Sound room question

stevieboy · October 1st, 2003, 03:17 PM

I'm moving into a new house--new to me I mean, and one of the rooms will be where I play music. I don't want to call it a "music room" because I don't have the luxury of using it just for that, but anyway, it has carpet on the floor but appears to have good hardwood floor underneath. Besides playing alot, I will be doing home recording miking amps--not pro recording, by any means, but I want to do the best I can. I can take the carpet up but now would be the best time. It's an average size bedroom.

The question, what are the pros and cons of carpet versus hardwood? What would you do?

Thanks in advance.

studio1087 · October 1st, 2003, 04:25 PM

If you pull up the carpet the room will sound boomy in recordings.

Sing in the shower for fun but don't make a recording in there. (Same concept.)

If you were going to practice only in a bare room it might be pretty cool. (Again, it's like singing in the shower.)

John

Ben Harmless · October 1st, 2003, 04:29 PM

My thinking is that it very much depends on what else you'll be doing with the room.

Hardwood floors can be nice for getting more of the room's sound back into the mic. The only thing you have to worry about in that case is whether or not you like the sound of the room when it comes back into the mic, and you won't know that untill you try. If you do happen to like it, then great. Experiment with different amp and mic placements and have a blast. Just remember that it'll be hard to keep that natural reverb out of the mix should you want to do so.

With carpeting you'll obviously get a lot more sound dampeniing. However, the room still has walls, and so you shouldn't expect a perfectly dead environment just because you have carpeting. You probably knew that though.

Where it gets tricky is when you have other things in the room. It is going to be a guest room? If so, you'll probably have a big bed in there that will affect the sound. If there's a lot of other furniture, it will be further affected.

Unless you can have to room all to yourself, my approach would be to keep the carpeting and try to deaden the room a little. Then you can spice up your recordings with a little reverb from a processor. It's not ideal, but most pro recordings aren't made in big open spaces anymore anyway. Heck, the last thing I recorded was for national release, and we did it in some guy's attic.

stevieboy · October 1st, 2003, 09:03 PM

No bed, it'll double as an office so desk, computer (TDPRI room!) etc. As pointed out, the question is, do I want it more dead or more lively. I guess the best thing is to leave it and see how it works, I could always take up the carpet later, it will just involve extra work once I move in.

Any one else have any thoughts or experience?

tenstrings · October 2nd, 2003, 02:25 AM

my wife did let me have a music room. not only did i leave the carpet on the floor, but i added some halfway up the walls!! makes climbing around the gear easier.
mabye i can post a pic.
brian

October 1st, 2003, 03:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
stevieboy Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: the valley Posts: 2,122 6 Photos	Sound room question I'm moving into a new house--new to me I mean, and one of the rooms will be where I play music. I don't want to call it a "music room" because I don't have the luxury of using it just for that, but anyway, it has carpet on the floor but appears to have good hardwood floor underneath. Besides playing alot, I will be doing home recording miking amps--not pro recording, by any means, but I want to do the best I can. I can take the carpet up but now would be the best time. It's an average size bedroom. The question, what are the pros and cons of carpet versus hardwood? What would you do? Thanks in advance. __________________ "One of the best bands ever. These guys were such perfectionist"--Youtube user comment

October 1st, 2003, 04:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
studio1087 Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Near Milwaukee Age: 44 Posts: 3,276 33 Photos	I would keep it. If you pull up the carpet the room will sound boomy in recordings. Sing in the shower for fun but don't make a recording in there. (Same concept.) If you were going to practice only in a bare room it might be pretty cool. (Again, it's like singing in the shower.) John __________________ JLG Carry On

October 1st, 2003, 04:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ben Harmless Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Albany, NY US of A Posts: 2,922	My thinking is that it very much depends on what else you'll be doing with the room. Hardwood floors can be nice for getting more of the room's sound back into the mic. The only thing you have to worry about in that case is whether or not you like the sound of the room when it comes back into the mic, and you won't know that untill you try. If you do happen to like it, then great. Experiment with different amp and mic placements and have a blast. Just remember that it'll be hard to keep that natural reverb out of the mix should you want to do so. With carpeting you'll obviously get a lot more sound dampeniing. However, the room still has walls, and so you shouldn't expect a perfectly dead environment just because you have carpeting. You probably knew that though. Where it gets tricky is when you have other things in the room. It is going to be a guest room? If so, you'll probably have a big bed in there that will affect the sound. If there's a lot of other furniture, it will be further affected. Unless you can have to room all to yourself, my approach would be to keep the carpeting and try to deaden the room a little. Then you can spice up your recordings with a little reverb from a processor. It's not ideal, but most pro recordings aren't made in big open spaces anymore anyway. Heck, the last thing I recorded was for national release, and we did it in some guy's attic. __________________ "I think I'll go for the life of sin, followed by the last-minute, presto-change-o, deathbed repentance." - B. Simpson

October 1st, 2003, 09:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
stevieboy Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: the valley Posts: 2,122 6 Photos	Thanks for the answers so far No bed, it'll double as an office so desk, computer (TDPRI room!) etc. As pointed out, the question is, do I want it more dead or more lively. I guess the best thing is to leave it and see how it works, I could always take up the carpet later, it will just involve extra work once I move in. Any one else have any thoughts or experience? __________________ "One of the best bands ever. These guys were such perfectionist"--Youtube user comment

October 2nd, 2003, 02:25 AM	#5 (permalink)
tenstrings Tele-Meister Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: seattle Posts: 238 1 Photos	my wife did let me have a music room. not only did i leave the carpet on the floor, but i added some halfway up the walls!! makes climbing around the gear easier. mabye i can post a pic. brian