Acoustics Design & Consulting ONLINE!
Get the help you need while building your recording studio, mastering facility, listening room, or home theater - as little or as much as you need.
I will give you complete design & details for construction and acoustics, drawings (AutoCAD 2D & 3D), specific advice and continuous support during the building process and guaranteed results. I produce designs in AutoCAD and if you have AutoCAD viewer, you can view the files directly. I will design custom traps and diffusors for you - that you can build yourself.
Get an estimate for my design services
Please send me all the info that you have especially the (H-W-D) measurements, photos, drawings, including any particular noise/transmission loss specifications that you need to meet. I will be available to you until your project is completed.
I offer comprehensive acoustics consulting, construction consulting, and control products, including a complete line of acoustical control products for Home Theaters, Audiophile Music Rooms, Professional Recording Studios, Concert Halls, Lecture Theaters, Karaoke Clubs, Movie Theaters, Schools, Gaming Rooms, etc. -- Absorption panels, Schroeder Diffusor arrays and 2D Primitive root diffusors, Membrane traps, Helmholtz traps, and poly panels - all designed to achieve repeatable and superb results.
All of the above products are available for DIY in my online consulting packages or we can build them here for you and ship them to your location.
NOTE:Please do not send money to the paypal account john@jhbrandt.net or other in payment for services. Please wait for an email from me with a proper link to the payment site or use erika@jhbrandt.net paypal account only. Thank you.
NEW! Complete custom designed desk plans. - Designed to your specs.
A custom design for your mixing desk will eliminate the destructive effects of reflections & diffraction. Send me a list of your equipment, computer, LCD size(s) & models, controllers, etc and how you like to work - your layout. I will design an ergonomic work surface integrated with your equipment - that you can build yourself! Full plans and details in millimeters or inches.
CUSTOM DESK design package (basic plan) - € 200 EURO -- For more information please send an email to john@jhbrandt.net so that we can discuss your needs.
Help and Tips
Miking live instruments
Many people will tell you to mic that amp or instrument real close & find the ’sweet spot. Sometimes that’s not a good idea. When you mic too close, you lose the room sound and the clues that tell the listener that the instrument is ’real’. If you back off a little on the mic you’ll give the instrument some ’space’ and ’depth’ which adds to the realism.
I have successfully used VST instruments such as pianos, cellos, or horns in this manner... I send the VST output to an amp in the studio, mic the amp, mic the room, & take a direct from the VST & mix it all together for a very realistic recording.
Also try getting those amps up off the floor on some resilient pads for better 'detail'.
Miking Vocals
When you record vocals, of course you will always use your best mic... But - DON’T record your final vocal in a small untreated booth! If you do, it will always sound like you did it in a little booth or box, and there is no way to process the modal ringing created in the booth without messing with the sound of the vocal.
Always record your ’star’ vocal track in a room of at least 1500 cubic feet. If you do not have a 'big room', make sure that the booth is very well treated - even anechoic. This will broaden the 'Q' of any resonances in the small room and give your vocal a true response without colorations and comb filtering.
Drum Sets & Percussion
Again, back off on the proximity if you can. Remember, you’re not miking for a concert, different techniques apply.
Try miking the snare about an inch away at right angles to the top head with the capsule pointing at the metal rim, not the head.... try it! I think you’ll be impressed. See, if you get the mic in the right spot, you really don’t need all that EQ. And lay off the compressor. Put it on a slow attack (RMS) at about 2.5:1 & don’t let it smack the kick or snare back any more than about 3 to 6 db.
I don’t use compression on overheads or toms except on the overall mixdown.
To Make a Great Demo:
* The first thing that a publisher or producer listens for is a hook or catch phrase. Be sure your song has one and that it hooks the listener within 10 seconds of listening to the song.
* The Vocals must be up front, not buried under the drums, guitars or bass.
* Edit the song to a saleable length approximately 3 1/2 minutes.
* Do something unique in the song. Do it only once.
* Make the song connect to the listener on a subconscious level. It must move the emotions.
* Keep it simple stupid. KISS is the rule. Don’t throw everything you’ve got at it.
* The Song will let you know what it needs... You’ve got to listen!
Making A Record For the First Time
* Be sure that you are well rehearsed. Do not go into the studio to write or finish a song. Studio time is very expensive and being unprepared could cost you a lot of money.. unless it is your studio.
* Buy new Strings for all instruments & re-string the morning of the session.
* Buy new drum heads & install them a day before the session.
* Tune the drums the morning of the session & for each song if necessary.
* If you are hiring a producer, contact him early so that he can produce effectively.
* Come early to the studio to set up. On major sessions, setup often takes a whole day.
* Get plenty of sleep the day before. Make sure that all bands members do the same.
* Don’t be deceived about drink or drugs... They don’t make you sound better, but fool you into thinking that you do.
* Take the time to think the project through.
Contact me: Send an email to john@jhbrandt.net
Jl. Niaga 1, Blok F, #7 | Kemang Pratama 1 | Bekasi, Indonesia
