Wiring a recording studio

[Southern Spark]

I am looking to rewire a recording studio. It is quite a small low key studio in a large converted garage, but it is a professional studio so the results have to be very good. The main concern is interference. I am looking to put a lot of things on there own supply, lights, mixer, pc etc then have a couple of circuits to do sockets. I am thinking about sing 2" galv trunking at high level and wiring in singles, with each circuit protected with an individual R.C.B.O. Has anybody on here had experience of wiring a studio? What things should i be looking to consider? Is inteference really that much of an issue, would wiring in singles be suitable or is there anything more suitable? Thanks in advance guys

 

[WDMDL]

That should do it: By it's nature, the electrical supply will be out of the way, balanced and screened.

The design should be such that power and audio cables do not run parallel in close proximity.
Pro gear is less susceptible to interference because low-impedance 600-Ohm balanced screened interconnections are used.
With domestic and semi-pro gear it is usually simple co-axial cable (unbalanced) with high input impedance in tens of k-Ohms and there are sometimes issues with ground loops on class I equipment (watch out for disconnected CPCs in plugs to overcome that annoying background buzz!)

With all the Euro EMC regs that have come in over the past few years, power supplies pollute the mains less, also equipment has to tolerate interference without detriment to its operation

Simon.

 

[Des 56]

No help here,only some thoughts on the subject,probably topquark is your man for this subject

Most ac circuits have noise,there are power conditioners on the market to clean the supply,its value can only be judged by using one compared to not using one,because the supply may be cleanish anyway

As far as I am aware wiring in singles will likely increase the chances of causing interference,the electro magnetic field is reduced with twin + earth

Perhaps an isolating transformer will be suitable something like this AIT 1000VA Ultra Isolation Transformers | Line Conditioner | Critical Power Supplies

 

[telectrix]

if they intend to record rubbish like what has been in the charts for the last 10 years, then you wouldn't notice the noise compared to the strangled cats making the recording anyway.

 

[Southern Spark]

thanks for the replies so far guys, this is great...one other thing, I have often heard of installers wiring rings in 6mm for dedicated A/V circuits due to the lower impedence, larger C.S.A on the earth etc, do you think this would be beneficial in this situation??

 

[SPARTYKUS]

thanks for the replies so far guys, this is great...one other thing, I have often heard of installers wiring rings in 6mm for dedicated A/V circuits due to the lower impedence, larger C.S.A on the earth etc, do you think this would be beneficial in this situation??

I'd have to try getting two 6mm live conductors in the terminal first

 

[Southern Spark]

It can be done, not particularly easy, but possible

 

[SPARTYKUS]

It can be done, not particularly easy, but possible

Ok, I believe you. Never tried! but can see it might be.

 

[Southern Spark]

The only time I have ever had to do it was for an ip socket supplying a pump in a s**t pit, there I was, on my stomach, head down the pit, trying to hold my breath for as long as possible... it took a few attempts to get a decent connection... bloomin horrible job, not something I want to do again ever!!!!

 

[tb1981]

I do lots of work on subsea communication systems, and like des 56 said we use an isolating tansformer and screened cable on the comms twisted pairs. The panels these comms sets are usually fitted to are generally full of both comms and power cabling, and we get very little problems as long as the wiring is segragated. generally we fit a filter to the supply of the comms unit, but have been to jobs where these havent been used and all has been well.

 

[Knobhead]

I’m not being nasty but if they want true quality tell them to get the sound engineers in. you’ll never do it!

My lounge has a 2.5K system. The lads that set up my system played hell about the mains quality! So I acquired a mains filter unit (6K) from a computer server.

It’s an art all on it’s own!

Have a look for “hands on sound systems” Nottingham

 

[Geordie Spark]

Some years ago a local recording studio had some problems with mains fluctuations which caused havoc with the recording equipment.

After much testing & messing around, it was eventually noticed that there was a building site down the road with a large electrically powered tower crane & it was this crane that was causing the problems.

 

[topquark]

I'd consider an isolating transformer as Des has said. If not I'd certainly want two separate earthing systems, one clean one dirty. Even the amount of current dumped from the PC's transformer can be enough to cause interference on the AV kit. I'd also be tempted to avoid singles, lessens the chances of any eddy current problems and reduces the RF interference susceptability. Also if there's no particular need for it to be rings, I'd consider separate 4mm radials in this instance (if only for some of the kit).

 

[Engineer54]

It can be done, not particularly easy, but possible

How are you going to get two 6mm cables in a socket outlet terminal that has 10mm terminals?? Only by cutting strands off of each 6mm cable!!! Socket Terminal size used to be 12mm but they aren't anymore and haven't been for a good few years now!!

 

[Rockingit]

I've many years experience with sound and audio mains having been a touring theatre/rock and roll sparky in my murky past. About as best you can hope for is to separate your mains from your data as much as is humanly possible, and if the client has megga-money on the job then as others have said, build a hut outside and install a nice big isolating transformer purely feeding the sound equipment. Avoid dimming, fluoro's and generally anything with a magnet or coil involved. And yes, watch out for those 'lifted' earths - particularly on guitar amps. Oh, that's a point - remember that with sound gear the data always seems to be terminated the wrong way around, as in the cable coming towards you (if you are the musician) is MALE, not female.

 

[Southern Spark]

THis is fantastic guys, a lot of food for thought. I will scrap the singles idea, and use 4mm t and e. *engineer 54* like I previously said, the socket I terminated was an IP one, I dont know if the terminals are slightly bigger, but I definitely terminated it and I certainly didnt cut any of the strands off, I would never be that rough . and tony, I certainly dont take it as being nasty mate, as far as im concerned I value every opinion on here. Im not going into this blind, I have sound engineering qualifications (albeit 10 years old now) as that was originally what I wanted to do, and I do consider myself a bit of an A/V freak, it is just nice to hear other peoples opinions. I am by far not the most knowledgeable person when it comes to this type of job, but that is what is great about this forum, i can pick other peoples brains and learn from there experiences. Good point about the strip lights, that is what he has got in there at the moment. Do you see low bays being a problem, with their control gear?? the ceilings are pretty damn high from what I remember.

 

[topquark]

I'd probably want to use mains voltage spots, definately no florries!

 

[Rockingit]

I'd probably want to use mains voltage spots, definately no florries!

Agreed! Lo-bays can (and do) wreak havoc in sound venues - remember that as well as the electrical noise, they are also noisey in the audible sense. GU10's probably the better option of most.

 

[topquark]

One other thought, you may want to give some consideration to an SPD; as there's likely to be a fair amount of expensive kit connected to the submain(s) in the garage.

 

[Mr.Si]

Something I would want to consider myself is the sound insulation between walls and floors and ceilings to/from the outside world/rooms.

But that's because I am a sound engineer and used to work as an acoustic consultant.

So when it comes to placing lights in the ceiling or sockets in the walls, you may wish to take this into account - if you sink them into recesses, this will affect the resistance to the passage of sound. (it's like water - it takes advantage of the smallest weakness in structure).

Something to speak to the builders and architects about.