Re: [Frameworks] Constructing A Foley / Sound Studio
Matt I'm wondering what you consider to be a foley studio? From what you describe it sounds like you are planning an isolation booth (or two). A real foley studio is a larger, soundproof room that typically has a floor or "pit" with removable sections of flooring that expose different surfaces (concrete, sand, dirt, linoleum etc) to primarily record walking, that can be adapted for other uses. There is often a wall of closets containing a large variety of props that can be used for creating sound effects. Having had a facility with a foley floor I can tell you from experience that it is a fun thing, and foley artists can be truly amazing to watch, but the reality is that with today's budgets and workflow it is a space that is generally underutilized (outside of "Hollywood" productions). Most sound design these days is assembled on DAWs from a combination of stock and custom SFX libraries, supplemented by the creativity of the sound designer using props in the studio. Best Bill Seery b...@mercermedia.com 212.627.8070 On Nov 8, 2014, at 7:00 AM, frameworks-requ...@jonasmekasfilms.com wrote: > Hi folks, > > We are looking at constructing a sound booth that would ideally operate as > a foley space as well. There is an existing classroom space roughly 15' by > 30' that can be utilized. I know there are small phone booth like booths > that can be purchased and constructed up to renovating the space into a > proper two room foley studio. > > I'm curious what other programs have constructed to meet foley and > recording studio needs. We'd like to construct something beyond applying > sound-proofing to the walls! > > Thanks, > Matt Shaw > > > Media Technician > Film Dept. Vassar College > 845.437.5499 ___ FrameWorks mailing list FrameWorks@jonasmekasfilms.com https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
Re: [Frameworks] Constructing A Foley / Sound Studio
Hi Matt While what Dave says is true, it is still possible to do something workable with little money. By not having parallel walls you can eliminate standing waves. The space between the walls and the 'false' non-parellel walls (and ceiling if possible) can be filled with insulating material of some sort or other. Thick curtains on runners and portable screens (& suspended from the ceiling) can give flexibility. The choice and use of mics is also crucial. The floor is your main problem if you can't afford to build, you're then restricted to boards and carpeting. This may not be a 'professional' set-up but it can work. Rob On 08/11/2014 04:34, "Dave Tetzlaff" wrote: >Matt: > >I doubt you'll find good models at other schools. In my travels, college >sound facilities have either been created from the ground up as part of >an expensive building project, or jury rigged into some existing space so >cheaply and poorly they're barely worth having. If you can find any >schools that have gone a DIY route, they'll probably be useful mostly in >telling you what NOT to do. > >I've have experience with some small pre-fab booths, and they all stunk. >Also, they are designed as essentially the opposite of what you want: the >idea being the talent goes into the booth to do a VO. > >To get anything functional, you're going to need a custom constructed >studio booth designed to fit the room. The materials with need to be >custom cut, and the booth will likely need to be constructed mostly in >the room, rather than making larger sections in another location and >assembling them in the space. > >I would guess you could hire a contractor who specializes in sound booth >construction to create something for you, but i'd also guess the cost >would be prohibitive. There are any number of books that lay out >principles and methods for DIY booth construction. Perhaps you could work >with the college's physical plant to design and build something >'yourself' (that is, within the college). > >I would guess what you can accomplish will depend on how much time you >(Matt) can put into it. That would be an advantage your program has over >most small college film programs: your labor, knowledge and commitment to >getting it right.. > >Since it's an educational facility it doesn't have to look nice to >impress clients, it just has to be functional. Whatever you save on >aesthetics, do not scrimp on basic functionality. You'll need a serious >double pane glass sound isolating window, serious sound seals on the >door(s). The trick is the sound isolation of the booth. It's ideally a >six-sided double-walled room within the classroom, with the bottom >decoupled from the classroom floor, and the inner and outer wall of the >booth decoupled... > >There are a number of books, and maybe even some plans on the web. I have >no familiarity with any of them. This one was recommended: >http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/home-recording-studio-rod-gervais/11003551 >28?ean=9781435457171 > >I'd probably do plenty of research, check several books, before making >any plans. > >Other things that are not going to be cheap: A classroom probably has >old-school tube fluorescent overhead lighting which will have to be >replaced. LED lamps probably, but I don't know if they have counter-EMF >issues. You'll probably have to isolate the stage part of the room from >the buildings ventilation and heating system, as that's likely to go on >and off at will and generate too much noise. Then you'll need a way to >ventilate the booth, as it will be a sealed space and the equipment in it >will generate heat. Finally, classrooms have a shit-ton of echo and >you'll need serious sound deadening treatments for the walls and ceiling. > >In short, it's a major project, and if you can't do it right, it's >probably not worth doing at all. > > Falmouth University ___ >FrameWorks mailing list >FrameWorks@jonasmekasfilms.com >https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks ___ FrameWorks mailing list FrameWorks@jonasmekasfilms.com https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
Re: [Frameworks] Constructing A Foley / Sound Studio
