How about a pinball machine, wide screen TV with surround sound, and a
wet bar? Sounds like it would make a good lounge and place for the
musicians to hang out, rehearse, tune, and snack.

Your post really flipped my head around. Yes, this is a great idea!


The other is a large unfinished basement storage room.


Having a separate studio and control room is a good idea, but consider
how inconvenient it will be to move a microphone if you have to trot
downstairs, move the mic, then trop upstairs again to listen to what
it sounds like. This (or you) will get old fast.

Time to hire someone... hehehe... Yes, I realise this . I just don't see any
other choice unless I want to modify the house with a centraly located control
room. Right now there is NO control room. One good thing about the house is
it is a split foyer and the stairs are centrally located so getting up and down
isn't too hard. Hey I'm still in shape... hehehe



I think this is the second time in as many days that I've seen someone
express the sentiment "It really sounds great but I'm not satisfied
with it." What do you REALLY mean? What part doesn't sound great?

Good point and I have read this as well. What I mean there are rooms you play
in and you find yourself saying it sounds great in here! Then there are rooms
you play in that are too lively and your 1/4 notes end up being 1/79 notes -
that sucks. Then there's the dead rooms that are ok but not alot of character.
This room is dead - not alot of character - and for the most part for
recording that is what I need.
What I'm mostly unhappy with is the carpet and wish for a wood floor.

You might consider using the spare bedroom as your control room and
using an upstairs room as an isolation room. It might work out to be
more convenient, and make for less running up and down.

This really turned my head around. I walked upstairs and clapped my hands a
few times. That's how I test rooms. There is ALOT of room upstairs with the
living room/dining room/kitchen in one connected area. Lots of sunshine too.
Plenty of room for a band and better character in the sound of the room. The
only concern is the high vaulted ceiling. But by clapping my hands I did'nt
hear any boominess.

But how do you get this eye contact? Is there a window
between the family room and somewhere else? If you're looking through
an open door, there goes your isolation between the studio and control
room.

This is well thought out Mike. If I have the control room in a bedroom the
singer would be in the main room with the band doing a scratch vocal and then
doing vocals later as overdubs. I almost always do this for CD projects as I
like to give the vocals alot of time and attention.

What really got me thinking is I can use ANY room in the house according to the
needs of the project. I think I'll use that approach for any upcoming
projects.

On a side note I'm sure there are a few who would read this thread and go -
this guy is doing this for money??? Yes, I would love to have the 100,000$$ to
build a dedicated studio that would look good in pictures in a brouchure. How
much business would I get from a brouchure? I don't know. Somebody tell me.
How much business would I get from someone reading a list of expensive
equipment? I don't know. I hope someone can cue me in on that. I quite
curious about it.

I do know the best studios in our area get alot of business by referal and
repeat customers. That's what I focus although I do hope in the future to have
a snazzy brouchure. Every customer that comes in gets the very best I can do
because I want them to be nothing short of thrilled with the product. Whether
its a cheap demo or a lengthy CD project. I want them to come back and
definately want a positive buzz going around about what I do. I go overboard
in making every recording the best I can do of my ability. May charge them for
20 hours but I usually end up putting in 40 hours making sure everything is
perfect. I want repeat customers and want the word to get out. It seems to be
working.

I have seen several guys in the area invest large bucks in building really cool
studios but only getting little cash flow. I have decided to only enlarge my
studio according to the cash flow. Right now cash flow is increasing so now
I'm upgrading - again! Hopefully I can upgrade some more.

Thanks for your help.

Mike