Hang the blankets "inside" the booth, overlapped to cover the PVC piping, not outside. And close them up. You actually had a lot of entry points for noise and open, uncovered concrete floor space. One builder created a PVC booth similar to yours (but more sturdy) and glued sound proof panels to the curtains.
This was entirely just for a demonstration. There are a many ways to improve this setup. Carpeting on the floor, additional moving blankets, putting it in a quiet space to begin with. Sound panels on the curtains is a great idea! I'd recommend separating them with a spacer (air gap) from the moving blankets as it will actually exponentially increase the effectiveness of the panels, but a great idea nonetheless!
I was a landscape contractor in Calif for many years, specializing in irrigation, so am very familiar with PVC pipe/fittings. I decided to go with 3/4 inch just as you did; 1/2" would not be very sturdy and 1' could create echo or interfere with audio quality- Just my personal assumption. You would also want to use what is called "Schedule 40 grade" because it has much thicker "walls" than the cheaper more flimsy pipe. I chose not to use glue, as it can be messy AND I can take it apart and reassemble it in the event I want it to be portable. BTW, yes, those 3-way corner fittings have always been kind of a challenge to find...
Ahh this is awesome info. Thanks so much for sharing this. I felt like a fish out of water walking around the hardware store. I'm used to sitting in a quiet editing room lol. I never considered the audio ramifications of thicker pipe, but you may be onto something. Thanks again for sharing your experience. Great to know that it works out okay -Randy
I actually just built one of these and I'm so glad to find your comment! It has a little bit of wobble and sag to it but I used 1" schedule 40 and I was a little worried about the structural integrity of it, but if that's what you would use, then I'm glad I used it!
I’ve been using a PVC booth for 5 years now. Greatest investment I’ve made. I just have to close my windows with no issue unless a loud bus or truck goes by. And yeah, 3-corners are never in hardware stores due whatever reason. I always had to get them online. Middle rack is perfect for stability as well.
I would add 3 additional horizontal beams half-way up, using T junctions (you would need 6 junctions, as the "back" beam would need to be higher or lower, with the junctions sitting one on top of the other). That would give it a lot more rigidity and stability, while leaving one side open for access. Plastic pipes can get noisy, so they will need dampening. I would cover the pipes with those foam "pool noodles", so they don't reverberate. Alternatively, try tightly taping or gluing felt cloth around them.
This is a clinic in soundproofing vs acoustic treatment, and I’m HERE for it 😂. If you have a quiet space already, this looks perfect and much less mess (and money) than a custom or prefab studio build! 👏👏👏
I use a 6x5x7h pvc booth with 1” Schedule 40 pipe. No glue (so far); the structure is more reinforced than yours and the heavy moving blankets clamped tight make it quite strong. I found all joints available at Lowe’s, even the corner pieces. I used the corner pieces for the far wall (where recording was happening), but the door side I used elbows on the bottom to create an entrance with no beam in the “doorway” to trip over. I used 1/2” cross-beams, with snap-on “T”s, so they can be height-positioned for clamping on my audio interface and a midway 1” vertical to clamp a pop screen. For mic and computer desk, I used heavy-duty tripods - a boom stand & an adjustable lectern stand. I could have attached those to the booth, but I wanted them rock solid and those stands provided that. As you say, of the 2 components of ambient noise management, this booth style deals with acoustic treatment - reflected sound - not noise reduction in any serious way. In other words, it needs to be placed in a quiet space, although I have not had to treat the space itself, the booth kills reflections in a very live room. So it’s PART of the solution, not all of it. With a corded light bar zip-tied to a vertical beam midway on the left side of the booth, a clip on light on the top horizontal for more local illumination, & a Kindle 10” HD (on sale at an Amazon store for $110. Much lighter than an iPad), clamped on the right side vertical. That’s my setup and it works well. I use the heaviest moving blankets I could find and steel “clothespins to attach the blankets. Also, look for “spring steel gripper clips”! They have a lower profile than the “clothespins”, so you can layer blankets on top of them, outside the structure and inside (that air gap you were talking about).
