I knew it was getting to be time to upgrade my recording space; I was spending more time in the cramped closet I had converted two years ago, and because of the longer times (i.e. more projects) I was noticing more and more outside noise infiltrating the space, and it would get obscenely hot in there while recording. (I know, I’m full of hot air, yadda yadda yadda…)

If I can toot my own horn for a moment, I’m pretty good at learning things and picking up new skills…kind of a jack-of-all-trades, master of none type thing. You know, like Mister Terrific, but not nearly as cool. I know my way around a workshop and tools, and I did the research so I could build my new booth myself.

So, the features I built into this thing that made it a serious upgrade from the previous space:

• Floating construction with a 4” lift from the office floor, and rubber U-brackets offering even more separation and low-end noise reduction.

• The frame work is done with offset studs so that the interior and exterior walls are floating free of each other, reducing the ability of direct noise transfer from outside sources.

• The exterior and interior walls and ceiling are both double-layered 1/2” drywall with a layer of Green Glue noise proofing compound in between.

• R-19 acoustic insulation between the walls and ceiling.

• The floor is a double layer of 1/2” plywood with a layer of 3mm weighted sound treatment rubber under each layer.

• Engineered hardwood floors sitting on yet another layer of 3mm rubber sound treatment to reduce outside low-end frequencies, but also keep the internal sound livelier.

• Carpeted walls and Rockwool bass traps to keep the sound at high quality…no room noise or boxiness to the sound when recording.

• A super quiet ventilation fan (maxes out at 16db) pulling through a custom-built sound maze vent to reduce the running sound inside the booth to virtually nothing, with a noise floor that doesn’t exceed -50db. (This may be my favorite feature.)

• A 27” LG monitor that allows for both my DAW and scripts to be on the screen at the same time without causing eye strain.

The whole process took about a week, and I was recording the entire time, so it was definitely a cramped experience in my office for a bit, but well worth it.

I’ve been able to comfortably record for over an hour at a time without feeling like I’ve been standing in a sauna. While I’ll miss the weight loss benefits, I’m beyond happy that I have this new, upgraded space.