B-rig for a separated basement?

[Sedaxel]

Almost always you’ll want to face a shorter wall (assuming you can get things symmetrical), so the reflection off the rear wall is as far away from you as possible. Monitors right against the wall, keep the front wall surface hard and put treatment on the side walls and ceiling (making especially sure to cover 1st reflection points).

Perfect. Thank you so much!

 

[maguchi]

A Telecaster and a older Peavey solid state amp. Those two could withstand a nuclear winter!

 

[Sedaxel]

Almost always you’ll want to face a shorter wall (assuming you can get things symmetrical), so the reflection off the rear wall is as far away from you as possible. Monitors right against the wall, keep the front wall surface hard and put treatment on the side walls and ceiling (making especially sure to cover 1st reflection points).

By the way, as a matter of coincidence, another mate bought a "man cave" from a guy who dead early (RIP) and who was obviously an audio enthusiast... in that cave he had a lot of audio and electronics stuff (hand made speakers, boards, and whatnot). One of the things he had is a UMIK-1 with the MiniDSP board. My mate doesn´t know what it is, so he gave it to me... just in case I know what to do with it.

I´ve never used REW, nor any measurement mics. I know NOTHING about room correction and whatnot. Reading some MirrorProfiles posts, it looks like it´s that kind of thing that impresses you at the beginning, and after a lot of time of tinkering, you end up giving up and not applying corrections at all, but room conditioning instead.

I don´t want to go that rabbit hole if the result is going to lead me to just avoid corrections. Any wise advises?

 

[MirrorProfiles]

By the way, as a matter of coincidence, another mate bought a "man cave" from a guy who dead early (RIP) and who was obviously an audio enthusiast... in that cave he had a lot of audio and electronics stuff (hand made speakers, boards, and whatnot). One of the things he had is a UMIK-1 with the MiniDSP board. My mate doesn´t know what it is, so he gave it to me... just in case I know what to do with it.

I´ve never used REW, nor any measurement mics. I know NOTHING about room correction and whatnot. Reading some MirrorProfiles posts, it looks like it´s that kind of thing that impresses you at the beginning, and after a lot of time of tinkering, you end up giving up and not applying corrections at all, but room conditioning instead.

I don´t want to go that rabbit hole if the result is going to lead me to just avoid corrections. Any wise advises?

It’s actually pretty good/helpful, and you can do some subtle/manual eq work to your speakers with it (it doesn’t have to be brute forcing aggressive curves).

I’d hang on to it, and only use it when you’re ready. If you do heavy handed stuff with it, IMO it’s not ideal, but as a gentle icing on the cake thing it’s absolutely perfect.

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

By the way, as a matter of coincidence, another mate bought a "man cave" from a guy who dead early (RIP) and who was obviously an audio enthusiast... in that cave he had a lot of audio and electronics stuff (hand made speakers, boards, and whatnot). One of the things he had is a UMIK-1 with the MiniDSP board. My mate doesn´t know what it is, so he gave it to me... just in case I know what to do with it.

I´ve never used REW, nor any measurement mics. I know NOTHING about room correction and whatnot. Reading some MirrorProfiles posts, it looks like it´s that kind of thing that impresses you at the beginning, and after a lot of time of tinkering, you end up giving up and not applying corrections at all, but room conditioning instead.

I don´t want to go that rabbit hole if the result is going to lead me to just avoid corrections. Any wise advises?

I’d consider what you are trying to accomplish, and why, first.

To me there are 2 dimensions: (that are not necessarily equal)

- A/a set up/room that gives you good reference
- B/ a set up that sounds good

A/ you need perfect when you master tracks, you need very good when you mix tracks, you would like it to be good when you record tracks for commercial/publishing purposes.
In my mind, you will never get a small square room at those levels, maybe you can get it closer, but does that really add value?

B/ That’s what I went for. When a reference track sounds good to my ears, I’m happy!
And I still can do stuff on a pro level without too many accidents.

Ime, you have to put some more time/energy in things that you would also do in a good reference room:
- use reference tracks consequentially
- check your mixes on other systems so you learn the “mistakes” you made on your set up, so..”know your room/setup”

So..if B is acceptable, maybe don’t introduce fixes before you identified a problem

 

[Sedaxel]

A/ you need perfect when you master tracks, you need very good when you mix tracks, you would like it to be good when you record tracks for commercial/publishing purposes.
In my mind, you will never get a small square room at those levels, maybe you can get it closer, but does that really add value?

Yeah. I´m not getting to a proffesional studio level by any means. I´m going to be recording, mixing and mastering, and I´d like it to be a the highest quality possible as I could get... but still being amateur, having a small room, and not being able to afford very expensive gear.

B/ That’s what I went for. When a reference track sounds good to my ears, I’m happy!
And I still can do stuff on a pro level without too many accidents.

Yes, realistically it´s this what I will need to do. Or some kind of mix of both approaches.

Ime, you have to put some more time/energy in things that you would also do in a good reference room:
- use reference tracks consequentially
- check your mixes on other systems so you learn the “mistakes” you made on your set up, so..”know your room/setup”

Agree. I´m already doing that in my current home studio (which is not even a home studio per se, just a room in my house with monitors, a PC and recording gear... )

Now, as the new home studio is still to be born, that´s why I try to do it right from the start. I´m aware it wont be top notch. And it´s not the intention. Just get the best for the purpose I have, and for the money of course. AND have fun in the process.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

I think with any room, there’s a ton of inexpensive/free things you can do to avoid some big pitfalls. Getting 80% of the way there is relatively easy, and doesn’t need to cost a lot.

I think it’s good to have high hopes, but also to be realistic on where to draw the line. It’s way too easy to throw money at the wrong things (while having the best intentions) and end up with something ineffective. Getting a few basics right is so worth it

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

Agree. I´m already doing that in my current home studio (which is not even a home studio per se, just a room in my house with monitors, a PC and recording gear...

well…don’t underestimate what you can do with that. Friends of mine did a recording from a home setup on an attic, that almost ended up on a David Foster produced track, and the only reason it didn’t, was cause Stevie Wonder after all made it to do the track, not cause of the recording quality

 

[Sedaxel]

well…don’t underestimate what you can do with that. Friends of mine did a recording from a home setup on an attic, that almost ended up on a David Foster produced track, and the only reason it didn’t, was cause Stevie Wonder after all made it to do the track, not cause of the recording quality

WOW! That´s big words, mate.

Yeah, in a completely different level, I´m quite happy with the results I´m getting for now. I´m still starting these kind of things. I´m a very beginner (even when I´m old, though). For now I´ve just recorded some short soundtracks for my girl´s theatre shows, and lately several songs of my folk band... which are decent enough to see people liking them. I have so much fun recording and mixing violin, mandolina, bouzouki, acoustic guitars, bodhrans, whistles... it´s actually a very regarding task and I enjoy every minute spent. That´s why I´ve decided to give a step up.

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

WOW! That´s big words, mate.

Yeah, in a completely different level, I´m quite happy with the results I´m getting for now. I´m still starting these kind of things. I´m a very beginner (even when I´m old, though). For now I´ve just recorded some short soundtracks for my girl´s theatre shows, and lately several songs of my folk band... which are decent enough to see people liking them. I have so much fun recording and mixing violin, mandolina, bouzouki, acoustic guitars, bodhrans, whistles... it´s actually a very regarding task and I enjoy every minute spent. That´s why I´ve decided to give a step up.

Sounds great man!
These days you can do a lot of stuff, with great results, with relatively modest investment. Recording/mixing…there’s an endless road of discovery ahead of you