@@dj_jodyne I tried to upload a tiny video (wouldn't let me upload a photo!), said it uploaded, but don't see it. You can use snap-on T-connectors for those cross-beams both above and in front, which are more adjustable. They're tight, so you may want to use a BIG wrench to snap them on.
I have a small office that I use for my day job. I've thought of installing a hospital curtain track on the ceiling and then installing a heavy fabric curtail that I can just deploy when recording. Does this seem like a viable solution?
You'll want to make sure the curtains are plenty thick. The thicker, the better. I would be best if the curtains would fill the gap completely, but not entirely necessary. 1st reflections are the biggest culprits for bad audio, so a curtain ceiling may help with those 1st reflections that come from the ceiling.
I did this in a corner of my old apartment. The ceiling I covered in acoustic foam as well as the wall in front of me and beside me. It was great! only thing that threw it off was the ac was near by :( I had to end up getting an SM7B that helped with the background noise 100%
Hang the blankets "inside" the booth, overlapped to cover the PVC piping, not outside. And close them up. You actually had a lot of entry points for noise and open, uncovered concrete floor space. One builder created a PVC booth similar to yours (but more sturdy) and glued sound proof panels to the curtains.
This was entirely just for a demonstration. There are a many ways to improve this setup. Carpeting on the floor, additional moving blankets, putting it in a quiet space to begin with. Sound panels on the curtains is a great idea! I'd recommend separating them with a spacer (air gap) from the moving blankets as it will actually exponentially increase the effectiveness of the panels, but a great idea nonetheless!
So for ur demonstration of how effective this design is u set it up suboptimally when u there was a better way ? @@voices
I was a landscape contractor in Calif for many years, specializing in irrigation, so am very familiar with PVC pipe/fittings. I decided to go with 3/4 inch just as you did; 1/2" would not be very sturdy and 1' could create echo or interfere with audio quality- Just my personal assumption. You would also want to use what is called "Schedule 40 grade" because it has much thicker "walls" than the cheaper more flimsy pipe. I chose not to use glue, as it can be messy AND I can take it apart and reassemble it in the event I want it to be portable. BTW, yes, those 3-way corner fittings have always been kind of a challenge to find...
Ahh this is awesome info. Thanks so much for sharing this. I felt like a fish out of water walking around the hardware store. I'm used to sitting in a quiet editing room lol. I never considered the audio ramifications of thicker pipe, but you may be onto something. Thanks again for sharing your experience. Great to know that it works out okay -Randy
@@voices Sure, anytime!
Thanks for the share!!
I actually just built one of these and I'm so glad to find your comment!
It has a little bit of wobble and sag to it but I used 1" schedule 40 and I was a little worried about the structural integrity of it, but if that's what you would use, then I'm glad I used it!
3/4 pvc or 2 x 2 x 8 lumber
I’ve been using a PVC booth for 5 years now. Greatest investment I’ve made. I just have to close my windows with no issue unless a loud bus or truck goes by.
And yeah, 3-corners are never in hardware stores due whatever reason. I always had to get them online.
Middle rack is perfect for stability as well.
Ahh this is great to hear! I'd love to see how you built the middle rack as well. Super cool! :) -Randy
Good to hear your perspective thanks for adding!
Well, we uncovered that the space is WAY more important than any amount of moving blankets. Who's using a booth like this?
This vocal booth plus a little vocal isolator shield would do wonders
Thank you for the inspiration
Thanks for watching!
I would add 3 additional horizontal beams half-way up, using T junctions (you would need 6 junctions, as the "back" beam would need to be higher or lower, with the junctions sitting one on top of the other). That would give it a lot more rigidity and stability, while leaving one side open for access. Plastic pipes can get noisy, so they will need dampening. I would cover the pipes with those foam "pool noodles", so they don't reverberate. Alternatively, try tightly taping or gluing felt cloth around them.
This is a clinic in soundproofing vs acoustic treatment, and I’m HERE for it 😂.
