Recording studio

[Carlosfandango]

I've been tasked with wiring a private recording studio. The setup is that the owner used to rent out a glorified shed to bands. He now has some money and wants to create a proper studio in the barn with a main room, vocal booth and recording room. He's very worried about penetrating the walls (apparently any holes at all have a massive effect on the sound proofing) so I'm wiring it all surface in Pvc trunking and conduit, but that's by the by! I'm looking for some ideas for lights I could use as I've never even set foot in a studio!! I'm guessing fluorescents are out due to the interference and noise on the recordings? Also, will this require a fire system. It is one big room with glass partitions and one entrance. The problem is that the music will be loud so will I need visual warnings?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Carlosfandango]

Forgive my ignorance here but how would I overcome this? Provide a common earth termination/plug type thingy?

 

[Tidy Max]

There are multiple issues that cause ground loops and also multiple effects that ground loops have. Google ground loops and you will find some good information on them.

 

[davesparks]

Forgive my ignorance here but how would I overcome this? Provide a common earth termination/plug type thingy?

The simple answer is by doing the job properly! If all earthing and bonding is present and correct then you have done all you can. Then it is up to those using the studio to look after their equipment properly and know what they are doing.

 

[Engineer54]

I've been tasked with wiring a private recording studio. The setup is that the owner used to rent out a glorified shed to bands. He now has some money and wants to create a proper studio in the barn with a main room, vocal booth and recording room. He's very worried about penetrating the walls (apparently any holes at all have a massive effect on the sound proofing) so I'm wiring it all surface in Pvc trunking and conduit, but that's by the by! I'm looking for some ideas for lights I could use as I've never even set foot in a studio!! I'm guessing fluorescents are out due to the interference and noise on the recordings? Also, will this require a fire system. It is one big room with glass partitions and one entrance. The problem is that the music will be loud so will I need visual warnings?
Thanks in advance.

As far as i know, it's not so much soundproofing a recording studio needs to be, but a room or rooms that are acoustically neutral. That's normally achieved by acoustic wall coverings, so any small cable holes you may have behind the acoustic tiles/material isn't going to affect much at all...

 

[Geordie Spark]

As far as i know, it's so much soundproofing a recording studio needs to be, but a room or rooms that are acoustically neutral. That's normally achieved by acoustic wall coverings, so any small cable holes you may have behind the acoustic tiles/material isn't going to affect much at all...

The studios I've worked in have had either those funny shaped acoustic tiles stuck on the walls or heavy curtains hung in front of them and cabling surface run in conduit and/or or trunking. (at least they were when I had finished with them!!)

Acoustic tile ---->

A cheap alternative is pressed cardboard egg trays which I've also seen used. (take the eggs out first though .... )

 

[Engineer54]

Yeah that the sort of thing, anything that absorbs rather than reflects does the job to some degree or other...

 

[Geordie Spark]

Nonono, sound engineers stop at 2, they never go as far as 3 because you lift on 3!

My mic test was "Testicles one, two, see the floor". It always raised a few eyebrows.

Drummers were fun. I would point to the snare drum and say "Right .. hit that and don't stop until I tell you"


For far too long soundmen were treated like $hit by musos. I made it my life's mission to change all that! :reddevil:

 

[Geordie Spark]

The simple answer is by doing the job properly! If all earthing and bonding is present and correct then you have done all you can. Then it is up to those using the studio to look after their equipment properly and know what they are doing.

and therein lies the problem ....