Keeping PC Quiet in Small Room Studio?
Home > Home Recording Forum > Recording Techniques > Keeping PC Quiet in Small Room Studio?
Posted on Sep 20, 2008 03:39 pm
Musikman
Member Since: Sep 20, 2008
Hi
I have a small home studio that is only 9' X 12'. I have installed Auralex and sounds great now, but because of the way my house is setup, I have to record vocals in the same room and sometimes I pick up the noise of the PC fan in the background when recording vocals. My PC is under my mixing desk, but I use an old Rode NT1 mic and it picks up every little noise. Anyone know a way to isolate the PC fan without smothering it and overheating the PC?
Thanks!
Musikman
[ Back to Top ]
NightcapVeni, MIDI, ViciMember
Since: Jul 02, 2008
Sep 20, 2008 04:55 pm Use a long mic cable and have the singer do his thing somewhere else in the house, or use a noise gate to raise the noise floor.
The latter may be the better option. As an illustration of what I mean, just make a recording with the mic open in a quiet room and then listen that recording back. What you'll hear is the room's ambient noise and there may be more of it than you think...
BeerHunterwww.TheLondonProject.caMember
Since: Feb 07, 2005
Sep 20, 2008 04:55 pm Hey Musikman,
You can swap out your PC's fan for an ultraquiet one. It is an easy replacement.
Cheers,
Lonnie
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Sep 21, 2008 11:26 am All good ideas indeed and I'll simply add another.
If you have a bit of the Auralex left you can cut a small piece that will simply go over the mic stand or be placed on a wire directly behind the mic. I usually have it about 8 inches or so back. And it works pretty well for blocking out most noise like that.
Although as Nightcap mentions ambient room noise can be much more then you think.
Normally here we would not record in the same room as the PC's but it happens on occasion so that is what is done here, simply blocking the back of the mic with a little absorption.
Normal practice here is off course either running a snake to another room they might prefer. Although funny enough most prefer using the bathroom for the sound that it makes. You can dampen with towels or blankets to taste. Even had one guy stand in the shower to sing. The track turned out better then I expected.
Sep 21, 2008 12:54 pm
Quote:
You can swap out your PC's fan for an ultraquiet one. It is an easy replacement.
+1 on the fan replacements
Sep 21, 2008 01:26 pm All great suggestions! Thanks for the quick reply! I do think the ultra quiet fan is a great idea, but I had a musician friend build my pc and I think I already have a quiet one, but I'll certainly look into that option. I saw something online a long time ago that covers the tower on all but the back side, but very expensive!! I still have some Auralex, so I'll give that a try also, never thought of doing that...good idea. Thanks to all!
Musikman
zekthedeadcowEat Spam before it eats YOU!!!Member
Since: May 11, 2002
Sep 21, 2008 01:29 pm I would by VGA, and PS2/USB extension cables and put the CPU in another room...or just get a long VGA cable and a good wireless mouse and keyboard...
pjkPrince CZAR-mingMember
Since: Apr 08, 2004
Sep 21, 2008 06:14 pm A guy on another board put his PC in a small dorm refrigerator. Then cut a small hole for the wires to come out.
I don't know if you could still have it running, i guess you could if you cut the hole in a good spot (not hitting any important guts).
I suppose a running fridge may be worse than a running pc =), but at least you'd have a cold barley pop (or root pop) close by =).
If it were turned off, (which I think the other guy did) then you could just close the door when you're recording, and open the door when you're not, so it can cool down again.
CptTrippsCzar of Turd PolishMember
Since: Jun 20, 2006
Sep 22, 2008 12:57 pm I did the fan swap, my old ones were ridiculous loud. The new ones are actually very quiet and I don't have to run my 50ft cable anymore :)
HuePinnipedal Czar (: 3= Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004
Sep 24, 2008 10:04 am Yeah, 'double ballbearing fans' make a big difference .
Sep 24, 2008 10:09 am "It's all ball bearings these days"
- Fletch
