Studio vibe: hows, whys, likes, dislikes.

I'm really feng shui about my surroundings now. I've definitely changed tastes over the years in all aspects of my life. I'm not a crazy interior designer or even know much about it, but I feel like I'm sensitive to spaces and how they make me feel.

Here's some of the things that peeve me:

Fluorescent or colored lights.
Dark floors make me feel like I'm sinking.
Dark walls make me feel closed in, almost claustrophobic.
Clutter - It has to feel open even if it's a small space.
Oak.
Too much vibrant color - bright and vibrant colors are great for accents on neutral background (ok maybe I do sound like a crazy interior designer). A whole room painted violet or red is just nuts..


So anyway, as I've changed I've certainly changed the studio vibe. It was darker at first with fewer lights and darker paint on the walls. I've since added brighter and more lights that pool better and have painted the walls a nice bright white and have added accents such as reclaimed cedar planks. I've also re-covered all my absorption panels with lighter fabrics but with significant textures on them. Most of the shelves or racks I've built are now white or natural poplar/birch/maple color.

I've noticed that a few clients have mentioned that my space feels large even though it's not. I take that as a compliment.

Even for the home "studio" room I feel vibe and aesthetics are one of the most important things. You've got to be inspired to make something happen. I spent a ton of work building my room to get out of the rectangle and make it look cool as well as do what it needed to do sonically.

For commercial spaces, even more important for inspiration and to compete for clients. I really like that dude who did some of the Motorhead records (sorry, can't recall name offhand) but I remember Huart's studio tour showed the live rooms with particleboard walls and such. That would drive me crazy on a daily basis, much more trying to make a record there.

Good point. That was also the norm back then. Recording in a doctor's office.

Since I initiated this thread, I guess I'll add my experience and preferences to it.

Other studios: I've had the (mis)fortune to work in many old and established studios with interior decor from the '60s/'70s. It's totally icky pants. When I walk into a studio, I want to feel like I want to be in there. The old look has an opposing effect on me. Not just because it's old, but because part of the look is crumbling decay. I don't refer to the gear; it's always good and in perfect working order. I refer to the look/feel of the live room. It comes across as dirty and borderline derelict.  Maybe there are those who would consider this retro and hip; however, I am not one of those.

My studios: I've built three. The first one was great sounding and a very comfortable and welcoming place. At that time (about 20 years ago), I installed black carpet. Also the far wall was 11 feet tall and was covered in dark stone. Looked great; sounded great as it provided some nice diffusion. The entire space had an 11 ft. ceiling, but only two small windows. When I was building it, I wanted a dark space and I got it. Between the lack of natural light, black carpet, and the largest wall being covered in dark stone, it was indeed a dark space. I had over 2200 watts of lighting in there and when all lights were on it still felt dark. It also had various studio artifacts on the walls; prayer rugs, old reels of tape, items of interest, a few Lava lamps, etc. Very vibey place and everyone that worked there commented on how much they liked it.  I did, too.

Cut to three years ago when I sold it and moved to a new place. It's a two-room space; both are pseudo one-room studios, but are connected. I wanted something entirely different in look and feel. I was done with working in such a dark space, so I had the walls, trim, and ceilings all painted a very pure white. Flooring (I did not select it or install it; was there when I moved in and in lovely condition) is honey oak (sorry, svart!) which is almost entirely covered in both studios with heavy Oriental rugs. One wall is almost all windows pointing out at a tree-covered hill. I have massive floor-to-ceiling white curtains covering that wall, so I can close the curtains but still get some natural light while changing the acoustic response. I had the old lighting removed and updated to all recessed LED fixtures on dimmers. I have a dozen or so "hidden" (behind the white curtain) up-lights in the floor that are loaded with darker Edison bulbs on a separate circuit, so I can turn those on and kill the overheads and I get a very lovely candle-colored glow from behind the white curtains.  I love that.  High oooh/ahhh factor.  One other wall has floor-to-ceiling black curtains. It's a very bright space. Nothing on the walls; nor will there be. I've come to view wall hangings in live rooms as something like visual static or visible noise. Just give me a pure space with no distractions for a live room. The Oriental rugs are very detailed and with very rich colors (mostly reds), so they become the artwork in there. With the dimmers, can I make it super bright or something bordering on twilight.  Or use the uplights behind the curtain to give it a candlelight coloring.

