1/19/2023 0 Comments Build a sound studio![]() ![]() If I mention power you might think I’m going to get into a discussion of clean power, technical earths and ground loops, but just having power outlets almost everywhere is one of these things which makes using a studio so much easier. Security is also something easier to plan for earlier rather than later. If you’re setting up a studio from scratch, an easy load in/out and on site parking will probably get you more repeat work than your ruler-flat acoustics. While you might not be in a position to do anything about it, parking and access are really important. Have a sofa and have some stools, watch out for noisy adjustable chairs and have a table or flat surface available other than at the mix position. ![]() But however comfortable they might be, they aren’t suitable for slouching or playing instruments. You might think it mandatory to have a Herman Miller chair. Seating should be appropriate for all the different tasks which are undertaken in a studio. We were getting close to this in the first point with having a mix of seating. Steve’s biggest tip on air con is to ignore the advice of installers and under-specify the system. Over small distances this is likely to be a minimal effect but over larger distances it can be significant. Steve also raises the interesting point that, since sound waves propagate more slowly through cold air than they do in warm air, if an air con vent causes a temperature gradient in the path of sound from monitors to listener then this can cause sound to ‘bend’. A comfortable studio is welcome but fluctuating temperatures are not and if the air con causes rapid changes of temperature it will take the tuning of instruments with it, including drum kits and pianos. There are other issues to be kept in mind. Larger air con units themselves can introduce mechanical noise unless properly isolated from the structure of the building and the grilles on vents can be sources of noise. While it solves temperature issues it can introduce others. Depending on where you are in the world and what gear you have in your studio, air conditioning is anywhere from recommended to absolutely essential. Steve is fast to offer this as his number 2. Luckily it’s unlikely you’ll find a studio these days in which people smoke but I remember the stale ‘morning studio’ smell too well. Just be careful not to cross over into clutter.Ī good combination of chairs suitable for work and more relaxed seating like the ubiquitous ‘producer sofa’ really helps as does keeping the studio tidy, clean (I’ve found surprising amounts of grime in world class studio control rooms before) and, really importantly, smelling OK. ![]() And wall art and ornaments can add personality to what can otherwise start to feel like an office. There is more to vibe than how a studio looks, though in these days of hardwood floors don’t underestimate the way a rug, as Jeff ‘The Dude’ Lebowski would point out, “really ties the room together”. They look cool in studio pictures but you’re nearly always blocking your own light! A sympathetically designed studio is one in which you shouldn’t miss the daylight if you don’t have any. If the studio feels oppressive, how can the creative work carried out in it ever be as good as it could be? Light is crucial, more and more studios have embraced natural light but if your studio doesn’t have access to daylight it doesn’t need to feel like a ‘windowless box’. Studios are creative spaces and ones in which people inevitably spend a great deal of time. Refreshingly he starts with the least technical but most important aspect of all. ![]()
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