|
|
Building a Multi-Media Studio
By Brad Herring
Last month, we talked about making a difference in the way you use media, and the idea of using media in new ways to promote the Gospel message. One of the first steps towards innovation is making sure you have the proper tools. Developing a multi-media studio can elevate your capabilities if you want to present the message of the Gospel to an audience outside the walls of your church. Many churches don’t know where to start when undertaking such a project, so let’s take a look at what you will need.
For the purpose of this article, I am going to discuss how to build a flexible project studio that will accommodate both audio and video production. It will take into account space restraints as well as a reasonable budget.
I often urge churches to consider building a ‘multi-media’ studio to meet their production needs. Unless you are planning on producing albums, there is little need for a full-out audio studio. For most purposes, it would be unusual to need a 72-channel console and a 40-foot by 30-foot dedicated tracking room. However, make no mistake, if you are planning on creating albums you must have a significant amount of space dedicated to tracking rooms, vocal rooms, drum booths, etc. For the scope of this article, however, we are going to deal with the generic media studio.
One of the first considerations is to create a studio room that is reserved for and dedicated to the purpose of creating your multi-media projects. It is difficult to manage a space that is shared with the youth band and a Sunday School class! Also, the studio is not really an office – it is a creative space with a separate purpose.
I definitely encourage tasteful decorating and creating an organized workflow. [So what were all those things you wanted to hang from the ceiling in my studio? David] Often, we want to jump into the tech of equipment and wiring, but I urge you to consider aesthetics first. Think about this way – you’re going to spend a lot of time in this room. It needs to be comfortable, creative, and functional. One of the companies out there that makes this easy is Argosy (www.argosy.com); they make a line of studio furniture that is both functional and pleasing to the eye. Another such company is Omnirax (www.omnirax.com).
Using acoustical material to create a stable listening environment is critical. For a multi-media studio, it doesn’t take much treatment – but you will need some. There is definitely a professional quality about a room that is quiet and controlled. More importantly, acoustic treatment allows you to make sure you are mixing what you are hearing and not what you think you are hearing. Typical treatments include carpet, bass traps in the corners, and correct placement of acoustic materials along the wall and ceiling. These acoustic materials can be home made with foam and duct-board, or you can purchase professional products made by companies such as Auralex (www.auralex.com). Auralex also has several on-line forms and calculators to help you understand what you need for your room.
Another aspect of design and function is lighting. Indirect lighting is always a good idea. Fluorescent lighting is always a bad idea. Often times a studio will be dark in nature – this limits strain on the eyes, but is also because of the materials used to acoustically treat the room. Because of this, it will often take more lighting than you expect to create a comfortable environment.
Unfortunately, with lighting and electronic equipment comes heat. Your studio should be well ventilated and operate at a comfortable temperature. The heating and air system should also be quiet so as to not interfere with the mix. I have read of examples of low-budget studios using window units mounted in walls, isolated, enclosed and ducted to solve this problem. The reports indicate this can be an excellent solution and be inexpensive as well.
Studio power is another consideration. In an ideal world, your studio would have isolated grounds and transformed power. This might not be possible, so at least make sure you have a handful of dedicated circuits for your studio. Isolated grounds are nice if you can get them. Either way, make sure that coffee makers, hair driers, lights, etc. are not plugged into the same circuit as your audio and video equipment. [Did I tell you about the vacuum cleaner? David] These are sure sources for hum and other noises in your media projects.
Let’s be practical here - a couple of comfortable chairs are a must, and high back chairs are preferred. For a finishing touch, I prefer a wood floor around the mix area. It looks nice, feels nice, and provides effortless movement throughout the day as you slide from one work area to another. If it’s applicable, a client sofa or other comfortable chairs are a nice touch as well.
Remember that this room will often be a collaborative work space. This means it should be able to accommodate more than just you. Also, think carefully about how you work. I have a good friend who is an excellent director, but during the edit process he loves to ‘hover’. He stands over my shoulder, breathes on my neck, and is constantly reaching around me. It annoys me more than I can express! When I work in the studio with this person, I go out of my way to try to arrange the environment in such a way that forces him out of my personal space. This still gives him an opportunity to interact and get his point across. These are just some practical things to think about. When you spend over 20 hours with people on a short 3 minute piece, everyone needs to be able to work well together and do their jobs. How you arrange and decorate the room will either create a pleasant environment or force the opposite.
In an ideal world, you will have a control room with a small isolation booth adjoining it. This gives you options for overdubs, narration, and other small recording tasks. The size will be dependent upon your needs, but it should be no smaller than 4’ by 4’ with a glass door. [That’s no booth – that’s a closet! David] The control room should have space for an engineer, a producer, and one or two other people.
In keeping with the creative process, your studio should have easy access to supporting materials such as whiteboards, documentation, storyboards, the internet, and other inspirational materials. [Lava lamps? David]
One critical creative tool is your computer. Though you may have a natural choice, decide carefully on a platform. Many professionals use a PC with the Windows operating system and others us a Mac with OS X. Either way will work. It really depends on your work habits.
I was a hard core PC user for over 15 years before making the switch to Mac. When I opened my studio, it just made sense. This was a decision I made and have never regretted. By the very nature of what I do, I still use PCs as well as Mac. What I have found in my personal experience is that the Mac simply works without a bunch of hassle. I plug in a device, it finds it, and off I go. I wish I could say the same for my PC. All too often I am fighting interrupt conflicts, hardware issues, outdated drivers, and other multi-vendor conflicts. This technical work takes me away from being creative and hinders my process. Granted, there will always be technical issues, but my experience has been that the Mac has fewer of them. The Mac does cost more, but I find it to be a more creative friendly machine.
That being said, I am sure you could find people that would say just the opposite. What is most important is that you buy equipment that works well and that you are comfortable with. Don’t go for the cheapest thing you can find – indeed, you get what you pay for.
When it comes to display monitors, I recommend flat panels whenever possible. These monitors will give your room a more modern feel, but they also generate less heat and usually have better image quality. Flat panel displays also take up less real estate, making them ideal for a project studio setup. Your display monitors should be in easy to view locations that do not cause strain on the neck as well.
Audio monitoring is also important. There are basically three types of audio monitoring:
• Near Field – The speakers are located within 4’ of the listener
• Mid Field – The speakers are located within 4’ and 10’ of the listener
• Far Field – The speakers are located further than 10’ from the listener
Personally, I prefer near field monitoring. I find that I can hear more detail in the mix at a reasonable volume, it takes less room in the studio, and equipment is more reasonably priced. Remember, your studio will only be as good as your weakest link. With this being said, you do not want to get cheap studio monitors.
Likewise, you want to have quality cables that connect to the back of high-quality amplifiers, and so forth. All of your cables should be neatly organized and labeled at both ends. Microphone cables should be well shielded. Ideally, speaker cables should be the same length, as this will insure equal resistance to each speaker.
There is so much more to consider! Video projection, subwoofers, microphone choices, amplifiers, and signal processors all play an important role in producing a top-quality multi-media product. Think carefully about your signal and your interfaces – they do make a difference that your audience will notice.
Remember, all of these details are just that. The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. Our main thing is to share the Gospel, and our decisions influence our ability to carry out our purpose. Plan wisely, spend wisely, and share God’s heart with the creativity that truly shows we are created in His image.
Spread the Word.
|
|
