[MorningStar Smiles]

Since I began voice acting in February 2006, I have been using my college's sound studio. When I started getting professional work and my professor didn't exactly approve because the studio was supposed to be used for educational purposes only. Plus, only being able to record when the studio was open was extremely limiting on how much I could do. SO after much research (and half my summer's earnings), I built my own! It's been an on-going process but after 3 months of research, saving, buying, building, installing, etc. my first sound studio is finally finished!!!! Here's how I did it and what it looks like. ^_^

Dilema #1: I live in an apartment on campus and so I couldn't install anything permanent. First I uninstalled the shelf and built a free-standing wooden frame out of old 2x4s from my college's shop.


Dilema #2: The walls are echoey and I wanted acoustics that were a step above blankets but not as expensive as acoustical cotton. With recommendation from a friend, I bought 12 1" thick compressed fiberglass (the fluffy insulin in the walls of most homes) and hotglued board cotton to it to cover. Then I nailed the pieces up to the wooden frame.

I put velcro on the pieces where the opening was (after sewing the panels together) so that I could easily fold them up when I'm not using the studio and allow air flow. Having them collapsable will also make moving a heck of a lot easier.


For the door, I nailed a door hinge to the door piece and the wooden frame so I could lift it up and down to get in and out. I also attached a string to the door and a button to the wall so that I could hook the door on the wall and it would hold itself open.


Now I go in, close the sliding closet door, and unvelcro the wall pieces so they fit together and help block out outside noises. This is what the doorway wall looks like down from the inside.


And this is what it looks like from outside the closet:


Finally, I put everything in and hooked it up. And yes, I'm currently using a piece of cardboard for my wireless keyboard and mouse shelf. XD I'll build a new one soon when I have the time. I just really wanted to get set up. I still have a little bit more of fiberglass needed to cover and sew to the walls yet too.



And how does it sound? I still need to mess with the settings a bit but it's not too shabby ^_^

[Matt Alan]

;-; Its so beautiful.

[Okami-Kun]

-_- *envy envy envy envy* heheh, looks amaz-zah-zing! can I fly you to Seattle to build one for me? ^_-. Heh.

[lightofhope18]

It looks great MSS! I can remember when you first joined and you told me that you recorded in your college studio. Such change! It sounds great by the way!

[AlwaysRina]

AWESOME!!!

Haha, I can totally see you acting all smooth and cool when your buddies come over and see it for the first time XD

"Hey, how are things?"

"Oh well you know me... *leans against wall* I've been doin pretty good, ya know... with my new RECORDING STUDIO and all... oh, this thing? Yea, I built it myself... You... You wanna check it out? Then come on in!!" XDD

[MorningStar Smiles]

XD if only I was that suave. It's been more like this:

*friend knocks on door and I answer*

Me: "Hey! How are you? COME SEE MY NEW SOUND STUDIO!!!!!!111" *already turned around and walking briskly to my room. I pause once there and glance over my shoulder to make sure they had been following*

Friend: *laughs* "You have a sound studio?"

Me: "Yeah! I built in my closet! (for the first month of school this was followed by: I still have a ton of work left but isn't it awesome?! I'm so excited!)"

Friend: "Are you allowed to do that?"

Me: "Of course!...well...I didn't tell the apartment managers but I'll take it down before I leave! I'm not damaging the walls or anything so it should be fine. *begins excitedly showing all the different features and elements*"

etc etc

XD I'll have to try your method Rina. Sounds much more fun I'm also planning on getting a big sheet of paper and taping it to the closet door and have everyone who ever uses it sign their name. It'll be a good keepsake in the future. ^_^

[MorningStar Smiles]

Originally Posted by Okami-Kun

-_- *envy envy envy envy* heheh, looks amaz-zah-zing! can I fly you to Seattle to build one for me? ^_-. Heh.

Pay for the flight and the supplies and I'll be happy to help you build you one.

[KaelWolfcry]

Niiiiice. I've got an unused closet that I'm looking to convert into a recording booth myself, so these are some good tips to keep in mind. Thanks! ^_^

[assretard]

You are crazy.. I love it!

My GF would hate you if she knew you are inspiring me to turn a closet into recording-studio
Altho I'm going to restrain myself from it this time!

[Heist]

That looks great, build me one xD If I had my own apartment I'd do something like this. Have an unused bedroom as a production studio =P