Recording Spaces

How to select the perfect room for audio and video recording | EP 01

ROOM ACOUSTICS: HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST ROOM FOR RECORDING

Selecting the perfect recording room depends on different factors like the room size, reverberation level, and acoustic treatment and sometimes, simple adjustments such as carpets, curtains, and strategic positioning can significantly improve the acoustic in a room without permanent installation. 

In this video you’ll learn: 
 
  • Why room size and acoustic treatment matter for your instrument
  • How reverberant and dry spaces affect your sound
  • Practical adjustments for how to improve acoustics in a room 
     
Watch the video here or read our transcript and step-by-step guide for everything you need to know in selecting the ideal recording space. 

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video production: tellsomemore production | www.tellsomemore.com
This project was made in cooperation with the Orchestra Academy of the Staatskapelle Berlin and the kind support of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden.

TRANSCRIPT

[00:00:00] In this tutorial series, we dive into the essentials of how to make you and your orchestral instrument sound and look better.
We’re here at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin, and in this episode we’re going to take a look at rooms and recording spaces, and how to choose the right one for your performance.

We’ll go from big rooms to smaller rooms, reverberant spaces and dry spaces.

 

[00:00:24] Here we are in the main rehearsal space for the orchestra.
It’s a really big room, measuring 18 by 23 meters, with an 8 meter-ceiling height.

It has a nice wooden floor and is acoustically treated on the walls and the ceiling.

It also has curtains that you can open or close. The reverb in this room sounds very dense and controlled.

Let’s hear how a trumpet sounds in this room.

[00:00:37] (trumpet plays)

[00:01:05] We´re now in one of the smaller rehearsal rooms.
This room also has a wooden floor and windows on one side.
It measures about 11.5 by 5.5 meters, with an acoustically treated ceiling at about 5 meters. Let’s hear how the trumpet sounds in this room.

[00:01:27] (trumpet plays)

[00:01:55] If you think that the room sounds too reverberant or too bright, a small carpet might help.
Sofas, comfortable chairs, pillows, or curtains will absorb high frequencies and make the room sound drier.

[00:02:15] Now we’re here at the marble staircase of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, which has a lot of reflections and a lot of reverb.
This can sound exciting, but you lose a lot of detail in your playing.

[00:02:32] (trumpet plays)

[00:02:58] At last, we’re in one of the small rehearsal rooms.
It has a carpeted floor and measures about 3.5 by 3 meters, with a low ceiling height.

It’s hard to make a small room come alive with reflections, so it’s usually best to make it as dry as possible, without it sounding too dead or muffled.

Let’s hear how the trumpet sounds in this room.

[00:03:18] (trumpet plays)

[00:03:38] So in the end, choose a room that is well suited your instrument, your performance, and the occasion you’re shooting for.
Experiment with your position in the room and stay away from walls and corners, as these may sometimes lead to bad sounding reflections.

Also avoid standing exactly in the center of the room, as here certain frequencies may cancel out there.

It should be a room that looks good on the video and one where you feel comfortable performing.

Thank you.

Choosing the best recording devices for your video | EP 02

Audio Hardware