How have you modified your studio for accessibility?

[Velcro Lewis]

Hello everyone!

My name is Andy and this is my 1st topic post.

I work at a small studio and share with another engineer.

He is very patient and understanding when I make any changes to the layout of the outboard gear, stickers/labels on the preamps and mixer,  mic cabinet, storage of amps and instruments etc. I have major issues with light sensitivity and choose to block the windows when I work during the day. Asides from that I haven't really modified anything else. 

I am working on having a custom meter bridge built for the mixing console, wrapping the mic cables in colored tape to identify length of the cable, etc. I'm also planing to paint or tape the mic stands so I can see them and not knock them over or hurt myself while setting them up. 

These are all basic mods but they took me awhile to realize it (I don't do anything like this around the house).

I don't use voice over and seldom use a control surface.These are just choices I have made for the time being.

Anyway, I would like to hear about whatever physical modifications, markers, identifications you have made to your studio workspace. I'm betting there are some really basic ideas that I have overlooked.

Thanks for sharing!

Also, since I am new and would like to get acquainted with this group, if you can leave a link to your site I would appreciate it.

Anfdy

www.velcrolewisgroup.com

www.mrandyslater.tumblr.com

www.facebook.com/froggmountain

[van...@gmail.com]

Hi andy,

I read your post and are a bit amazed.

its my thinking, that a controle service is not used because of being a vip, but because of the better workflow and feel such a daw gives you.

Like doing the dishes not by hand, but with a dishwasher, quicker and less whater.

In answer to your question, I use as litle help as possible so my memory stays traind and I don't get laisy. voice-over a controle service and the usual stacking when it comes to a mixer and grouping microphones, that will be it, I think.

Mac

Verstuurd vanaf mijn iPhone

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[Velcro Lewis]

Hi Mac-

I have a Korg Nano Kontroller and I think it works fine when I have the patience for it. I mix using the console sometimes and prefer the sliding by hand. The Korg surface is very touchy and unlike the Avid C24 that I have used it doesn't follow the automation which I prefer. VoiceOver on the other is very distracting especially if I have a client in row control room with me.

I've been using Pro Tools since '98 and I guess I'm just used to it.

I think I'll need some hands-on training with VoiceOver and ProTools in order to get comfortable.

In the meantime I'm gonna be an old grump and stick to what I've got.

[CHUCK REICHEL]

Hi Andy,

Heres a tip for mic stands I've been using for years! :)

Lifting weights fit directly on the poll and prevent knocking them over with out trying.

1 ten pounder sits nicely on the base after you install it.

I use a combination of weight lifter weights & 10 pound leg weights "ankle weights" for booms.

Although i have several   $500.00 atlas booms on wheels,  the weights work very good for all the other stands.

Also to save floor space, for my drum kit I have the over heads & tom mics acoustically suspended from the ceiling to take the always compromising mic-ing and weaving stands in to a drum kit. :) out of the picture! 

HTH

Chuck

CHUCK REICHEL

soundpictu...@gmail.com

www.SoundPictureRecording.com

954-742-0019

Isaiah 26 : 3

 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

In GOD I Trust

[Dionipher Presas Herrera]

how do you extend the usb cable for the mic? i do have the apogee mic, it have only 1 meter usb cable to connect on my computer. i would like somehow to record a video and a live audio with it. can i do that?

[CHUCK REICHEL]

Hi Dionipher,

They make a usb extension cable.

There are length restrictions for usb runs, unless you spend lots of bucks! :)

I'm sure your apogee mic manual will cover this?

If not apogee site might be helpful!

HTH 

Chuck

[Dionipher Presas Herrera]

what do you mean by usb runs? im sorry but i lost my apogee manual. my mom can't find it.

[CHUCK REICHEL]

Hi Dionipher,

USB runs or cable length are the same.

You can only run the cable so far.

Do a google search for the apogee mic manual.

Just get the model # and bang it will most likely be in the first 5 hits.

HTH

Chuck

[Chris Smart]

your mom?

Perhaps it's available as a PDF from Apogee's website?

--- Learn to meditate and train your brain with Muse, the first lab-grade EEG biofeedback headband for home use!

[Dionipher Presas Herrera]

i did see the pdf file on the net, but there isn't said between using an extended ubs cables

[Scott Chesworth]

Hey Andy,

I feel your pain, not a fan of having VoiceOver chattering away with
clients in the room (unless they're the type to believe I'm some sort
of wizard for "coping", then every little helps to maintain the
illusion lol). The solution here that seems to work well enough has
been to use a control surface to cut down on the amount of chatter,
and keep a set of earbuds at hand for those times when I need feedback
from VoiceOver. Yeah, I know it's ridiculous to be sticking VO in your
ears when you're working on audio. I usually go with just the one ear
and the worst sealing earbuds I can find so they don't isolate much.
Guessing it'll be quite a different experience for you though if
you've got usable vision.