With all those white surfaces, it may seems as if it looks rather sterile.  Not at all; the two big curtain walls and the rugs add some visual interest without becoming distracting or getting the "visual static/noise" effect.

Big lesson: you can make a light space darker, but you can't really make a dark space lighter.

In conclusion: I guess my current vibe of preference is almost no vibe; just purity. Or maybe purity is a vibe? I may need a judge's ruling on this.

-09

There are definitely clients who want a sterile bright environment, and there are definitely those who feel more comfortable in a cave. My place has been a studio almost 40 years, and I rented it the first 21 years I was there, buying it more recently. It's clean, but run down. I don't know where anyone else's money comes from, I struggle to keep the thing running on a shoe string and manage basic building maintenance costs (HVAC replacement, roof replacement, etc). I've made a lot of records with people who like the "comfortable relaxed" feel. I've seen a lot of upturned noses who wish there was some sense of glamour, outside of vibey gear and solid efficient results. YMMV! I see people building new studios around me that, of course, look new, but are almost always less space than I have....I can't imagine having LESS space! I can't imagine spending more money than I have already. My last tracking session was 5 live players and 28 inputs. If there was money to afford the materials and labor, and cover a shutdown period and building inspection delays, I'd update it. So.....sorry? : ) I guess that's why people build new places, so they can lateral from one to the other with minimal interruption; not in the cards. Doing things by the book in a commercial space subject to inspections is a whole other world of cost and bureaucracy, makes one consider whether it's worth doing certain things, or putting up with what's there. I'm happy to have a place to work. A lot of people don't. Bummer......

I think Fidelitorium looks great. Good blend of light and dark. You can find a window if you want. You can avoid them if you want. They don't do much for you at night, when bands are most used to making music. It's hard to get anyone to agree to a booking as far out as is needed to get in there, so I don't see it much.

www.fidelitorium.com/studio

Glad we've mostly left the era where you walk into a room that's wall to wall egg-crate foam or hanging carpet, or 100% burlap covered soft rock wool walls.

After a decade in a room with no windows and in a mostly industrial part of town, I've really enjoyed working in a well lit room with lots of wood and being in the country. Stepping outside to trees and horses and the sound of a nature sure beats cranes and dump trucks

Well….that ain’t my space…..

My "big thing" is ergonomics. Everything has to fully work, and everything has to have a usable space/setup. Yeah, I have clutter. That's just my nature, spare parts, projects and etc laying about. I keep that somewhat managed but it always creeps.

I have some specific decor in a few small select places. Antlers, a pink floyd record, a "gold beer" winning can, a painting I did in high school, etc, but these are small and unobtrusive.

The feel in here is kind of brown/wood. The walls are wood panels, and the floor. Most of the speakers have matching wood look. Burlap absorption is earth tone. 100% of the lighting is LED. Strip around the top perimeter, and all of the lamps. I find that light levels are critical. Too much light introduces anxiety. Too much darkness just you have trouble to see. So I have it dialed in pretty perfectly, and can add/subtract as needed. I can stay in here (too long) sometimes. Not lately, but if I need to, or want to.

When people walk in here they say things like "Wow!" or "It looks like a real studio!" or maybe "I love your decoration style." Presumably the stack of racks and all the speakers, instruments, whatever, give a serious vibe.

So I've put thought into it, yes. But not obsession. Just a proper amount of thought and effort. The most effort went into the room layout, putting different stations in different zones, ergonomics once again. And the lighting.

It's just for me anyway, but people like to see it. Once in a while I'll have someone in to work here, but it's been years, really.

The big focus lately has been getting out of this room, going to where the musicians are, and being one of them.

But it's a nice place to come home to, and get some work done.

drbill,

That looks great! Bright, clean design without being sterile. The dark flooring provides nice warmth to the lighter walls/ceiling. Congratulations!

-09

For tracking, it should look like somewhere the artist should play ime. Lots of newer studios look like frickin interior decorating magazine photo shoots. What punk or metal band is gonna play those? The ones who don't record anything but vocals and dis

I’m SO CLOSE to having a lounge room after never having one. This place has had zero place for spare people or escape. I had more of that when i was an illegitimate residential business years ago, which also entails people possibly rifling through your personals.