Best 21st century room for recording?

[lonewolf]

Here's one for the many home studio Rockpagers. Back in the analog days, there used to be different rooms to do different kinds of recording. For instance, that's where the term "echo chamber" came from. Most early reflections programs have different kinds of rooms listed.

Since these have all been accurately modeled with all the great digital recording software and plug-ins, I was wondering what you would prefer if you could do one room for recording any way you like.

I like the idea of a "poor man's soundproof" with a 2nd inner wall and some kind of material that would make the room completely anechoic, like acoustic foam or maybe even carpeting on the walls/ceiling.

Discuss...

[Jasaoke]

Do you mean for the 'live' room (performance area) or the listening area?

For the listen area I would certainly try to go as "dead" as possible.

For the live room, give me wood, lots of wood. Hardwood floors, thick, heavy, feel-the-piano floor. For the walls and ceiling, unfinished, or even rough-cut lumber. Lots of beams and exposed timbers to break up the large surfaces. Nothing shiny or reflective, just thick, heavy wood.

Naturally, no right angles or parallel surfaces.

[lonewolf]

This is for the performing area in a home recording studio.

[moxham123]

My friend (and business partner) just finished his studio (in his home) in Johnstown and he put a lot of work and money into the acoustic construction aspect of the performance and recording rooms as well as all the equipment and speakers, etc. I don't know exactly what materials he used specifically. We have been doing musician and radio program recording and it sounds great. He has been in the studio business for over 35 years and recently moved back into the area.

[lonewolf]

A better description of my idea of a good 21st century room would be "acoustically neutral." This way any type of sound could be recorded in its natural state and then changed with software/plug-ins during mastering.

You can always add coloration, reflections and reverbation, but how are you going to remove them if the room adds them during the raw recording?

[moxham123]

A better description of my idea of a good 21st century room would be "acoustically neutral." This way any type of sound could be recorded in its natural state and then changed with software/plug-ins during mastering.

You can always add coloration, reflections and reverbation, but how are you going to remove them if the room adds them during the raw recording?

We have this discussion frequently. It's better to record a track "DRY" and manipulate it anyway you want with digital technology.

[songsmith]

Anyone here ever played at "the cottage" AKA The Lorelei? The place is so full of acoustically interesting places, it weirds me out. Lots of people like the stonework out on the porch, and that's pretty good for loud sources like drums and amps, but I LOVE the kitchen. High ceilings, lath & plaster walls, reflective but few problems with standing waves, and whatever coloration it has, it's pleasant. You can't play loud, though, acoustic instruments and vocals only... the room loads easily, and starts sounding muddy.
I'd love to do a record there.

[lonewolf]

A better description of my idea of a good 21st century room would be "acoustically neutral." This way any type of sound could be recorded in its natural state and then changed with software/plug-ins during mastering.

You can always add coloration, reflections and reverbation, but how are you going to remove them if the room adds them during the raw recording?

We have this discussion frequently. It's better to record a track "DRY" and manipulate it anyway you want with digital technology.

Agreed. The only "effect" that I like to use during recording is soft gating so that there is minimal bleed between tracks.