"The Shed" - my multi-million dollar (yeah right) backyard studio

Tell us about your studio and post some photos no matter how modest or robust it is!

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VanderBoegh
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"The Shed" - my multi-million dollar (yeah right) backyard studio

Post by VanderBoegh » Tue Oct 03, 2017 2:00 pm

Been meaning to put these pictures up here ever since Michael launched this area of the forum (I even took these pictures last Spring!), but I've just never gotten around to getting them up. At long last, here is my glorious music studio, unceremoniously called "The Shed".

The Shed itself is simply that.... a custom built shed, made by a local shed company here in the Boise Idaho area. The standard usage for these things is storing things like a lawnmower, garden implements, garage overflow, etc... Definitely NOT turning them into a music studio, but that's exactly what I did 4.5 years ago.

Here are the specifics of the structure, along with my modest list of equipment.

The Shed itself is 10' x 14' (exterior dimensions... interior is slightly smaller), with standard 8' ceilings. Takes up a corner of my backyard.

Image

Inside, I run everything "in the box". So I've got a 27" iMac loaded with 32 gigs of RAM. Couple M-Audio BX8 monitors. A Scarlett Focusrite 2i2 interface. Cheap M-Audio keyboard (I've actually upgraded to the 61-key Komplete Kontrol since this picture was taken, which after dropping nearly $1,000 on it and never learning how to use the fancy control dials, just displays fancy light patterns on the keys. It was not a worthwhile expense... at least until I learn how to use it properly). My desk is a cheap folding table from Walmart with an even cheaper throw-blanket over the top. My mouse pad is a cutting board.

Image

I use two condenser mics on those occasions when I need to record trumpet, banjo, acoustic guitar, or ukulele. They are a AKG Perception 100, and a Gauge 87.

Image

I bought a used couch from a thrift store for $45, which I take the occasional nap on when I fall asleep at the keyboard. I painted and framed the guitar displays as a way to cover up my bad textured paint job. The baby hippopotamus hand-puppet in the banjo strings keeps them from ringing when I record loud live instruments like trumpet.

Image

Inside the various hard drives for my computer are a bunch of sound files, one shots, virtual instruments, loop libraries, and synths. I've got tons of these. Probably over 2,000 kick one-shots alone. Way more than I'll ever use or need.

Now that you've seen how amazing this place is (said facetiously, of course!), let me tell you what you DON'T see:
* No wall or window treatments. No bass traps. No sound panels of any kind. Unless you count the carpet, and my couch.
* No outboard anything. No compressors or fancy preamps (except for the Scarlett, which ain't too fancy).
* No physical synthesizers.
* No vocal booth.
* No mixing consoles.
* No naked ladies or stripper poles (hoping to remedy that soon).

All of this should really show people that you don't need much to make a functional studio. Just a little creativity on creating a space out of nothing!!

~~Matt

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Re: "The Shed" - my multi-million dollar (yeah right) backyard studio

Post by markhimley » Tue Oct 03, 2017 2:26 pm

Wow, thanks for sharing, Matt!! This is great to see, it truly is the ear not the gear. Very inspiring and reassuring to see for sure.

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Re: "The Shed" - my multi-million dollar (yeah right) backyard studio

Post by funsongs » Tue Oct 03, 2017 4:52 pm

The hippo muffler... awesome!

Are you a horn-player who plays banjo... or a banjo player who can blow the trumpet?! :P
Now I gotta find that track you played trumpets on, and post it up. ;)
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Re: "The Shed" - my multi-million dollar (yeah right) backyard studio

Post by Russell Landwehr » Tue Oct 03, 2017 6:30 pm

Very Cool, Matt.
I've seen pix of this before, but I enjoyed this walk-through. :D

hey Peter R... here's Matt on trumpet. (and flugelhorn as well I believe) It's a track three of us TAXI members signed to an Exclusive UK library from a TAXI forward. https://soundcloud.com/russell-landwehr ... ay/s-PS1Jx
(it's a private link, so it wont work on some smart phones)

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Re: "The Shed" - my multi-million dollar (yeah right) backyard studio

Post by funsongs » Tue Oct 03, 2017 10:01 pm

Russell Landwehr wrote:Very Cool, Matt.
I've seen pix of this before, but I enjoyed this walk-through. :D

hey Peter R... here's Matt on trumpet. (and flugelhorn as well I believe) It's a track three of us TAXI members signed to an Exclusive UK library from a TAXI forward. https://soundcloud.com/russell-landwehr ... ay/s-PS1Jx
(it's a private link, so it wont work on some smart phones)

Russell
Cool - thanks, Russell - I don't have a smart phone; I listen to stuff via computer with headphones, or my JBL 305s :)
However, just to be clear - my comment was about one of mine that The Professor did some nice twin/harmony trumpet parts:
https://soundcloud.com/funsongs-1/sing- ... antic-duet
:)
Peter Rahill - aka "funsongs"
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https://www.youtube.com/@peterrahill9263/featured
https://soundcloud.com/funsongs-1
https://peterrahill.bandcamp.com/

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Re: "The Shed" - my multi-million dollar (yeah right) backyard studio

Post by Telefunkin » Wed Oct 04, 2017 8:06 am

Great post Matt.
You shed all the superfluous stuff, and got a shed-load of placements too.
Nice to know that its talent over 'tinsel' every time.
Love the track with Russell by the way! :)
Graham (UK). Still composing a little faster than decomposing, and 100% HI.

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Re: "The Shed" - my multi-million dollar (yeah right) backyard studio

Post by billhewett » Wed Oct 04, 2017 9:33 am

Awesome pix and walk through, Matt! Everything about you is inspiring... from quitting your day job to your stripped-down but super functional studio to your perfect smile ;o)

I'm planning to post some pix of my space soon, but I'm such a disorganized mess that I can't seem to clean it up long enough to get a few decent shots!

Also, +1 for the hippo muffler :)

-Bill

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Re: "The Shed" - my multi-million dollar (yeah right) backyard studio

Post by LOCK88 » Wed Oct 04, 2017 5:32 pm

JEALOUS of your space, and of your commute (oh, and of all your placements :mrgreen: :mrgreen: )!!! Super inspiring Matt, thanks for sharing man. What a sick place to have in your own backyard!! It's nice to see where all the magic happens :)

Looking forward to seeing everybody on this post in LA in a few weeks!!
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Re: "The Shed" - my multi-million dollar (yeah right) backyard studio

Post by jennym » Fri Oct 06, 2017 7:42 am

Hi Matt,

Great to see your creative headquarters!
I'm sure you do some shedding on that strat of yours :lol:

Cheers
Jenny Marie :D

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Re: "The Shed" - my multi-million dollar (yeah right) backyard studio

Post by Razor7Music » Thu Oct 12, 2017 12:50 pm

This is awesome! It looks like it promotes creativity and focus.

I'm curious about the sounds around you/outside sounds bleeding into your tracks that you record with the mics, and if you have any restrctions on when you can play audibly, or monitor your mixes, if the neighbors are a factor?
Thanks,

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