Ideas for Rehearsal Space Setup

cuffdc

cuffdc

chicken n waffles
I'm sure a few of you have rehearsal space for a full band (2 guitars, bass, keys, drums, and vocals) or something like that and can give me some advice on rearranging my space. The space is above our garage and is carpeted. It's substantial for a practice space, measuring 15' wide and 27' long (until you hit all the storage shit behind the drums). We currently have the bass opposite the drums (bass is in left foreground of picture), which I would like to change, but my main concern is the PA and avoiding feedback. I'm thinking of moving the lead vocals/rhythm guitar to where the bass is currently, moving bass to current rhythm guitar position (getting closer to drums), which would put the two vocalists together (keyboards also does vocals). The drummer sometimes does backing vocals. The PA speakers are currently on the right side wall. If I move the vocalist/rhythm guitar guy as I want to, does it make sense to leave the speakers where they are or should I move them both to the drum area (maybe one in current position near drums and the other near that stack of boxes by the music stand)?

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For your needs put all the vocalists in a line with the speakers in front of them, or at worst angled off to the sides in a way to keep them out of the microphone pickup fields...

Actually setting up in the same order you set up on stage would also be a good practice to get into, or as close as you can get ..

I would definitely recommend installing some sound absorption panels around the room, some on the walls and some free standing GoBos...
 
Thanks. I'm going to look at better acoustic treatment than I currently have (which is that thin carpet nailed to the lower part of the walls). When you say speakers in front of them, I'm guessing you mean with speakers facing away from them -- as in they and the speakers are both "looking" in the same direction. We don't currently have any monitors, but I'm guessing I'd need those if we are setting up that way because I can imagine the one singer at least complaining he can't hear himself.
 
cuffdc said:
Thanks. I'm going to look at better acoustic treatment than I currently have (which is that thin carpet nailed to the lower part of the walls). When you say speakers in front of them, I'm guessing you mean with speakers facing away from them -- as in they and the speakers are both "looking" in the same direction. We don't currently have any monitors, but I'm guessing I'd need those if we are setting up that way because I can imagine the one singer at least complaining he can't hear himself.
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No, the speaker in front facing back at them...even better would've using them like wedge monitors on the floor...
 
You have two primary concerns...first is to let them hear themselves clearly at a reasonable volume...second is to prevent feedback by utilizing the microphone cardiod pattern... keeping the speaker in front of the mic makes both much easier, especially in a small space...
 
Nice. Thanks for the advice. I think I have some idea how to move thinks around a bit. I'm also trying to clear out some of that space to give me more options.
 
One thing people try to do in a rehearsal space is set up like they're playing a gig.... don't do that unless you have a big ass warehouse.

If you're in a small space, treat it like a recording studio.... maybe a circle with each person's amps pointing towards the center or towards the drummer so he can hear you over his drums without you having to go full volume. You'll be able to hear yourself better due to proximity... but enough bleed from the other instruments that you can get a feel for the entire band sound without bleeding eardrums.

We've always done stuff like that and having a single column speaker for the vocals angled in a corner or such so everyone can hear the vocals. It's less complicated than a full stage run through and you can keep your volumes above acoustic drum circle, but lower than window rattling garage band. :helper:

Given your setup.... I would try to do like a hexagon arrangement so the amps in the angled corners aren't slapping against flat walls... the drummer should be able to hear everyone, and project across the room without killing everyone. You also have the option of turning everything WAY down... put a couple mics in front of amps, mix everything... and put a circle of floor wedges facing out towards everyone for customized mix.
 
We share a room with our singer/drummers other band at a big rehearsal facility. They have at least 83 practice rooms (that’s what room we jam in) plus hourly rooms and a full production soundstage for big bands. The room isn’t crowded but I don’t think much thought was put into it arranging things. There are 4-5 guitar and bass amps, one drum kit and a PA. We pretty much practice at stage volume which is pretty loud and it always sounds good.

I realize this wasn’t helpful at all, I’m sorry.
 
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