Re: [ARSCLIST] Small sound booth for transfers and restoration

["Steven C. Barr" <stevenc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "RA Friedman" <yiddishsong@xxxxxxxxx>
> I've been asked to help come with a design for a sound booth that is going
to be part of a larger room. We'll be cleaning and transferring mostly 78rpm
shellac discs and 16" radio transcriptions.
>
> The space they've allotted is very small--7' x 13'  with an end the last
three feet, about 11 feet wide, so the space is an "l" shape.  Does anyone
have an suggestions concerning things to consider. I'll probably be working
mostly with headphone monitoring, but I will have a set of monitor speakers.
Other equipment will most likely be an SP-15 turntable, SME 3012R arm,
Stanton 500 with a variety of stylii, a pre-amp, amplifier, outboard
digitizer, and a computer with DVD burner--pretty basic. We'lll probably
have a separate area for cleaning discs with Disc Doctor and then a rinse on
a Keith Monks unit.
>
> I realize this is a "whole ball of wax" but I'm mostly interested in ideas
concerning the space and it's sound insulation, sound reflection, workflow,
lighting, outlets, etc.
>
Just at a guess, I'd say that the sonic qualities of the room won't
be reflected in the transfers...or, for that matter, in what you
hear, since you will be using mostly headphone monitoring.

Since you have about 10' of wall space, you could set up a table/
"bench" about 30" by 10' along that wall, and place your turntable(s)
there, with the other hardware rack-mounted at one end of that space.
Note that a second TT might be advised should you wish to burn a
CD-R from more than one analog source (you could have one of those
16"-compatible). Keep in mind that this should function like a
radio-station setup...all controls should be easily reachable.

Note that the acoustic qualities of the room depend on a number
of things you don't note...reflectivity of walls and floor
(carpeted or not, wood or masonry, etc) and such.

Plan (of sorts:
<--------7'------->
|_________________|
|           |     |
|           | rack|
|           | area|
|           |_____|
|           |     |
|           |     |
|           |     |
|  bench--->|     |  Not to scale
|           |     |
|           |     |
|           |     |
|           |     |
|           |_____|________
|                          |
|       could be           |
|       listening area,    |
|       or?                |
|                          |
----------------------------
 <--------11'-------------->
Steven C. Barr