My home recording studio setup

Stoffeltoo

Finally finished planning and assembling what I had. Only one item outstanding, a multi-track interface. [b]Current setup:[/b] DAW's Audacity and Reaper (Steiberg Cubase still sucks :( Lexicon Lambda recording soundcard 2 Computers, one desk and one Laptop both windows 7 OS El Cheapo 2 channel power amp 500 watt 4-16 Ohms (Olive/Omega?) Two 110 Watt solid wooden box speakers (received as a gift and awesomely clean) 16 channel Behringer USB mixer (no effects) Table bought at an auction for 450 rondellas. Shelves salvaged from my previous house Alesis Elevate 3 speakers Some no name speakers I recovered from a pavement. (sound nice enough :)) Mikes: C1, 2 X C2 and an AKG Busy manufacturing self made acoustic treatment panels from salvaged acoustic fibreglass wool. (Itchy as hell when handled) need to make 12 for my space That's my kit

V8

So neat...jealous! My setup is so tangled and messy that I'm ashamed to take a pic!

But where the guitars and amps hiding?

Which are your main speakers? I'd guess the Alesis, but I think I'd add a sub (I like to drop the bass =D). When you get the acoustic treatments up, you are going to play around with the positioning of the speakers?

Stoffeltoo

Guitars out of view on wall hangers, tube amp under the table and the Acoustic amp in the shelf. Next project to install roller shelf for keyboard.

Must admit that the effort to connect and tidy the cables was a physical mission in itself with plenty of cuss words when the signal path not working. Once the table was in I became a cable mechanic, spending more time on my back and knees. Sometimes in total frustration :-[

Guess that is what sound studio's do to you ?

Stoffeltoo

Meron Rigas wrote:
Which are your main speakers? I'd guess the Alesis, but I think I'd add a sub (I like to drop the bass =D). When you get the acoustic treatments up, you are going to play around with the positioning of the speakers?

The Alesis elevate 3's are a bit on the light side for my needs and I find it somewhat "tinny". They also tend to hum at high volume levels.
The big wood speakers on the table top are crystal clear at low and high volume and provides pretty good feedback on my mix. At the same time excellent audio quality as well.

Regards

wern101

Wow
Very nice Stoffel. Well done.
I just got a new PC and am scouting for a sound card and good mic to start with. Lotsa speakers around the house. And already using reaper as well, which is IMO much better than Audacity.
I'll be sure to ask you about the mixer when I am ready.
I also (eventually) wanna get an Alesis DM6 kit (for the kids to learn drums) and to use to record.
Well done again. Gettin excited for your comp entry... ?

Stoffeltoo

Thanks Wern! Kind words. I have a mixer, Currently floating in the live room (read garage) for live band practice and mix. Those beeg speaks are high fidelities with a very clear and distinct feedback on audio quality. Next on my boy toy list is a Karl Mars Tube Audiophile amp. Lots of savings till then. As to the track .... Well ja, we'll see

V8

Stoffeltoo wrote: The Alesis elevate 3's are a bit on the light side for my needs and I find it somewhat "tinny". They also tend to hum at high volume levels.
The big wood speakers on the table top are crystal clear at low and high volume and provides pretty good feedback on my mix. At the same time excellent audio quality as well.

The hum would irritate me to no end, but great to have 3 sets of speakers to run your mixes through to get an idea what they'll sound on different setups.

The Karl Mars + strat should make for a happy day ?

Stoffeltoo wrote: Guess that is what sound studio's do to you ?

Haha, I reckon you've hit the nail on the head - I've been hanging out a lot with guys in the audio trade this year (especially in the studio) - the language has been...educational :?

Norman86

Looks good ? Well done!

briang-telkomsa-net

Delayed reply -- looks cool

Stoffeltoo

Well the setup and the room acoustics sucked! Yuck! So back to the drawing board. The result is that I can fit 3 more musos into the space. Added some DIY sound treatment i.e. carpeting on the floor, installed a newtec ceiling with insulation on top, dense curtaining for the window and against internet advice, some framed carpeting on the wall behind the speakers. Build a keyboard slide shelf and installed two guitar hangers. Almost forgot, kitch lights that don't make a humming noise Other work to be done, fit and install small 12 channel mixing desk and connect to audio interface. A small pic to tell the tale

evolucian

Flattish panels on the walls... Reflections from brick corners might not help too much with mixing. Unless u are still busy with it. Round wall might also be poo... Hence the panel suggestion. Speaker placement not too good either.... buuuuuuut if it makes you happy then its all good. Nice equipment n stuffs

Stoffeltoo

Thanks Evo. Not much I can do about the rounded wall other than demolishing and squaring it >☹.
The panels are floated off the wall and can angle slightly.

I must admit that the panelling, carpeting and rearrangement has made some difference in the acoustics. the atrocious hollow echo is almost gone.

Some advice on speaks placement please?

evolucian

Make some panels for that rounded wall part. The wall behind you can be dead so angling the panels that way could help. Diffusers behind the speakers will help with the bassvrefractions n stuff. Bring the alesis monitors down to ear level cos you are not that tall when you sit down. Use your wooden speakers and mount them on the wall facing the centre of the room and tweets lining up with your ears while seated - mark that spot on the floor for the chair. This might be like a pseudo soffit but not quite. Those wooden speakers, are they flat or heavily coloured soundwise?

When I went to the genelec demo at toms a year or two ago, the desks in their studios had holes in them like a braai grid... all to do with reflections from the mixing table which the grill now eliminates.... only the minimal reflections from the mixing desk surface. But u angle that and it won't hit your ear, with a prayer or two.

evolucian

It also depends on the quality you want to mix at. Also depends on your happiness level... If you are happy right now then you don't have to worry about it much. If you have the time and cash to make it better cos you not happy, then go for it.

TRacks 3 or custom can make recordings sound cool so not much is needed. As i said, happiness level is all that counts

Stoffeltoo

evolucian wrote: Make some panels for that rounded wall part.

Bring the alesis monitors down to ear level cos you are not that tall when you sit down.
Use your wooden speakers and mount them on the wall facing the centre of the room and tweets lining up with your ears while seated - mark that spot on the floor for the chair.
Those wooden speakers, are they flat or heavily coloured soundwise?

Thanks again Evo.
I will bring the upper speakers down to ear level. 8)
Already planning on angled/swivel brackets to carry a 35kg wooden speaker.
Them wooden speakers have much more colour and depth than any of my other speaker sets.

So much more planning and do$h needed for better recording and mixing quality..

warrenpridgeon

Looking good dude!

Here I'm monitoring and mixing with Sennheiser HD202 headphones. hehe.

One day when I'm big... and if my track bike addiction wears off. lol.