Huge empty room vs midsized bedroom for recording?
Hi guys, I'm getting more and more passionate about acoustic guitar recordings! I'm reading several topics about it and I would like your opinion regarding the choice of the room.
I recently moved in a new apartment and for reasons of "family (girlfriend) serenity" the only places where it's possible for me to record are two: - On one side there is the guest room (18 ft x 13 ft), but it's fully furnished with wardrobes, bed and furniture. https://i.ibb.co/Qr1wGfc/Schermata-2...e-21-16-05.png - On the other side there is a completely empty huge living room (26.5ft x 17.6ft). [I have no idea of the american standards for apartments, but in Italy there are some apartments as large as my living room, so I find it appropriate to call it "giant living room"]. https://i.ibb.co/PtHcSws/Schermata-2...e-21-16-16.png Anyway, my doubt is that such a large room could give me too much reverb, opinions? Can anyone tell me if such a huge room can give me trouble of some kind? Also, both rooms have marble floors. A further problem is that I was literally forbidden by my girlfriend to apply acoustic treatment to the walls, hence my question: do you think that the blankets on the floor and many cushions in the corners allow for better acoustic? Any other tips to suggest? |
Definitely the larger room would record better. Some acoustic absorbing panels in the room even better but you possible could get away without much of that if mikes not too far from the guitar and you sit in a location minimizing standing waves.
Add some reverb post recording if desired. |
I would use the larger room
Not sure what you mean by my "my doubt is that such a large room could give me too much reverb" ? There will be reflection/reverberation from the walls in either room, but how much and how noticeable it will be, depends on multiple variable factors but in general,, the larger the room the less problematic they will be. As Derk noted close mic'ing well help with this also Also in general you do not want record dead center in the room but more like a 2/3 --1/3 position from one of the shorter walls Cushions in the corners could very well help... Blankets on the walls not much help. Some acoustic panel manufactures now offer printed art or decor type fabric for their panels so as to become more like wall decoration, as opposed to an eye sore .. If that is still a no go And If you have some storage room in the closet,,,, free standing Acoustic Panels --2 ft. by 4 ft. by 4 or 6 inches deep (often called Gobo's ) would be your best bet (either DYI or store bought) You can take them out of closet and set them up around your recording position then put them away to keep your Gal happy. |
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(I haven't any carpet and also my apartment has marble floors, not moquette) |
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My experience is that for recording acoustic guitar, a small to medium sized room like you're showing here is better than a large room. I could not control the ambience in the large room like I could the smaller room with plenty of bass traps. In the large room, even when surrounded with acoustic panels, there was just too much mid and high frequencies in the reflections.
On the other hand, recording cello or violin, as two examples, sound much better in the middle of the larger room. |
Marble floors are going to present a challenge. The are highly reflective and that reflection will want to make its way into your microphones.
Area rugs might help, along with the use of gobos. One thing for certain, you will need to do fairly close miking. Your goal is to keep the reflections from interfering too much with your recordings. |
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If so you want a to think about a dense throw rug even if only small, and right under your recording position . |
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Room acoustics will play a greater part in your recorded sound that the difference in quality of mics, within certain limits.
What about investing in a nice rug to put on the floor and if necessary save on your mic purchases? As an added bonus your ’family’ might appreciate this more... ;) |
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Another thought might be interlocking rubber flooring tiles maybe 5 ft X 5 ft |
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http://www.bluefrogaudio.co.uk/wpima...-120-STAND.jpg |
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