We were 23 stories in the air (230′). We had ground noise from the city moving up between tall buildings. We had garbage trucks back up beepers, trash cans slamming to the ground, cars honking. All of this low, middle, high-frequency energy reinforced by the boundary surfaces of the tall buildings. Air born energy from the San Diego air traffic and news helicopters round out the + 90 dB external noise nightmare.

External noise measurements were taken using our seven day noise time study. Three measurements a day at low pressure, middle pressure, and high-pressure times during a whole week. A room is only as good as the time you can be in it working. With the creative process, you must have full room access at all times. No waiting for that airplane to leave the area before I can make a recording.

To stop low-frequency energy you must use mass or density. Lightweight materials to stop noise are like holding up a feather to stop a tornado. Unfortunately, to stop lows, we need weight in structure and with a build 23 floors in the air, we were restricted to a maximum total room weight. We had to squeeze every ounce of noise reduction transmission out of every pound of material. Watch the build out in the video.

The first level is the proper management of the direct sound from your music or source, whether speakers, voice, or instruments. In Brend’s room, it will be the voice. The second level is room sound. The reflections from the room walls must be managed correctly, using the proper rates and levels of absorption, coupled with the correct diffusion frequency sequence to balance everything in the time domain at the microphone position.

A room where carbon panels 1′, 1 1/2″, and 2″ thick panels are staggered on the side walls to treat room modal patterns for her bottom octave starting around 95 Hz. all the way up through 3,500 Hz. Diffusion technology on the front wall using our QD-13. Our foam technology which was specifically designed for voice on the ceiling and rear wall or door. A room tuned specifically to her voice.

Our foam, carbon, and diffusion technologies were integrated into Studio 23. Our carbon for lower octave linear absorption. Our foam for middle and high-frequency rate and level clarity, separation, and definition. Diffusion to add “air” and spatiality to the presentation if desired. A room that is tailored to your vocal needs and requirements. It is a very special thing to have your very own music room.