Welcome back to the story of how I make music (books and videos too). It's August 2020
I have to admit that during the creation of the entire Change My Mind album (a process that I explained in detail in Volumes 1 and 2 of the Indie Musician's Diary), I didn't have the proper acoustic treatment in the studio. So now you know that you, too, can mix a whole album using crazy makeshift panels, propping up various mattresses in the corners of your room and creating a sound barrier behind where you stand in front of your your microphone shield. That is how I got by with my first single and with the creation of the first album.
It really wasn't a good way to do things but it was all I had. I have worked with other producers that didn't have more than a bookcase behind the microphone stand and who mixed everything in the box using earphones. They had good results and I thought I could get by with my method too.
But my sisters had donated funds towards acoustic treatment and I felt I should get around to it this summer. So my husband and I sent away for the foam sound absorbent panels, base traps and spray adhesive from Amazon and went to a Home Depot like store to get panels.
It wasn't as expensive as I feared, though and the result was amazing (coupled with a sound reducing curtain on the right side of the mixing area.
Here is what we bought for the pic above
That made 6 panels with 12 pads on each and two corners filled with base traps. (The other two corners were either cut away by the curtain or filled with a sofa). Also, we were able to fix the angled inner roof by hanging a pleated curtain above the couch.
The difference in the sound is amazing. It sounds a bit quieter and all the echoes/reflexes are now reasonable or unnoticeable.
I wish I would have invested in this long before. The real test will come when I start recording again. (Hopefully soon). First I have to clear up some problems that occurred when I updated my Mac OS. (next chapter) and get back onto my book that is now up in 72 000 words and counting.
The plan is to work four hours a day with the book and divide the rest of the day up with music creation and housework.
Until next time....