Real HumanHome Recording Studio Woes
I’ve been recording voice overs from home for quite a while. I love my space. I voice from a professionally sound-treated “Whisper Room” that–at this point–feels like my “home” and I’ve only ever had super positive feedback from various audio engineers and studios that I’ve connected with over Source Connect, Clean Feed, Zoom, etc.
But one thing has remained a source of pain over the years….it’s HOT!
My Home Studio AKA “The Hot Box”
When it’s warm outside, my studio heats up really really fast. Think about it: It’s 100 degrees outside and I’m working in a tiny 3 x 3 “box” that is super insulated. The door is closed, I’m working hard, and talking constantly. Oh, and I don’t turn the AC on when I’m working. I’m very picky about the sound quality that comes out of my studio. I feel like the noise from the AC leaks into my sound files too much and the “noise removal” tool doesn’t quite leave me with an ideal sound.
So, all of these years I have just kind of been suffering.
Past Attempts have been Lackluster
It’s not like I haven’t tried. I wear as little as possible in the booth when it’s hot. I drink ice water nonstop. I bought this weird seat-cushion thingy that you put in the freezer for a while and then take it out and sit on it…until it heats up again. And I always open the door to my booth while I’m editing sound files to at least get a bit of air-flow.
But nothing has ever brought real relief…(cue dramatic music)….UNTIL NOW
The Box Fan of my Dreams
This summer has been a doozy (thanks global warming) and the heat has been worse than ever. The only upside is that it finally forced me to try something new. I began researching super quiet fans that I could potentially leave on while recording.
After reading reviews and specs, I landed on the Dreo Tower Fan linked HERE.
This fan promised to be super quiet at 20db (I read that anything under 25db was ideal) while delivering real cooling power…and you guys…it is!!!
It has 8 levels and I am able to leave it at Level 4 while recording with NO audible sound leaking through to my audio files! It also has a remote control so I can turn it on/off and change the settings without getting up.
I have the fan pointing directly on me so that when I open the door to my booth, I am immediately blasted with cooling air.
Sometimes Small Changes Make a Huge Difference
I don’t know what took me so darn long to try this but, hey, I’m not going to gate keep this information when it’s helped my working environment so much!
Who would have thought that my answer was just a $65 tower fan? Oh well…learn from my silly mistake and don’t hesitate to order this guy or something like it. We spend so much time in our booths…having a comfortable environment is crucial.
Stay cool and happy recording!