On the control surface front, all I'll add is that there's a world of
difference between a Nano Kontrol and something like a Mackie MCU.
Although the capabilities are similar, the Nano Kontrol feels like
working on a fiddly plastic thingy. It's handy when you need to be
uber portable of course, but nothing like a console. If you've already
used the C24, then I guess you're already aware that there's more out
there control surface wise. I'm not a fan of the surface integration
in some DAWs, but think that Pro Tools pretty much nails it. If DAW
Controller on your iPad doesn't work out for any reason, I'd guess
it'd be time and money well spent for you to pick up a used MCU or
similar and spend some time with it. Or, a buddy of mine who has some
rapidly declining but still usable vision has just switched to using
an X32 because the accompanying iOS and Android apps are killer. Might
not be appropriate for you if you've already got better I/O, but for
him it works out well because he does a lot of live stuff and couldn't
see what the band were signaling for anymore. This way he can potter
about on stage talking to them during sound check and set up their
monitor mixes from the iPad. He throws up a couple of extra mics at
strategic unobtrusive points on stage that feed to him instead of
front of house so that they can ask for tweaks during the show if
necessary. The musos seem to like it, feedback has been really good.

Digging the vintage guitar tones I heard from a quick poke at the
first site on your list. Good luck man.

Scott

[Poppa Bear]

That's strange about Voice Over or any screen reader for that fact, I have never even given it much thought. I keep it at a low volume and if anything clients are always blown away and extremely respectful over the fact that I'm blind and running a small studio.

[Chris Smart]

Scott, are clients put off by you doing things differently, or fascinated? I bet it's the lattter. Are you just self-conscious about them hearing speech and maybe asking questions? (grin)

--- Learn to meditate and train your brain with Muse, the first lab-grade EEG biofeedback headband for home use!

[Velcro lewis]

I'm not too concerned about impressing clients with things like VoiceOver. I get enough of 'wait, you're blind? But you're looking right at me.'

The Zoom  and inverse color are the only things I use.

Another reason why I'm not using a controller is b/c a higher end model won't fit on the desk.

I wouldn't get rid of the console b/c of it's custom channel strips and EQs. 

I've had monitor engineers use a Prosonus board with tablet control. It's great! The monitor person gets on stage with you? So helpful!

Anyway, I try not to work 'in the box' as much as I can. I'm still a tactile guy.

One thing I sometimes struggle with is drum overheads. Drummers csn be unpredictable & more stuff around. A yardstick can help measure my placement.

That's why I don't suspend from the ceiling.

Thanks for all the input, guys! And thanks for checking out the band, Scott. The improv album is new and all over fhe place. :)

Andy slater

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[CHUCK REICHEL]

Hi Velcro,

I always have voiceOver feeding in to 2 places.

When the control room gets to loud "client yack king" I just put on my Headsets & push 1 switch and VoiceOver is only in the cans along with what ever I'm mixing.

As for the drum over heads and tom microphones theres usually a sweet spot to place a acoustic drum kit in your room or rooms.

I have that sweet spot marked with a fixed tactile line in the floor, for the front rim of the kick to line up with.

So when a drummer brings in his kit I just make sure the kick front rim lines up with my floor mark and bang! the over heads are 90% there! :)

PS being that I am a drummer i always have my studio kit set up so most times they just use that along with the option for the drummer to bring his own cymbals & snare, this  cuts most of the set up out of the picture!

Talk soon

Chuck

CHUCK REICHEL

soundpictu...@gmail.com

www.SoundPictureRecording.com

954-742-0019

Isaiah 26 : 3

 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

In GOD I Trust

[Dionipher Presas Herrera]

can somebody guide me too how to create a studio. i recorded a a song on my mac, with my friend.. i am a begginer here, so i tried simple steps. I do have an apogee mic, with a normal stand and a pop up filter. then when we record we use a two headphone so that she can hear her voice too while i was controlling the the computer. i use an audio splitter to have both headphone hear the same. but she was so confuse when i started moving around with the computer, she hears voice over on her headphone. can you please help me. do i need to have an usb interface?

[Chris Smart]

wow, you don't have an audio interface dedicated to audio work? That would be the first thing to get.

[Dionipher Presas Herrera]

can you recommend any audio interface that is accessible and cheap. does the audio interface on the apple apps store is accessible?

