Sneap and Studio Design

[lolzgreg]

As most of you Sneapsters know, Backstage Productions has one hell of a facility

I figure I would make a little thread here (that will hopefully turn into a big one ) about Andy's studio design.

Andy, who designed your studio?

Was your intent to create a room with a flat response, or one that sounded "right" to you?

I ask this question, as a very well known mastering engineer I know has neither worked nor wanted to work in a "treated" room in his life. He has done award winning work for platinum artists with household names from the seventies such as Led Zeppelin and Michael Jackson on to recent acts like Saves the Day, Norma Jean, Evanescence, and more.

Would you be so kind to share with us some focal points regarding treatment or gear placement that has helped your mixing and workflow?

To keep this rolling, let's try to maybe link to pictures of Andy's studio and analyze what's going on in terms of treatment and gear placement.

[Skaldir]

What I always liked by looking at Andys studio is the big rock walls that surely are great diffusors naturally. Besides it looks awesome.

[JeffTD]

Bigass pics:

http://www.solidstatelogic.com/news/...neap_large.jpg

http://www.solidstatelogic.com/news/...tage_large.jpg

[PD-Baraka]

i like the view outside the windows

[JeffTD]

There were some other fucking HUGE pictures of the entire studio pre-SSL, incl live room and amp room, that were posted before. Wish I could still find them, think they disappeared with the website renovation.

Maybe Brett can chime in?

[Lasse Lammert]

The place looks impressive, I can tell you that...
It's easily the second most awesome thing in Belper...


The most awesome thing in Belper (and probably the world) is that indian place Andy took us to. Been trying to find an indian place that rivals it ever since

[greyskull]

Is it bad that one of the first things that I notice in the second picture is not how awesome and beeeeeeaautiful the studio is but that there are messy cables under the desk?

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

Awesome place, but when I went there the surrounding fields had that terrible smell of manure, and there was no water from the tap (had to brush teeth with beer and pee outside).

[Lasse Lammert]

Originally Posted by Brett - K A L I S I A

Awesome place, but when I went there the surrounding fields had that terrible smell of manure, and there was no water from the tap (had to brush teeth with beer and pee outside).

wow, that must have been long ago....

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

2006 I think. But the water issue was because it was such a dry year than the well was empty.

[Mago]

Originally Posted by Brett - K A L I S I A

Awesome place, but when I went there the surrounding fields had that terrible smell of manure, and there was no water from the tap (had to brush teeth with beer and pee outside).

I surely read that last bit pretty wrong the first time
"(had to brush teeth with beer and pee, outside)"


It doesn't look like LEDE...can't imagine that the rocks diffuse an aweful lot too, and I guess the windows (which make an über-awesome view) are set in angled? it's hard to see from those pics

Also I guess that the one one the pics is only for mxing/mastering, and tracking/editing is done in the other studioroom?

[Lasse Lammert]

Originally Posted by Mago

It doesn't look like LEDE...can't imagine that the rocks diffuse an aweful lot too

don't confuse "diffuse" with "absorb"!
those hugeass rocks poking through the walls like semi-spheres are like the best diffusors ever!

[Brett - K A L I S I A]

Yeah the room in the pictures is the control room. There's a room for tracking and one small with all the amps for guitar recording. No the glass are not angled. He had some bass traps and clouds in there too.

[gabriel g.]

Andy your control room is the most inspiring control room I ever saw.
For me, this is the perfect room! I love the combination of high-end stuff, and the rustic look. It looks like a place were you can really relax and get shit done

about the rocks:
My college prof. in audio engineering is planning the new studio for the facility and told the architects to build the stone walls the same way, because these style is a hell of a great diffusor

[Trevoire520]

Great idea for a thread! Would be awesome to see some more pic's of the place.

[dan weapon]

Originally Posted by Lasse Lammert

The most awesome thing in Belper (and probably the world) is that indian place Andy took us to. Been trying to find an indian place that rivals it ever since

I think I went there with Andy, Scott Atkins, Nick Barker and a few others at new year.

Nick revolutionised eating curry by turning it into a massive Indian burrito; Take naan bread, pour on rice and curry, pick up with hands, eat.

Incredible stuff.

[Lasse Lammert]

Originally Posted by dan weapon

I think I went there with Andy, Scott Atkins, Nick Barker and a few others at new year.

Nick revolutionised eating curry by turning it into a massive Indian burrito; Take naan bread, pour on rice and curry, pick up with hands, eat.

Incredible stuff.

is that place awesome or what?

[Andy Sneap]

nah that wasn't the one Dan, both good places tho.

[decoy205]

The first time I saw pics of this studio I was really blown away. I think it was about when Killswitch was working with Mr. Sneap there. It's gotta be a dream come true having a place like that!
-John

[crillemannen]

Andy i t would be awesome to get a tour in your studio. A Video would be the most awesome but some pics how the place looks like now would be super

[slaven22]

GREAT THREAD!

Also interested in acoustic treatment of Backstage control room.

Interested in monitoring as well!
I've read that Andy uses ns10 most of the times and sometimes checks mixes on Genelecs, but I see that he still uses Genelecs 1031a (they are in the studio).

If you find some spare time, Andy can you please share, what's your opinion on those Genelecs? I also have a pair, but I'm still in the process of getting used to them (most of the times I feel comfortable with my Adams, they seem to have more pronounced mid range)..


Also what's your opinion on room treatment?
Some mixers prefer totally treated rooms, with flat response, and some other mostly don't care about the room treatment at all.
I guess that control room in Backstage is a big place, so it's easier to avoid some of the problems in the first place.

Is there any special design involved like LEDE or something? Acoustic treatment was done by whom, if you can share?

[Mago]

Originally Posted by Lasse Lammert

don't confuse "diffuse" with "absorb"!
those hugeass rocks poking through the walls like semi-spheres are like the best diffusors ever!

no, I didn't confuse diffuse with absorb...but I think I mixed up the wavelenght/size relationship of diffusors and reflectors
that's why my inital thought was that they look a bit small...but it's not really easy to get a good feel for the size of the rocks from those pictures!

All the rock walls I've seen/heared so far had too small spheres, so they were more a decorative thing than a useful acoustical treatment hehe

I'd love to hear one of these walls for sure one time!

[lolzgreg]

Having an "unrealistic" listening space may preserve the "neutrality" of a mix, or represent the mix more naturally; however, the average listener does not often have the luxury of such a listening environment.

How important is it really to get a mix "working" on your monitors rather than a pair of headphones or a car stereo? What is the "best" source to monitor on?

[Tommy Evans]

^^^FWIW I get pretty close with my monitors, then take it to my car until it sounds perfect (to me).

[Boerboel666]

V nice room , the treatment looks minimal but must be effective enough . Does anyone know if a designer/acoustic engineer was used to sort out the room ?