Are you a professional or hobbyist vocalist looking to record your impeccable vocals in the bedroom?
Are you looking for a budget-friendly setup that allows you to record your voice clearly and professionally?
Then our DIY vocal booth guide is just the thing you need.
In this article, we will teach you how to build a vocal booth in your bedroom at a low price and high quality.
With this booth, you can record your voice in high quality and with no noise.
Why invest in a high-end vocal booth when the same function can be performed by a DIY booth in your bedroom, right?
Keep reading to learn how you create a recording studio in your bedroom.
Understanding the Basics
Let’s dive into the basics of creating a DIY vocal booth.
First, you need to understand the importance of sound absorption. Acoustic treatment is essential for a vocal booth as it helps to minimize the reflections of sound waves, which can cause unwanted echoes and reverb in your recordings.
To achieve this, make use of absorbing materials like foam panels, acoustic tiles, or even heavy blankets.
Soundproofing is another crucial aspect of your vocal booth. It prevents outside noise from interfering with your recording and ensures the sound inside the booth remains isolated.
You can soundproof your booth by sealing gaps, adding mass to walls, and using materials that block noise like weatherstripping or insulation.
The size and shape of the booth are also essential factors to consider. Typically, a vocal booth should be large enough to fit a microphone, a stand, and yourself comfortably.
The shape should not cause any issues with sound focusing or build-up in specific areas. Rectangular or square booths work well for this purpose, but you can experiment with other shapes depending on your room.
Finally, consider the ideal positioning for your microphone and any other equipment within the booth.
The placement of the mic in relation to your mouth can greatly affect the overall recording quality. A pop filter or foam windscreen can be helpful in reducing plosive sounds in vocals and ensuring a more consistent sound.
By understanding these basics, you can create a DIY vocal booth in your bedroom that gives you studio-quality recordings for your projects.
With sound absorption, soundproofing, and proper equipment placement, you’re on your way to capturing professional-sounding vocals at home.
Which DIY Vocal Booth is the Best Option?
If you do a quick google search, you’ll find several options on DIY vocal booths that you can try creating in your bedroom.
The popular recommendation is often the closet of your bedroom.
However, we don’t agree with the recommendation as it doesn’t provide as refined a result as a good vocal booth should.
We recommend *drum roll* The Blanket Booth.
Yes, you heard us right.
The blanket booth is not only budget-friendly and easy to set up, but its quality is significantly better than any other DIY method that you can try in a bedroom.
Essentially, the blanket vocal booth is made of a PVC pipe frame on which several acoustic blankets are hung.
The blankets soak up the sound from all sides of the room and only leave your vocals to stand out.
Moreover, the blanket vocal booth can easily be torn down and built up if you need to move it or if you don’t want to stand in your room at all times. It is also easier to store and rearrange.
Another great advantage of this type of vocal booth is that it gives you space without distraction.
It encloses you and your voice while you sing with all your heart. As a result, you are able to perform more confidently and without restraint.
Creating this type of booth is not very heavy on your pocket as it only costs $200 to $250 on average, which is significantly less than a professional vocal booth.
Without further ado, let’s dive right in and guide you step-by-step on how to build a vocal booth in your bedroom.
How to Build a Blanket Vocal Booth
Let’s go over the steps that go into building a blanket vocal booth:
Step #1: Buy/Gather the Required Materials
In order to create a vocal blanket booth in your bedroom, you’ll need a few materials.
Here is a list for you:
- 7 one-inch PVC pipes
- 8 one-inch elbow joints
- 14 one-inch T-joints
- 4 acoustic blankets
- 14 shower curtain rings
- 4 two-inch clamps
- 1 junior hacksaw
These are the materials that you’ll need in order to create a vocal booth in your bedroom.
For a medium sized vocal booth in an average bedroom, you’ll need 7 PVC pipes with ten-foot-long segments.
The most significant expense in this list goes into buying acoustic blankets.
These blankets aren’t ordinary blankets; they are designed to soak up the sound waves in a space.
Make sure you get good-quality blankets to create the best quality booth. Make sure the blankets have grommets that allow you to hang them by the hooks.
All the other items on the list are much cheaper.
Step #2: Cut the PVC Pipe
The first thing that you need to do is cut the PVC pipes.
If you are buying the PVC pipes from a local hardware store, then they will probably offer the option of cutting them for you at any length you want.
However, if you’re getting your PVC pipes from somewhere that doesn’t offer the cutting service, you’ll have to do it on your own.
You can do this using a sharpie and a tape measure to cut the pipes to your desired length.
Once you have all your measurements, get some newspapers and spread them out. On top of the newspaper-covered floor, hold the pipe off the surface of a table.
Then, use a saw to cut them to your recorded measurements.
When you are cutting the pipes, make sure you cut them in a straight line to keep the edges of the pipe uniform.
The straighter the cut is, the stronger the booth will be.
Step #3: Build the Booth Frame
After cutting all the pipes, prepare to build the structure of the frame.
This is a short step and will not take you longer than half an hour.
All the pipes fit into each other like Lego blocks, and you can shape the frame easily.
Step #4: Label the Pieces
Once you’ve built the frame, most of the groundwork is laid. Now, this step is crucial before we hang the blankets.
For this step, take a sharpie and label each piece of the pipe carefully.
