A Vocal Booth for Every Budget

[@voices]

What's your setup like? Comment on this thread! - Randy

[@innsa.]

an AT-2035 (wanting to get a NT1 Signature Series but no monz) with a focurite 2i2 and Audacity ofc 😭 I don't have any area to record :c so I'll just use one of the methods you've shown LOL

[@paradisearts7021]

what's the mic brand used in the video?

[@voices]

@@paradisearts7021 We mentioned this in the video too but we used the Sennheiser MKH-50 while in office, and the AKG-P420!

[@MikeyKirin]

I actually built stowaway walls out of foam from JoAnn's and wood from lowe's for the frame. I then covered the entire thing in felt (again from JoAnn). And for added needs, I have hooks on the top for blankets or something else if I wanted. They fold up and away and go right in the closet. It did cost about $200 total, but it could definitely be done cheaper with RockWool or something. I'd love to send pictures!

[@voices]

@@MikeyKirin That's awesome! We'd love to see! Send us a DM on Instagram @voices

[@jaykadlec]

Don’t forget the closet! Soft clothes everywhere and likely carpeted. Great no budget option.

[@voices]

Ahh yes! And such a short morning commute! :) -Randy

[@marcw.4015]

Since you changed microphone between the first two, and the studio bricks booth, I would say you negated the purpose of the test. You should have kept all the audio chain the same. Just my opinion as a recording engineer.

[@voices]

Totally agree, but we had to use what was available. -Randy

[@vbfhru48]

Yes. So much effort to demonstrate nothing! What a waste of your and our time!

[@progressivegeoff]

Love this ! Lots of great knowledge here and good experiments :)

[@voices]

Thanks Geoff :)

[@corinelafont8659]

Extremely informative @Randy. Thanks

[@voices]

Glad it was helpful!

[@barnabasszabolcs8708]

on airpods, no difference, the first three sound a bit chunkier but that is down to the different mics probably, and even the vocalbooth has a resonance point.... and an adverse effect on the mid-lows as you've stepped in.

[@prestonleebenjamin]

Honestly, I feel like it got worse as it went from controlled to DIY to PVC.. not sure if its the frequency range of my airpods, but you could hear the annoyingly high AC sounds (I’d assume is PC fan noise) get more prominent with each DIY iteration.. I think this actually makes sense, as controlled likely trapped less of the annoyingly loud computer AC sounds while the other two setups progressively started *trapping* *more* of that sound. Obviously, the fully isolated studio bricks didn’t get any of that sound as I’d guess the computer/air con was outside. Takeaway for me being, DIY is still entirely dependant on eliminating as much of the background noise as you can, as that stuff will inevitably bleed through into a l mic (especially condensor type). Regardless, am in need of a quick DIY setup for upcoming classes/projects, appreciate the video for quick and concise info!

[@janikoberhofer6960]

Why do i think that the 3rd was better than the 4th?😅

[@soulovelee_2433]

Sounded best in the mobile vocal booth with the "curtains" to me. But my thing is I wanna sing from home without holding back or my neighbors calling the police on me 😂

[@davetroll5027]

Type shi bro! What did you find?

[@littleripper312]

I actually thought the cushions were better than the pvc vocal booth. If you could setup a table with those cushions on it inside the pvc booth then you'd really get a great recording on a budget.

[@Tewahedo]

That MKH 50 is so mouth watering! But it is so expensive to buy it here in Europe.

[@voices]

It really is outstanding, isn't it? It's expensive here in Canada as well :( -Randy

[@puebloruizrecords8255]

you sound great

[@Thee_Lijah]

Is this best for actors working on self tapes ?

[@ma.nuelmafecaermare5352]

How do you ventilate your vocal booth?

[@leowolftvjoshuadauzat]

I need help on mixing audio. I try to denoise the audio and it keeps mucking up my audio like giving it a water sound/high pitch. What is a good app/sofware to use thats free to use?

[@innercynic2784]

Ahhhhh... to dream and perchance buy some day.

[@voices]

The dream indeed!

[@DavidJones-oy7qg]

In the first (DIY) booth with the two cusions, does it not make MORE sense to put the cusions BEHIND you, seeing as that's where the microphone is pointing?

[@KulebyakMaster]

It's your voice that creates the sound, not the mic. The point of cushions being in front of you is to reduce the amount of sound bouncing off the walls back to the microphone. If you place cushions behind yourself, then you don't have any sound absorption, thus missing the point

[@chiefswild-sidereptilez830]

Can you use a grow tent🤔

[@voices]

A grow tent might be too thin, but if sound blankets can be hung up somewhere, it may work?

[@bougesegaming]

what microphone and audio interface do you use please?

[@voices]

Mics were all mentioned in the video (MKH50 and AKGP420). We were recording with the Zoom F6!

[@bougesegaming]

@@voices wow thanks, you still reply my comment. yea my bad, i missed that all the mics mentioned, but i realized it after i replay the videos twice. but thanks a lot thou!

[@bougesegaming]

@@voices one more thing, can you suggest me what best budget mic under $100 can i use best for voice over in my own bedroom? thank you

[@voices]

@@bougesegaming The Audio Technica AT2020 is only $99USD!

[@dexterous7516]

I want to setup a vocal booth in my apartment but for the opposite reason. I want to practice singing and make song recordings. I don't want to disturb my neighbours. What is my best option for this case ? I want to get it done as cheaply as possible. I looked at those portable voice boxes but they don't seem to work that well.

[@voices]

Thanks for your question. As singing will naturally be louder than a voice over, you might have to take extra steps. If you’re looking to stop your voice from carrying outside you will need to set up your booth within an isolated room. If you don’t have an isolated room (such as a basement or a room in the centre of the house) you will need to add more sound isolation to your booth. A DIY PVC will not be 100% sound proof and it won’t entirely keep your voice from traveling. You can use extra thick blankets surrounding the booth and this will help. The portable voice box you mentioned might work well for the recording itself but it will not prevent your voice from carrying throughout the house. Good luck and I hope you're able to craft a dedicated space!

[@brandon2521]

Is a polystyrene rigid insulation foam open or closed cell?

[@voices]

You can check out different absorption coefficients at this site. Polystyrene would be quite low in the absorptive coefficient as it's too hard. You really need soft fabric material for best results. - www.acoustic.ua/st/web_absorption_data_eng.pdf

[@brandon2521]

Thank you. I was going to use the polystyrene to build the shell. Then I was going to apply acoustic foam to the interior. Does that info change anything?@@voices

[@voices]

Yeah that works! As long as there's acoustic treatment on the inside, you'll be good to go!

[@brandon2521]

2:09 open cell foam

[@Gigatless]

Bro jumped from 50 bucks to 5000

[@calculusentropy]

The couch cushions prob best, your rather whispered in final booth vers.

[@Brutuscomedy]

Here's a solution: Get a Shure SM7b and get on the mic (i.e., get closer).

[@davidnle]

studiobricks booth sounded the best but it will cost you about 15K :(

[@voices]

Definitely a big investment!