[Velcro lewis]

Sound On Sound magazine is very helpful. I'm sure you can find info there. Archives are online, too.  Tape Op is also a greT resource.

Chuck. That is a great idea for headphones. Thanks!

There are a few greatnspots in my room. I have them marked, too. I use the yardstick to see where the drums & cymbals are. I have little depth perception and double vision. It really helps. 

I hold the ruler @ the mic clip & wait to tap the drum. Iyts like an O & M technique. 

But like I said, drummers are unpredictable!

Andy slater

Dictated not read

[Velcro lewis]

Not really sure.

It may be a good idea to start a seperate thread for this.

Andy slater

Dictated not read

On Jul 3, 2015, at 3:40 PM, Dionipher Presas Herrera <dion...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Chris Smart]

which audio interface is that? I thought the App Store only sold apps?

This list is primarily for ProTools. Is that what you are planning on using?

[Scott Chesworth]

Hey Chris,

Interesting question. I've found that people generally react to it
initially in one of two ways. They're either blown away, or doubtful,
it's rare that I've encountered the middle ground. If they're blown
away, I tend to keep VoiceOver beamed into my ear as often as possible
because I don't want them to get too used to the way I work and for it
to not seem awesome to them anymore. Shallow motive perhaps, but done
right, it works a treat. I'd rather admit that sometimes I've used
this blindness thing to an advantage than have the cheap tricks be
some sort of taboo topic. When it comes to the doubters, I prefer to
keep VoiceOver quiet in the room to prove why the work came my way in
straight up audio terms rather than bamboozling them into submission
with weird workflows. It's fairer, and on a purely egotistical level
it feels like more of an achievement if I do manage to alter their
perception. Another reason I keep it quiet for the doubters is that
I'm not as productive with VoiceOver as I'd like to be. Not claiming
to be the world's biggest brain on this topic, but having put in
plenty of hours of effort, I'm pretty sure that it's not me, it's the
damn screen reader.

Aside from the client's current mindset, I've noticed over time that
the conversations taking place around me while I'm working can contain
golden nuggets of wisdom about how a band functions psychologically,
storm warnings if there be trouble afoot, where the project has been
and where they'd like it to be headed etc, the list goes on. I miss
out entirely on visual communication and most body language, so I like
to absorb as much verbal communication as I can to stay aware. For
some reason, I find it easier to separate my ears when VO is a little
voice in my head rather than another voice competing for my attention
in the room, so it makes it easier for me to process both streams of
info without missing stuff. For anyone keeping count, that's one ear
for VoiceOver jabber, another ear for eavesdropping, and no ears left
for audio. Doh! The day that bands start receiving compulsory therapy
from the NHS or science makes it possible to grow a third ear on my
forehead, I'll start getting more done lol.

Hth explain the thought processes a bit

Scott

[Velcro lewis]

I didn't mention my synestesia,did I?

Its not always active but sometimes it actually steers a mix, especially when doing sound design/foley effects.
I appreciate the different views on VoiceOver.
I've decided to give it a try with my next session.
I'm going to set up an aux mix for private headphonemonitoring.
Thanks for the insight, guys!
This is a tv segment on me & the band.
I think there are shots of me using zoom and some other stuff.

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[Velcro lewis]

Whoops!

Heres the link

http://abc7chicago.com/archive/9319844/
It blew a lot of ppl away.

Its all normal routine to us.

Andy slater

Dictated not read

On Jul 3, 2015, at 9:20 PM, Scott Chesworth <scottch...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[CHUCK REICHEL]

Hey Scott,
I use an external mixer dedicated to VoiceOver & talk back , to all my studio rooms.
When I need to hear how the band is getting on I just pot up the talk back for the room I need to monitor and interject that feed into my cans.
When it gets boring I just pot down that talk back feed & continue working the session! :)
YMMV
Chuck

[Dionipher Presas Herrera]

i did see it on the accessories on mac book, check on audio there's the audiointerface.

[Chris Smart]

Hi Scott.

Yes, that was very interesting.

All I know is that I sometimes don't feel like educating all and sundry, so keep the weird computer chatter in the earphones. (grin)

[Chris Smart]

At 10:40 PM 7/3/2015, you wrote:

I didn't mention my synestesia,did I?

Hmm no you didn't. So, you experience sound in terms of color?
So, do you see a very complex mix or arrangements as very layered and nuanced visuals?

[Scott Chesworth]

Hey Chuck,

Neat! If I ever get this music thing to a point where I'm working out
of one consistent space and it's mine to design, I'll definitely keep
this in mind.

Scott