes needed for the best rehearsal hall. The very best practice area may not work well as a recording studio but I have been very pleased with the room I call home for most of my work. Some of the strengths were planned and some were accidents. Let me share some of my ideas as to what I have found to be a very fine room for practice, rehearsal as well as recording.

Start with the dimensions and add the noise transfer factor.

After searching many acoustical books on the best dimensions for a recording studio, I found that 8 x 25 x 18 was mentioned as the best for a mid size studio and what do you know? My basic room was within 6 inches from being perfect. Now that I had the inside dimensions correct, the next issue was sound transfer. Due to the fact that the only members of our household are my wife and a three pound Yorkshire terrier, sound transfer is not an issue. This is especially true because of the amount of insulation we used in the original construction of the home. Noise from the outside is nonexistent for we live in a area where we have very few neighbors and no traffic.

What features would be required?

Since I would be doing the design and construction in my man cave, the selection of features was not a problem. My wife turned over all of these decissions to me and I invited her to do the decorating. What a wonderful relationship we have. We know each others strengths and she knows my weaknesses.

• Light requirements- I’m getting up there in years and even though I will not admit it, I enjoy as much light as possible when I’m reading music.
• Sound factor- Most recording studios prefer a very live sound and to lay a wood floor in my room would be too expensive. This was my biggest concern. If I lay carpet, would the sound be too dead? It was not until the carpet was laid that I had my answer.
• Space requirements- The required space for practicing or even recording was not an issue but if I were to rehearse my trumpet quartet in this room, it would have to be comfortable for everyone as well as livable at the highest volume level.
• Refreshments- A rehearsing ensemble as well as a thirsty trumpet player must have refreshments. So a sink, counter and refrigerator must be handily available.
• Communications with the outside world- A simple intercom would fill this need as well as a portable phone which could be switched off during periods of recording.
• Storage area- Whether practicing alone or rehearsing with a group, extra equipment must have an area to be stored. This would include music stands, trumpet cases, amplifiers and chairs.
• Library area- The amount of arrangements for my trumpet ensemble alone is well over a thousand charts and when solo material and etudes are added, we are talking about many file cabinets full of music.
• Access to a bathroom- Explanation not required.
• Work desk for office duties- An area where I can spread out charts for arranging, composing and taping parts together.
• Adequate light from outside- If I would be spending time in this room, it would be helpful to have a view of the outside.
• Comfortable climate control- I am a creature requiring comfort when I work.
• The area needed for recording equipment must be easily accessible as well as functional.
• Sound play back has to be optimal.
• Furniture must be functional as well as attractive and imply a recording studio appearance, not a den.
• Room for my ego wall- That is what I call my collections of autographs and pictures I have collected through the years.
• Original art work- I’m sorry, I like nice things.
• Access to a lounge area outside.

Now that I had the basic room, it was time to start the design and construction. The time required for the final completion was approximately three months and a cost of many pesos. Other than laying the carpet, I did all the work myself and was very pleased when the room was completed. The first musician I invited to play in my new room was the strongest player in the area. If I were to test the limits of the walls, I wanted to give it all we had. The sound was amazing. Acoustically speaking, what we heard was a balance half way between a lively recording studio and an open concert hall. I knew with the added carpet, the highs would be lowered and in order to bring them up again, I designed reflective areas at several locations which would reflect sound back at the players. I was very please with the final acoustics of the room. I didn’t know until it was completed if I would be happy with the results, but I have been completely satisfied with the results.

The issue of sound play back.

Live recordings within the room as well as records, CDs and computer sound was also better than I had expected. The extra wall modules I designed worked both as a reflector and a bass amplifier for my playback speakers. When the sound levels are cranked, the walls act as low frequency responders and the lows are fantastic. It’s like having multiple sub woofers all around you. As an added precaution, I also built the storage doors in such a way as to either bring out the highs and mid range or lower them for on the reverse side of the doors, I installed acoustical padding. If I need to keep the highs, the doors are closed and if I want to cut the mids and highs down, I open them, exposing the absorbent material. Sometimes you just get lucky.

In my next post, I will describe the software and hardware I am currently using for my recordings.