post production studio questions

Hello forum! This is my first post after a lot of scanning the forum. My question here has to do with the overall concept of design for 1. A post mixing stage, and 2. A post editing suite. Often times on the forum things are given in specifics. I really enjoy this, and have learned a lot. What I am looking for though, is more of a general conceptual idea of what a person is trying to go for in the two above examples... I think that it might end up helping me a lot in the end. To that end, I think it might help a lot of the posters looking to design and build a room to understand what it is they are building. So, for my case. Am I right to assume that for a post mixing stage I am trying to recreate a really nice movie theater, so that the film I am working on will sound correct there? What about for TV, or DVD? Should this room be live, or dead, in general? What is the final goal, in the end? And the same for an editing suite. What are we trying to accomplish? Now, I am purposely not adding any details, because I feel this kind of general info might help those of us wanting to learn more. Sometimes with all of the talk of db's, standing waves, and flutter echo, the basic concept is lost on many. Thanks in advance for any help in teaching!!

Please read this thread!! http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3231

Thanks john for your reply. I understand the reason to know specifics, I just don’t have many. Respectfully, I withheld any info because I want to learn more about the principles that make the standards. Personally, I find that if I can grasp the idea, the ‘picture’ if you will, I can do fairly well. That, and with so many different projects, I get a bit overwhelmed. I am in the very early stages, and tying to develop a plan. (Plus, I can’t really afford one right now.) So back, to my original question. What are we tying to accomplish? What is the goal, as far as post production goes? Thanks again.

I think I know what you're looking for: The problem is that each situation is completely different so that the specifics are really the ending answers. But I'll try to tackle your questions. 1. A mix "stage" usually refers to a mixing room designed to mix for film and specifically theatrical releases or the movie theater. to that end, the room is large, as in real freekin' large 10,000 ft3 or so. This is to emulate the size of a reall commercial theater. If you want Dobly certification, you are gonna spend some bucks and get a great result. Many high end TV shows are being mixed in film dub stages such as "24", Lost, etc... These shows have a more dynamic soundscape and can benefit from a theatrical mix. 2. A post edit room can be just about any size since it is really not for critical mixing. But then again, here's where the specifics come in. What do you want to do in your post-edit suite????? That's the million dollar question. You wanna mix for TV? Maybe just edit dialog or do ADR, we cannot begin to know what your really need. Sit down and outline what it is you want to do in the rooms you are asking about and then people here can help a great deal. If you want general info, buy a book! :) -ashley

thanks.... this is much more what i was looking for... i guess i got a little wordy.. most texts i have read on this subject are very lacking in what the goal is you are shooting for. so, what my next question is, what do these rooms 'sound' like? what makes them sound different that a music room? you had mentioned things mixed for TV (other than lost and 24,). what should the rooms that mix normal TV sound like? thank again!

Well, any mixing control room is trying to do basically three things at once: 1. Emulate the actual listening space that the material will be heard in. -in the case of a mixing stage, this is a movie theater for sure -for a TV mix room, this is a typical living room vibe -for a music room, who the hell knows, an ipod, your car, living room whatever.... multiple sets of speakers are a must... 2. Give an exact representation of the signal your are manipulating. This aspect concerns imaging and frequency response of the speakers within the room, early reflections, controlled and even reverberation time across the spectrum etc... 3. Provide a functional space in which to get your work done, -egronomic workspace, I can reach the console and tape deck at once -room for a certain amount of visitors and support folks -place for all your crap, gear, lava lamps, bobble heads etc... -comfortable for MANy hours on end.... good chair, pleasing decor bla bla bla.... How you actuallize these three aspects of the control room entirely depends on what your purposes are for the room. That's what's so cool about room design, its different for each room. There you have it: the three commandments of control room design! I. Emulation of listening environment II. Exact Representaion of audio signal III. Comfy as hell for my fat ass Hmmm, let's see- Real, Accurate, Functional..... OK but not in that order. Functional, Accurate and Real (FAR) out dude.... -ashley

Thanks Ashley!!!! just what i was wondering! thanks! anyone esle?