After just a few long recording sessions you will soon discover some uncomfortable physical discomforts you might not have taken into consideration while building, assembling your recording studio; you will either suffer from a freezing cold booth or a sweating uncirculated air space. If you do not find a way to balance out your physical comfort your voice will be affected.
Soundproofing…Low Floor Noise…Perfect conditions in your booth require some changes to your environment to capture and enhance your vocal talents plus taking in consideration for your microphone pick up capabilities and how your voice bounces. Excellent isolation booths are your income security base and a necessity to reach the low floor noise requirements of the recording clips your clients need. With your little corner studio cut off from the “noises of the world” you will find the need to “think outside of the box” for your own physical comfort and for your voice to perform at top levels.
Some problems you may face are:
low light options
environment too hot or too cold
no air circulation; stale air, stifling air
claustrophobia like conditions
and sometimes booths, home created or professional, they can seem hot, humid and can affect your performance. (remember anxiety will increase your heart rate and rise your body heat in a small, enclosed space)
Looking at the long time professionals who have offered some hints and tips and some merchandising big brand marketing blogs that have floated around can help you discover new methods and new products that will be offered for your comfort and yet maintain that low floor noise you are looking for.
With winter coming and layers of clothing being unpacked from storage we have discovered a couple of possibilities that might give you a head start for your comfort in the recording booth environment.
Here is a list that has been used with success before:
- Electrical heating pads
- Wearing comfortable layers; to be added or removed between takes. Cotton is one of the favorite choices breathable, quiet, light.
- Thermal Underwear
- Heated jackets or pants; all rechargeable and no cords to trip around or to cause electrical interference. Heated jackets can be used for any winter activity or used as a “lap blanket.”
Quick reminder and awareness when dealing with fabrics for the rustle and noise of clothes that are picked up by the microphone when you move around as you record.
Here is a great quote from Voiceover L.A.;
“… Lose noisy clothing and accessories. Does anything you’re wearing create sound with subtle movement? That pleather jacket? That high collar? What about your bling? A noisy necklace? Dangling earrings? If you’re going to be hooked up with a lavalier microphone (small microphone clipped to clothing), perhaps a less crisp “less starchy’ shirt would be better.
Lots of layers tend to encourage movement from voiceover actors. A single comfortable shirt will do. Control your hair and hair accessories. Talent who are used to the occasional hair toss to the camera tend to continue this habit off camera. Stop. It makes noise… and we don’t care what you look like. We only care how you sound in the booth.” - https://voiceoverla.com/voiceover-attire-what-to-wear/
- Ergonomic chair with “Squeak Free” reviews and the use of chair seat support cushions, or back supports (some can be heated, some use cooling gel pads, some are mesh for breathable fabric) will help if your studio gets hot or cold.
Here is an Article on Ergonomic Trends: No Squeak Office/Gaming Chairs for Review: https://ergonomictrends.com/office-chairs-that-dont-squeak/
“Quantum WorkPro 9000; we found it to be one of the most solidly built mid-back office chairs in any price range. The entire base is made of one solid metal frame that extends to the armrests and backrest stem. The result? Zero squeaks. I owned this chair for at least one year.
AKRacing Gaming Chair; There are zero squeaks and creaks, whether I’m shifting or rocking in the chair. This is thanks to the one piece metal frame covered in anti-corrosive paint and other premium parts that push the price of the chair to over $350 at last check. For a quiet durable gaming chair for the average build person, the AKRacing is hard to top.
Nouhaus Ergo3D; is an all around ergonomic office chair that also happens to be squeak free. The high back and adjustable headrest offers great back and neck coverage while the flexible lumbar support cradles your back regardless of your sitting posture. The all mesh design on the Nouhaus is great in hotter climates or if you sweat easily. However, the seat is on the firmer side. The backrest on the Nouhaus reclines to a respectable 135 degrees. Along with an extremely large and pivoting headrest, and this makes for a great office chair for people with back or neck pain. I’m a big fan of the rollerblade style casters on the Nouhaus as well. They’re vastly superior to the normal plastic ones, and help the chair glide through carpets and hardwood with ease without leaving streaks. Squeak and streak free is what Nouhaus brings.”
