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There’s no question that a soundstage offers massive acoustic benefits when it comes to recording live sound. Many filmmakers get starry-eyed thinking about the convenience of never having to worry about an ambulance driving by while shooting or having a recording ruined by some teenagers with a boombox. So, it is not surprising that investing in a soundstage is a tantalizing prospect for many people involved in film- and audio production. But what are the advantages of such an investment? And what can you expect when building your own soundstage?
What are the advantages of a soundstage?
At first glance, a soundstage is basically a huge, soundproofed warehouse – but one that was designed specifically for fulfilling the needs of film and television production. That means that the expansive structures are usually equipped with not only massive doors to accommodate set parts, but also complex lighting rigs and recording props. This way, filmmakers are able to meticulously control the environment and change sound, lighting and temperature at their whim, ensuring the quality of the shot no matter the weather conditions or time of day outside.
Soundstages are nothing if not versatile: sets can be built and struck rapidly, allowing the production to pivot from one scene to the next or simultaneously shooting multiple projects at ones, while basically eliminating the restrictions location shooting comes with.
To make that possible, typical soundstage usually includes the following features:
- large open spaces for easy set manipulation,
- soundproofing to ensure optimal audio quality,
- controlled lighting setups to simulate any time of day
- rigging facilities for crew safety and equipment
Building your own soundstage: hiring a professional
However, a professional soundstage obviously isn’t something that can be built with the help of a Youtube-Tutorial and a trip to the hardware store. Usually, it’s best to hire a design and build specialists like Spantech, to ensure the soundstage is constructed with careful consideration and insight.
A licensed building specialist will also come with:
- an architectural vision
- a knowledge and understanding of key construction protocols
- logistical understanding of the schematics that go into soundstage design
- appropriate equipment
What factors to consider when building a soundstage
Estimating the cost of a professional soundstage is like estimating the cost of building a house: it depends. Many different factors come into play when planning and building a soundstage, that influence its ability to fulfill its purpose.
Some of the factors you should consider are the following:
- Necessary Space: You’ll need plenty of soundstage space for equipment, props and your production crew, not to mention the talent involved in the production. However – the bigger the space, the more expensive it gets.
- Soundproofed Area: A soundproofed soundstage is essential for clean, clear audio recording. But a lot of the time it’s unnecessary to soundproof the whole soundstage room, especially since the amount of soundproofing will increase the total cost.
- Lighting: Pre-installed lightning can be great for production, but also quite expensive.
- Electrical Components: When it comes to electrical components, safety comes first. Make sure that everything is installed and checked by an electrician before first use.