The labeling will be immensely useful for you in the future as it will allow you to set up the booth quickly.
Instead of having to measure each pipe every time you build the booth, the labels will tell you exactly which pipe it is and where it goes.
Step #5: Hang the Blankets on the Frame
This is one of the final steps of creating your vocal booth in the bedroom.
Before you proceed to hang the blankets, make sure that their grommets are hooked with shower hangers.
This will allow you to hang the blankets much easily.
Once the blankets are ready, take three of them and hang them on the frame to create walls.
Make sure you hang them on the outer side of the frame instead of the inner side. Overlap two blankets at the front of the booth to create a door to get in from.
Now, take the fourth blanket and spread it over the top of the booth frame. Make sure it’s evenly draped and equal on all sides.
You can also use clamps to tighten the roof blanket if that’s what you prefer.
Step #6: Make it Look Good
Now the booth is created, you just need to make it more refined.
Consider adding lights as it will be dark inside the booth. You can use a bedside lamp or hang fairy lights to set up the mood.
That’s it, and your bedroom vocal booth is ready!
Testing the Vocal Booth
Once you’ve built your vocal booth in your bedroom, it’s important to test it to ensure the recording quality meets your expectations.
Start by setting up your recording equipment, such as your microphone, pop filter, and audio interface, inside the booth. Make sure all cables are connected and your computer or recording device is set up and ready to go.
Before you begin testing, make sure the booth is well-sealed, and all gaps around the door, corners, and base are properly closed off. This helps minimize unwanted noise from entering the booth. Now you’re ready to test the sound quality.
Begin by recording a few test vocals to check for any potential issues like unwanted reverb or echoes. Listen back to these recordings and compare them to recordings done outside the booth. Pay attention to the following aspects:
- Clarity of the vocals
- Background noise levels
- Reverb or echo present in the recording
If you find any of these issues in your recording, consider making adjustments to the booth. These could include:
- Adding more sound-absorbing materials like bass traps or acoustic foam
- Checking for any gaps in the door or walls and sealing them
- Adjusting the position of your microphone
It can be helpful to repeat this testing process several times while making adjustments to ensure optimal sound quality in your recording booth.
Finally, once you’re satisfied with the sound quality, practice using your vocal booth for different types of recordings, such as dialogues, singing, or voice-over work.
By practicing and perfecting your recording techniques in your home-built booth, you’ll be able to achieve professional-quality vocals without leaving your bedroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
What materials are needed for constructing a bedroom vocal booth?
To construct a bedroom vocal booth, you will need materials such as insulation boards, acoustic foam, bass traps, and a door sealing system.
In addition, you may require wood or PVC pipes for the frame, fabric or blankets to cover the walls, and adhesive for attaching the foam and insulation boards.
Keep in mind that the specific materials needed may vary based on your particular project and budget.
How can I create a DIY vocal booth using PVC pipes?
Creating a DIY vocal booth using PVC pipes is an affordable and flexible option. Start by measuring your desired dimensions and sketching a design for the booth.
Purchase the PVC pipes, connectors, and other necessary supplies. Assemble the PVC frame according to your design, making sure to create a sturdy structure.
Attach the insulation boards, acoustic foam, and fabric or blankets to the frame to provide sound isolation and absorption. Don’t forget to add a door or curtain to ensure privacy and sound isolation.
What are some affordable options for building a vocal booth?
Affordable options for building a vocal booth include using PVC pipes or wooden frames, repurposing furniture such as a wardrobe or closet, and using blankets and towels for sound absorption.
You can also consider utilizing soundproof curtains to create a makeshift vocal booth. Remember that creativity and resourcefulness are key when working with a limited budget.
How can blankets be used to enhance a vocal booth’s sound quality?
Blankets can be an effective budget solution to enhance your vocal booth’s sound quality. Heavy, thick blankets or moving blankets are particularly helpful in absorbing sound and reducing echo.
Hang the blankets on the walls and ceiling of your booth, ensuring they do not touch the floor and that they’re spaced evenly.
Additionally, you may choose to layer blankets or combine them with other sound-absorbing materials like acoustic foam for optimal results.
What are the best dimensions for an effective vocal booth?
The ideal dimensions for an effective vocal booth depend on the needs and available space in your bedroom.
Generally, a vocal booth should be large enough to accommodate a singer or voiceover artist and their microphone setup comfortably.
A minimum size of 4 feet by 4 feet is recommended, but larger dimensions like 6 feet by 6 feet or 8 feet by 8 feet may provide better sound quality due to the increased space for sound absorption.
Make sure to consider your room’s layout and constraints when determining the best dimensions for your vocal booth.
Do DIY vocal booths provide sufficient sound isolation?
DIY vocal booths can provide sufficient sound isolation if built with proper materials and techniques.
Incorporating soundproofing elements such as insulation boards, acoustic foam, and bass traps into your design will help minimize external noise and create a controlled recording environment.
However, it is important to understand that DIY vocal booths may not provide the same level of performance as professionally built ones, so consider your specific needs, preferences, and budget while building your own vocal booth.
Final Thoughts
Creating a vocal booth in your bedroom is not very difficult if you know what you’re doing.
By following the steps above, you can easily create a booth that offers high-quality recordings.
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