I recommend you contact Jay Beck at Carleton College. He's been developing an exciting sounds studies program there (within film) and I believe foley is a part of it. https://apps.carleton.edu/curricular/cams/courses/ On Fri, Nov 7, 2014 at 11:34 PM, Dave Tetzlaff wrote: > Matt: > > I doubt you'll find good models at other schools. In my travels, college > sound facilities have either been created from the ground up as part of an > expensive building project, or jury rigged into some existing space so > cheaply and poorly they're barely worth having. If you can find any schools > that have gone a DIY route, they'll probably be useful mostly in telling > you what NOT to do. > > I've have experience with some small pre-fab booths, and they all stunk. > Also, they are designed as essentially the opposite of what you want: the > idea being the talent goes into the booth to do a VO. > > To get anything functional, you're going to need a custom constructed > studio booth designed to fit the room. The materials with need to be custom > cut, and the booth will likely need to be constructed mostly in the room, > rather than making larger sections in another location and assembling them > in the space. > > I would guess you could hire a contractor who specializes in sound booth > construction to create something for you, but i'd also guess the cost would > be prohibitive. There are any number of books that lay out principles and > methods for DIY booth construction. Perhaps you could work with the > college's physical plant to design and build something 'yourself' (that is, > within the college). > > I would guess what you can accomplish will depend on how much time you > (Matt) can put into it. That would be an advantage your program has over > most small college film programs: your labor, knowledge and commitment to > getting it right.. > > Since it's an educational facility it doesn't have to look nice to impress > clients, it just has to be functional. Whatever you save on aesthetics, do > not scrimp on basic functionality. You'll need a serious double pane glass > sound isolating window, serious sound seals on the door(s). The trick is > the sound isolation of the booth. It's ideally a six-sided double-walled > room within the classroom, with the bottom decoupled from the classroom > floor, and the inner and outer wall of the booth decoupled... > > There are a number of books, and maybe even some plans on the web. I have > no familiarity with any of them. This one was recommended: > > http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/home-recording-studio-rod-gervais/1100355128?ean=9781435457171 > > I'd probably do plenty of research, check several books, before making any > plans. > > Other things that are not going to be cheap: A classroom probably has > old-school tube fluorescent overhead lighting which will have to be > replaced. LED lamps probably, but I don't know if they have counter-EMF > issues. You'll probably have to isolate the stage part of the room from the > buildings ventilation and heating system, as that's likely to go on and off > at will and generate too much noise. Then you'll need a way to ventilate > the booth, as it will be a sealed space and the equipment in it will > generate heat. Finally, classrooms have a shit-ton of echo and you'll need > serious sound deadening treatments for the walls and ceiling. > > In short, it's a major project, and if you can't do it right, it's > probably not worth doing at all. > > ___ > FrameWorks mailing list > FrameWorks@jonasmekasfilms.com > https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks > ___ FrameWorks mailing list FrameWorks@jonasmekasfilms.com https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
Re: [Frameworks] Constructing A Foley / Sound Studio
Matt: I doubt you'll find good models at other schools. In my travels, college sound facilities have either been created from the ground up as part of an expensive building project, or jury rigged into some existing space so cheaply and poorly they're barely worth having. If you can find any schools that have gone a DIY route, they'll probably be useful mostly in telling you what NOT to do. I've have experience with some small pre-fab booths, and they all stunk. Also, they are designed as essentially the opposite of what you want: the idea being the talent goes into the booth to do a VO. To get anything functional, you're going to need a custom constructed studio booth designed to fit the room. The materials with need to be custom cut, and the booth will likely need to be constructed mostly in the room, rather than making larger sections in another location and assembling them in the space. I would guess you could hire a contractor who specializes in sound booth construction to create something for you, but i'd also guess the cost would be prohibitive. There are any number of books that lay out principles and methods for DIY booth construction. Perhaps you could work with the college's physical plant to design and build something 'yourself' (that is, within the college). I would guess what you can accomplish will depend on how much time you (Matt) can put into it. That would be an advantage your program has over most small college film programs: your labor, knowledge and commitment to getting it right.. Since it's an educational facility it doesn't have to look nice to impress clients, it just has to be functional. Whatever you save on aesthetics, do not scrimp on basic functionality. You'll need a serious double pane glass sound isolating window, serious sound seals on the door(s). The trick is the sound isolation of the booth. It's ideally a six-sided double-walled room within the classroom, with the bottom decoupled from the classroom floor, and the inner and outer wall of the booth decoupled... There are a number of books, and maybe even some plans on the web. I have no familiarity with any of them. This one was recommended: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/home-recording-studio-rod-gervais/1100355128?ean=9781435457171 I'd probably do plenty of research, check several books, before making any plans. Other things that are not going to be cheap: A classroom probably has old-school tube fluorescent overhead lighting which will have to be replaced. LED lamps probably, but I don't know if they have counter-EMF issues. You'll probably have to isolate the stage part of the room from the buildings ventilation and heating system, as that's likely to go on and off at will and generate too much noise. Then you'll need a way to ventilate the booth, as it will be a sealed space and the equipment in it will generate heat. Finally, classrooms have a shit-ton of echo and you'll need serious sound deadening treatments for the walls and ceiling. In short, it's a major project, and if you can't do it right, it's probably not worth doing at all. ___ FrameWorks mailing list FrameWorks@jonasmekasfilms.com https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
Re: [Frameworks] Constructing A Foley / Sound Studio
We have a very nice Foley studio at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. Here's a link with minimal info. You could contact the staff person listed for more detail. Ruth Hayes http://www.randommotion.com blogs.evergreen.edu/hayesr On Nov 7, 2014, at 6:33 AM, Matthew Shaw wrote: > > Hi folks, > > We are looking at constructing a sound booth that would ideally operate as a > foley space as well. There is an existing classroom space roughly 15' by 30' > that can be utilized. I know there are small phone booth like booths that can > be purchased and constructed up to renovating the space into a proper two > room foley studio. > > I'm curious what other programs have constructed to meet foley and recording > studio needs. We'd like to construct something beyond applying sound-proofing > to the walls! > > Thanks, > Matt Shaw > > > Media Technician > Film Dept. Vassar College > 845.437.5499 > KD9AOM > ___ > FrameWorks mailing list > FrameWorks@jonasmekasfilms.com > https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks ___ FrameWorks mailing list FrameWorks@jonasmekasfilms.com https://mailman-mail5.webfaction.com/listinfo/frameworks
