Studio Design For Chior Setting

vpi · Post by **vpi** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 8:47 am

Hello All,

This is my first time posting and I am sooo glad that I found this site. I have an area in my back yard where I would like to build a 24' x 20' studio. I want to be able to bring in a 30 voice choir to record. Fisrt, is this site large enough? I could go bigger if I need to. What would be a great design for this project? I will be constructing this myself with the help of my dad who used to do construction.

Thanks,

VPI
Los Angeles, CA

barefoot · Post by **barefoot** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:16 am

Yeah, this seems very small for a 30 voice choir. For a group this size, I think 3600sqft and 24' vaulted ceilings is more like it. And this obviously would require a healthy budget. You might consider building a more modest space in the backyard for solo and instrumental recordings, then renting a space whenever you need to record the choir. There are a lot of great sounding churches, halls, and public facilities to be found, if you look hard.

So, maybe you need to think about a setup that bridges the gap between a project studio and a mobile studio?

Thomas

vpi · Post by **vpi** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 2:47 am

Thanks for the feedback. What if the sections (SAT) soprano, alto, tenor were broken down to be recorded in different sessions in a live room? Can this be pulled off liked this? I know I don't have the budget for vaulted ceilings but couldn't you add some effects to the voices to give it a full or live sound? The reason why I gave the 20 x 24 specifications for a studio is because the choir already sings in a space (choir stand) that is 10 x 18 at the church, which has 20 to 25 people singing at a time. I am just trying to get some idea of how I should construct my studio because it will be included with my bedroom, bathroom & family room addition.

Thanks,

VPI

barefoot · Post by **barefoot** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 3:24 am

vpi wrote:What if the sections (SAT) soprano, alto, tenor were broken down to be recorded in different sessions in a live room? Can this be pulled off liked this? I know I don't have the budget for vaulted ceilings but couldn't you add some effects to the voices to give it a full or live sound?.....

Yeah, you can probably get good results like this. I think a less lively, yet still highly diffuse room would do the trick. You don't want a dead room because, with the current state of technology, it's still next to impossible to synthesize a natural space. But, you do want the room reflections to be subdued and diffuse enough so they can nicely blend into your reverb effects.

You'll also have to think about the stereo field. You'll want to keep the singers out in the middle of the room, to maximize the sense of space. So you won't have a lot of room to position the individual groups as if they were standing in their relative positions. Instead, you'll have to move your stereo mic pair relative to the signers. This is where the highly diffuse room becomes important. You don't want any distinct reflections to show up three times in three different locations in the sound field when you mix down. Make sense?

Thomas

giles117 · Post by **giles117** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 9:44 am

Of course we forgot to ask what type of choir.

A contemporary Gospel choir recorded in a studio we tend to like it a little drier.

a morman tabernacle choir, yeah big space.

a counrtry backing choir yeah decent sized space.

So I ask what type if choir???

Bryan Giles

giles117 · Post by **giles117** » Wed Apr 21, 2004 9:50 am

If it is the type I do (contemp Gospel) here is what we do. I have a 10x12 (actual space) room, we track about 8 to 10 vocals at a time around a mic omni. (each section separately 2 times) then we track 3 people from each section (power singers) 2 times, blend it together and walah instant choir. Throw a nice plate or a medium room and you end up with a nice ambient space and you still keep the choir IN YOUR FACE when mix time comes.

I have recorded for a ton of Gospel acts... Commissioned, The Winans (back in the day,) Ron Winans Family and Friends, Rance Allen, Esther Smith etc.....

Gospel is what I do.

I also own a Mobile Recording Truck and we have fun using up to 20 mics to record a choir live. Why. Cuz they want the choir IN YOUR FACE.

No gregorian, Morman tabernacle, Brooklyn Tabernacle, Crystak Cathedral stuff here buddy. Now if that is what you do.... More space the merrier, but hey

We did a catholic track, stacked it well and added the right reverb and gave that good ole tall ceiling catholic vibe.

So it can be done.

Bryan Giles

vpi · Post by **vpi** » Fri Apr 23, 2004 6:10 pm

Thanks Bryan,

Contempo Gospel is what I do. This information is very helpful to me before I get started to build my studio. Do you have an email address that I can shoot some further question to you?

VPI