Arts >> Music >> Recording Music

How to Design a Media Sound Booth

Home recording is more affordable than ever, thanks to the rise of cheaper, more-powerful computers and a wealth of software solutions. However, no software can emulate one key component of a recording: a clean vocal take. With a little ingenuity, a trip to the local hardware store and some elbow grease you can build a media sound booth that will help you nail that solid vocal take, with minimal background noise.

Things You'll Need

  • 9 – 10-foot by 1-inch Schedule 40 PVC plumbing pipe
  • 12 – 1-inch PVC T couplers
  • 6 – 1-inch PVC 90-degree elbows
  • 24 – 1-inch PVC pipe caps
  • 4 – 72-inch by 60-inch mover’s blankets
  • 6 – squeeze hand clamps (more, if desired)
  • 1 – clamp light
  • 1 – CFL bulb
  • Tubing cutter/hacksaw
  • Tape measure
  • Sharpie
  • Bungee cable (optional)
Show More

Instructions

    • 1
      PVC pipes are a cheap and sturdy building material.

      Cut the larger pipe into the following increments:

      Cut in half three of the 10-foot PVC pipes making six 5-foot sections of PVC piping to be used as the top and bottom of the frame.
      Cut the remaining piping into 6-foot increments making 6 6-foot sections of piping to be used as the sides of the frame.
      Cut the remaining piping into 1-foot increments making 24 1-foot sections of piping to be used as feet.

    • 2

      Attach two of the 6-foot side pieces to two of the 5-foot top and bottom pieces. Use two 90-degree elbows to connect the pieces at the top corners, and two T couplers to connect at the bottom corners.

    • 3

      Assemble your support feet by attaching 1-foot increments of piping to a T coupler. The piping should be inserted so that it forms the base of a standing letter T when attached to the coupler. Insert end caps into open ends of the T coupler.

    • 4

      Attach feet by inverting the T and connecting piping to the open coupler.

    • 5

      Repeat steps 2 through 4 to create two more frames.

    • 6

      Arrange the frames as an open-sided box. Drape mover's blankets over each frame, and keep them in place using clamps.

    • 7

      If added stability is desired, attach frames to each other using bungee cables.

    • 8

      Attach a clamp light to front frame and insert a bulb. Drape a final blanket over the top of the frames.

Recording Music

Related Categories