Steven Klein SCR, a designer and builder of commercial recording studios, project studios and post-production facilities, recently completed two new creative spaces for a talentedmusician/producer and an actor who is developing a voice-over business. Damian Dragici has converted a spare room in his home into a music production area with companion control room, while Wayne Thomas Yorke has converted garage space into a self-contained production area with a soundproofed voice-over studio. Both projects were designed and supervised by Steven Klein.
“These new spaces presented their own unique challenges,” Klein said. “But the end results are flexible, cost-effective environments that enable Daman and Wayne to concentrate on the creative process of making music and preparing commercials.”
Damian Dragici is a Rumanian-born film-score composer and music producer who specializes in world music and related music styles. “I wanted to convert a second-floor bedroom into a 350-square-foot control room and tracking space,” the producer said. “We ended up with two equal-volume connected areas with a windowed wall between them.” The project included the installation of sound-isolation materials, doors, windows and acoustical treatments.
Insulation was blown into the wall cavities, a layer of vinyl barrier placed onto the wall and ceiling, and then capped with an additional layer of 5/8-inch drywall. Steven Klein installed isolation doors, windows were retrofitted with Quiet Windows, and a custom control room window was constructed. “The acoustic treatment was designed to fit a defined aesthetic and budget, and was custom-designed for the use of the space,” Klein explained. Recording equipment includes a Digidesign Pro Tools|HD digital audio workstation and Apple’s Emagic Logic software running on an Apple Macintosh G4, connected to self-powered Genelec Model 1031 A control room monitors and subwoofer. A piano is housed in a nearby loft. Initial recordings at the new facility include a Chinese ensemble and Cuban music. “It is a great job. The construction is excellent and the sound quality is very, very good. I couldn’t be happier,” enthused Dragici.
Wanting to branch out into the voice-over market, Wayne Thomas Yorke recently contracted Steven Klein SCR to design and build a compact voice-over booth in his garage. Steven Klein SCR consulted and provided specifications for the voice-overbuild out, including isolation, electrical, ventilation and installation of acoustical treatments. “Small spaces arechallenging, especially for voice,” said Klein. “An elaborate 7-inch-deep absorber fills the back wall, floor to ceiling. A 1.75-inch system is on the walls above the chair rail, and a 1-inch system on the ceiling. Upholstered walls hide the acoustic treatments.”
“They were the perfect people for me,” Yorke said. “As a beginner, I had called friends for advice. They said I should call Steven Klein. His assistant, Jon [Schlesinger], came to see the space and had lots of ideas for me. It was everything I needed as a beginner. The project fell into place and we completed the conversion in one week. It was an excellent experience!” Yorke also worked with a local equipment retailer, RSPE Audio Solutions, which supplied the production equipment and ISDN unit, and Pat Schneider of P.S. Tech, who set up and wired the entire system.
For more, visit Steven Klein SCR online at www.soundcontrolroom.com.
