How can I build a vocal booth and not damage my floors or my wall?

Question

I refuse to spend any more for studio time in new york, this is ridiculous. Please let me know what goes into building a vocal booth in my apartment? in can be cheap so long as a minimal amount of sound comes out of the booth.

can it be as easy as a 3x3 foot booth built with 8 slabs of wood with insulation inside? How can I protect my floor? It's hardwood. is a carpet good enough?

Answer 1

Awesome question, and voice actor Harlan Hogan (http://harlanhogan.com/) has totally got this covered.

Look at his simple yet effective portable setup here: http://www.dvguru.com/2006/12/14/diy-voi...  

(and here) http://digitalproducer.digitalmedianet.c...

Genius. He claims it yields warm, excellent sound.

He also notes that if your house is loud, you can drive yourself to a more peaceful place and record with your cheap yet successful rig in your car.  Then you're only out the price of gas, that little Target cube, and some foam.  Take that, studio prices!

To address your concern about sound coming out of the booth, and I see no reason why you couldn't create this rig in your 3x3 scale.  Firstly, construct the booth as you plan to, attach the pyramid foam, and set up your mic.  I think foam on the floor would be best.  

Check out his books, too, if you haven't yet.  I wish you success! Voice acting can bring in great pay, and you shouldn't have give your hard-won cash to some studio.  

:)

Answer 2

AAAhhh cool question. Being a former Audio Visual tech and also a musician I think I qualify to answer this.... You sound like you just need this for one person based on the 3 x 3 slabs you mentioned. I guess it depends on whether you are using it for normal voice-overs or if you are using it for singing. But I think it should be do-able regardless. You may have to double insulate if you are doing loud vocals. A 3 x 3 x 3 cube meaning it should have a enclosed ceiling too. You can build it like a box on-top of a desk. You can buy sound proofing kits for 99 dollars. I have seen them at

http://www.musiciansfriend.com

But I'm not sure if they sell them there anymore try googling it 'Sound Proofing tiles'.

You will need to buy a table mic stand I recommend the goose-neck type as these are more flexible. And of course you will need the mic base too. Get a goose neck light too that uses LCD bulbs only as these are the coolest temperature lights and it will get warm in that cube.

You want to try to use shag carpeting too it deadens the sound the best.