If you have a quiet space already, this looks perfect and much less mess (and money) than a custom or prefab studio build! 👏👏👏
Thanks for tuning in Justin! Blanket forts can really do the trick :p
I use a 6x5x7h pvc booth with 1” Schedule 40 pipe. No glue (so far); the structure is more reinforced than yours and the heavy moving blankets clamped tight make it quite strong. I found all joints available at Lowe’s, even the corner pieces. I used the corner pieces for the far wall (where recording was happening), but the door side I used elbows on the bottom to create an entrance with no beam in the “doorway” to trip over. I used 1/2” cross-beams, with snap-on “T”s, so they can be height-positioned for clamping on my audio interface and a midway 1” vertical to clamp a pop screen. For mic and computer desk, I used heavy-duty tripods - a boom stand & an adjustable lectern stand. I could have attached those to the booth, but I wanted them rock solid and those stands provided that.
As you say, of the 2 components of ambient noise management, this booth style deals with acoustic treatment - reflected sound - not noise reduction in any serious way. In other words, it needs to be placed in a quiet space, although I have not had to treat the space itself, the booth kills reflections in a very live room.
So it’s PART of the solution, not all of it. With a corded light bar zip-tied to a vertical beam midway on the left side of the booth, a clip on light on the top horizontal for more local illumination, & a Kindle 10” HD (on sale at an Amazon store for $110. Much lighter than an iPad), clamped on the right side vertical. That’s my setup and it works well. I use the heaviest moving blankets I could find and steel “clothespins to attach the blankets. Also, look for “spring steel gripper clips”! They have a lower profile than the “clothespins”, so you can layer blankets on top of them, outside the structure and inside (that air gap you were talking about).
Honestly, love seeing all the different ways other people go about this!
Hi Alan. Would you be open to sharing how you built yours? Would be keen to see them. Cheers, Jodyne
@@dj_jodyneI started with the Vocal Booth ToGo RUclips videos for a 4x4 booth and modified it from there.
@@alan2a1l thanks!
@@dj_jodyne I tried to upload a tiny video (wouldn't let me upload a photo!), said it uploaded, but don't see it.
You can use snap-on T-connectors for those cross-beams both above and in front, which are more adjustable. They're tight, so you may want to use a BIG wrench to snap them on.
Extremely informative. Thanks @Randy
Thanks for watching :) -Randy
I love everything about this!
Thanks for the help! -Randy
And be sure to sign up with Voices, where we take 90% of the budget for ourselves. We triple-dip on fees and pass the expenses on to you!
The electrician in me just died a little. JK. Awesome job!
We tried LOL
OSHA approves this video! ;)
New subscriber here. Thanks Voices!
Thanks for subbing! Appreciate having you onboard.
OR...you can but a weed tent and put some acoustic foam inside...
this!
I have a small office that I use for my day job. I've thought of installing a hospital curtain track on the ceiling and then installing a heavy fabric curtail that I can just deploy when recording. Does this seem like a viable solution?
Thats an awesome idea! Super functional, easy to get rid of when you're not using it! That's awesome. -Randy
will it deaden the sound sufficiently? Do the curtains need to hit the floor and do I need to rig up a curtain ceiling?@@voices
You'll want to make sure the curtains are plenty thick. The thicker, the better. I would be best if the curtains would fill the gap completely, but not entirely necessary. 1st reflections are the biggest culprits for bad audio, so a curtain ceiling may help with those 1st reflections that come from the ceiling.
I did this in a corner of my old apartment. The ceiling I covered in acoustic foam as well as the wall in front of me and beside me. It was great! only thing that threw it off was the ac was near by :( I had to end up getting an SM7B that helped with the background noise 100%
that's amazing
Thanks for watching!
I fked unless someone messages me by tomorrow morning on this comment and helps me know what fabric to get and where
no way home depot
If you've ever wanted to see an audio-geek navigate a Home Depot, you've come to the right video -Randy
Why not just go to a store that has the correct products?
Because of time.
A poor build will result in poor results. Take in to account to make better videos by doing the job right.