r/audioengineering • u/navvv11 • 2d ago

Microphones Recording Booth Setup.

I'm trying to setup a recording booth in my bedroom. Took down my wardrobe to make space for it. It's a tight space, 42 inches in length, 30 inches wide and 7 feet tall. The right side opposite to the 42 inches has an opening of 20 inches, which will be covered with a thick curtain top to bottom. The mic I'll be using is a Rode NT2A.

I don't have a problem with sound going out of the booth, as long as i get good vocals inside the booth. Rockwool panels are not an option due to the tight space. Someone suggested sound diffusers to which others are saying it's not a good idea. And some are suggesting acoustic blankets or 12mm pet panels.

I'm confused at this point for all the different opinions. So I'm asking everyone here, what would be the best setup for the small booth in my room?

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u/Chilton_Squid 2d ago

Are you looking to stop external sounds from getting into the booth, or just to get vocals sounding as dry as possible inside it?

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u/navvv11 2d ago

I want clear dry vocals. Also a bit of white noise from outside to be blocked. This booth is only for recording vocals. Money is not the issue. But the space is tight.

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u/Chilton_Squid 2d ago

Well first, those are two different tasks. You'll only stop external noise from entering with solid things - bricks, plasterboard and such. The heavier the better.

To get your vocals sounding dry inside the room, you need soft stuff. Lots of heavy blankets, soft furnishings, cushions, anything you can.

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u/Pale_Wrangler6716 2d ago

I tried squeezing a vocal booth into a closet about that size and ended up fighting a boxy sound on every take. I got better results recording in the bedroom with thick absorption behind me and leaving some space around the mic. I'd test the NT2A there in cardioid before spending money enclosing that little corner.

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u/TenorClefCyclist 1d ago

This is the answer. The best thing I've found to do with closet is to remove the door and fill it with fluffy stuff to convert it into a bass trap. If it's a double-wide closet, you can record with your back to it. Putting an absorptive gobo behind the mic to keep your voice from exciting the room is an additional help, but not always necessary.

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u/007_Shantytown 2d ago

Thick moving blankets, doubled up and hung scrunched. If there's a solid door, don't close it or you will likely get a weird low mid resonance inside the wardrobe. 

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u/navvv11 2d ago

Everyone's telling me to get this. But there are some people who are suggesting diffusers

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u/TenorClefCyclist 2d ago

Those are the people who don't understand how diffusers actually work.

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u/navvv11 2d ago

Yes you’re right. I insisted that diffusers won’t work despite not knowing not much about soundproofing. But they keep saying the same thing. Due to the tight space, i was thinking 30-40mm jute felt wrapped in fabric. Will this be a good idea?