- Hot water bottles
- Hand warmers (electrical, microwaveable rice bags)
Here is an article for reviews from Travel & Leisure: https://www.travelandleisure.com/best-rechargeable-hand-warmers-7091575
OCOOPA Rechargeable Hand Heater
Survival Frog QuickHeat PRO Rechargeable Hand Warmer
- Plush Lap Blankets
- Beanies
- Scarf to keep your neck warm: a lot of professional singers will use scarves one was quoted; “It cuts the chill and wind and protects the throat.”
- Neck Warmers
- Fingertip less gloves
Most professional jobs ask for a noise floor of below -60db which is pretty quiet. There are a few simple ways that you can reduce your noise floor inside your booth.
One of the most common mistakes and important to remember is to place your computer processor outside of your studio. It can get pretty hot in your home studio and that can set your computer fan off which your microphone will pick up.
Next, making sure that you are using high quality gear and cables; sometimes, sub-par gear can have a high “signal to noise ratio” which can sound like a hiss in your recording.
Outside of your studio you might need to turn off your air conditioner, heating units, T.V., stereo, while you are recording and in some cases, even your refrigerator, washer and dryer. You can go one step further and be aware for the heavy traffic times and how much is heard through the window and thin walls. Oh! And don’t forget about animals too…my “lap cat” hated to be “shut-out” her curiosity will not be silent… she will “meow” “howl” “yowl” until the door is open and she is “dealt with.” Finding time slots to record when you are raising a family and in your “home recording studios” can be daunting to say the least.
Awareness of the shape of your studio can affect your recording sound is interesting. With so many different angles and different conditions home studios are created in it is good to be aware that many voice-over actors are literally doing their work inside of boxes, or while traveling in closets or small bathrooms with whatever they can find to muffle the walls so it’s no wonder that it can sometimes sound a little “boxy” in your recordings. Breaking up this boxy shape with soft, sound absorbing materials and objects at different angles can help diffuse the sound as your voice bounces. Being aware of the different angles and places you will need to “thicken” up your sound proofing with different kinds of materials that will work best for your individual needs, this takes a little study and testing.
Dampening sound for furniture like; tables, desks, or stands by cushioning surfaces by using upholstered in plush fabrics like suede, microfiber, chenille, towels, felt, velvet or corduroy can all do wonders for sound absorption and provide a “squeak free” “scrap free” recording space. Using large gaming mats, mouse pads, or rubber under your laptops, keyboards, mouse, and other desk accessories hanging around; will help to lessen echoes, scraping, equipment movements and hums.
Making sure you are aware of the movements of your chair rollers, or chair scraps these could be causes for the unwanted recording sounds. The use of plastic office floor mats, hardwood floors, cement floors, tile floors will echo and heighten your sounds of movement while you are in your studio. The benefit of finding and purchasing soundproof, noise-cancelling floor mats can be worth the cost in the end. Gaming floor mats are well known and proven to help with this concern and have been used to stop these ambient sounds to create a better low floor noise when recording. The use of “anchored floor rugs” so they do not slip or cause tripping from rug edges with double faced tape for better stability can help to muffle sound too.
Here is an article with reviews for the “Gaming Mats” proven to help with low floor noise: https://citizenside.com/technology/14-incredible-gaming-chair-mat-for-2023/
GTRACING Gaming Chair Mat
Sallous Vinyl Gaming Chair Mat
The Yincimar Gaming Chair Mat
With awareness and knowledge to start you on the path of your own research to the best results for your environment and lifestyle your recording sessions will BLAZE WITH HEAT even in the cold winter weather!
SHINE ON!
SOTVO Team
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