Whisper Rooms: Worth It?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Haneen Arafat on December 9, 2008 at 5:58pm

Dylan,

Out of curiosity, what are the other booths that you have/are considering, and is the drumperfect among them? Wondering about the sound spec comparisons.

Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Dylan Jones on December 9, 2008 at 7:07pm

Hi, Haneen -

I don't yet have the reduction specs for the DrumPerfect booth, as their website's contact/email form is on the fritz. I'll post their specs when I get a chance to call them (and if they can provide said specs). Meanwhile:

Whisper Room Standard

(Accurate to +/- 3 dB)

Frequency (Hertz):
125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000

Reduction (dB):
29, 36, 43, 45, 48, 52


And if I choose to upgrade at a later date:


Whisper Room Enhanced

Frequency (Hertz):
125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000

Reduction (dB):
30, 44, 53, 61, 67, 68


And now, the others:


Vocal Booth.com Silver

Frequency ( Hertz )
125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000

Reduction ( dB )
26, 27, 29, 36, 40, 42

GK Vocal/Recording Sound Isolation Booths

Noise Isolation Class (NIC): 32

Standardized Sound Reduction Test:

Frequencies: 125 250 500 1K 2K 4K

Reduction: 30 31 34 41 45 47

GK can increase these reduction numbers, on an average across the frequency scale:

4 to 6 dB for option: GK-SB1
6 to 12 dB for option: GK-SB2

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Permalink Reply by Mike Bratton on December 9, 2008 at 8:08pm

Dylan

I'd be happy to send you a file of what my Drumperfect room sounds like. Also, their sizing on the site is the INTERNAL dimensions of the booth.

So, if it is listed as a 4'x4' booth, then add on a few inches on the outside dimensions for your space.

Actually, I s'pose I could just post a file that compares say...my room, completely untreated...to the booth.

I'm shocked at the fact that it DOESN'T have that same boxy sound that Whisper Rooms can have. I think it has to do with the size to a certain degree.

But, I haven't had to modify the interior in any way. And I can tell you, from experience, that my booth definitely deflects outside noise better than a Whisper Room standard.

Tell Chris at Drum Perfect I said Hi!

If you want, since you live in Brooklyn, come on over and try it out for yourself! I'd be more than happy to let you...and my dog is always happy to meet new peeps.

Take care!

Mike Bratton

www.mikebrattonvoice.com

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Permalink Reply by Dylan Jones on December 9, 2008 at 9:20pm

Mike -

An audio file side-by-side would be awesome, please do. And I just might take you up on that visit.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Bratton on December 9, 2008 at 9:36pm

Alrighty...

Here's the audio file.

Of course, it's not soundPROOF...nothing at this price level is going to be. BUT...it does have some damn-nice acoustics. I live right by the Atlantic Yard construction site. About the only sound the booth doesn't reject well enough for me...is when the neighbor kid upstairs stays home and start going CRAZY jumping up and down on the floor above.

Other than that, it's a great buy. I think, from experience, it sounds just as good, if not better, than a Whisper. Coupled with a 416...it's tight.

I'll give another test with a large-cap condenser later this week.

But, as I said before...if you'd like to try it out...stop on by.

For the money...in my opinion...for what it's worth...this booth is a great deal.

I did alot of research...was just days away from dropping the cash on the Whisper...and found this box.

The shipping costs alone were mind-boggling with Whisper Room.

Sure...mine doesn't have ventilation...but it's not hard to build.

The only other difference really, is that this booth has no floor. But, that is fine...I bought a set of rubber gym mats ( the kind that interlock together ) and use that as a floor for the booth. It helps to decouple the booth walls from the floor.

Good times!

Attachments:

• Booth_vs_NoBooth.mp3, 3.7 MB

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Permalink Reply by Haneen Arafat on December 9, 2008 at 9:43pm

Dylan,

Thanks for posting all the info--that'll be helpful for a lot of folks. Since I was considering building the dawbox, I've sent a note to them requesting the same info based on their plans. I'll post if they have them.

And Mike, yes, I'm sure we'd all love to hear those files.

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Permalink Reply by Haneen Arafat on December 9, 2008 at 10:02pm

Well I guess I was typing at the same time Mike was recording... The room definitely doesn't sound boxy. For a small space, it was actually pretty crisp, at least to me. Thanks for posting.

Permalink Reply by Haneen Arafat on December 10, 2008 at 6:28am

Here's the reply I got from Dawbox:
Our single wall design has the same NR reduction as whisper rooms single wall design. They use an MDF wall design covered with carpet. Our double wall design upgrade has an STC rating of 50. you will achieve the same results with our competitors at a fraction of the cost by using our design and doing it yourself or hiring a contractor to build our design for yourself.

Permalink Reply by Dylan Jones on December 10, 2008 at 12:08pm

I just received a call from an ETS-Lingren rep who informed me that they no longer manufacture vocal booths. So they were not only not an option in my book, they're not an option PERIOD. C'est la vie.

Permalink Reply by Pat Appleson on December 29, 2008 at 10:35pm

Hi Dylan,
It doesn't surprise me that ETS stopped making sound booths, they were special order ten years ago, when I bought mine. They make bigger things today. Like entire Radio studios. As I mentioned they did the custom build for XM Radio. Over 92 rooms. Yes, I agree with some of the other writers that this isn't everyone's cup of tea. But for me, the silence of the sound, has always been important.
I blame my booth for attracting some big time clients and return sessions being the frosting on the cake. I recently did eight years of FOX Television's America's Most Wanted starring John Walsh. At least two days a week, John was in the booth with a big script and a cup of luke warm Coke Classic. We chewed thru the scripts live to Silver Springs, then on to Bethesda for the conform. I really can't see a guy at that level stepping into a wooden box. But, again. Use what ever you like. It's a free country. And when the Network calls me for a cleanup, I get to charge them money. (grin)

Best Regards
Pat
www.appleson.com

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Permalink Reply by Dylan Jones on December 30, 2008 at 10:31am

Believe me, Pat, given my druthers, I'd get an ETS-Lingren (or its equivalent) in a hot minute. However, I just don't have the wherewithal for such a thing. But I thank you kindly for your input.

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Permalink Reply by Dylan Jones on January 26, 2009 at 2:46pm

So, everyone, I sucked it up and bought myself a brand-new Whisper Room, single wall, 3.5 x 3.5. I've had it for a week, and it's made my recording life much easier. No more recording under a blanket or waiting for the world outside my window to pipe down = paradise. As others have stated in this forum, the booth's not completely soundproof, but the reduction is more than acceptable, and it dries things up pretty nicely. I'm damn happy with it, though I would like to customize it a little as I go along (a bass trap here, a reflexion filter there). But even as-is, I'm a more-than-satisfied customer.

TIP: I saved a nice chunk of change by getting it sans the ventilation unit, which tacks on over $400 to the price (at the time of this writing). Thus far the lack of circulation hasn't been an issue at all, and if it turns out to be, I can always buy the ventilation unit a la carte, as every WR is configured for ventilation, regardless.

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