So I finally got the big 52″ LCD working properly. I had some problems related to the 70ft HDMI cable that is necessary to get the video from the computer in the Machine-Closet up to the front of the Control Room. Apparently, it was a bad extension cable that was causing sync problems. I got a new, shorter extension today and it did the charm! The picture looks excellent on the LCD now!

I already had to tracking sessions with Brown Sugar this week and will be spending the entire weekend tracking then gentlemen of Fundamentally Sound again (2nd out of 3 weekends). This is now MUCH more comfortable than the temporary studio space I’ve been using for the past six months.

Everything is definitely setup enough to record parts, but we’re still not finished with the construction! I still have to get the big Modex Plates mounted to the ceiling, mount the ceiling clouds below the Modex Plates, secure the fabric-wrapped panels to the front-wall, hang the clouds in the Iso-Booth, hang all the track lights from the clouds, and put in the floor molding/trim. It will be another couple weeks until all of that is really finished. Then we’ll have the real professional photos taken, do the press release, and have the Grand Opening Party!!!

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John Storyk was in town this weekend and he came by the studio to see how things are going. He seemed very happy with how it came out. I gave him a quick tutorial in how I record & mix a cappella music and I think he was really amazed at how it all comes together. It was really neat to meet him in person and hang out for a little while.

I got all the gear racked up this weekend too (see pics below) and we even got our new Bricasti M7 Reverb unit!! I’m crazy excited to try it out today!

There is a small issue with the custom fabric-wrapped absorber panels we had made for the front of the Control Room. It appears that some of them are a bit too tall (but like 1/4″). HUFF is supposed to come back today to cut those down a bit so they will fit. Then we can get them in place and put up the cove lights behind them tomorrow.

The Modex Plates arrived on Friday! A 325lb crate arrived (the crate itself was pretty serious) and a buddy of mine was able to help me get the plates out of there. They’re sitting in the hallway right now until I can figure out how to mount them on the ceiling. Should be up this week though.

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NoiseBarriers sent a couple guys over yesterday to fix the issue with the dirt inside the glass door panes. They took the window frame off, took out one pane, and began cleaning furiously. They had to use a razor blade to remove some of the stuff. Looks like there was some sort of adhesive used, someone got it on their finger, and then touched the glass. Had to scrape the fingerprint off the glass, heh. The glass door looks awesome now!

The HVAC guys came back yesterday to turn on the heat/AC units too. It’s nice and toasty in here now. The friggin’ thing is SILENT. AC or heat, it’s reallllly quiet. Awesome!

I put the LCD on the floorstand and went to hook it up to the studio computer and….the cables are too short! I ordered extensions, should be here in a day or so.

I got a call from FedEx today that they are delivering the three Modex Plates tomorrow. Once again, a 250lb delivery! Each plate weighs like 75lbs. Not sure how I’m going to mount them on the ceiling yet. They come with mounting brackets, but will need some hands to hoist them up. HUFF tells me that my custom absorber panels should be delivered here tomorrow afternoon too.

…and John Storyk is coming by the studio on Sunday to see how it’s going.

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We finally got our ComEd electrical hookup today! I got to flip the big-ass circuit breaker outside beneath the meter. Pretty satisfying GA-THUNK! when I did it. Here are just a couple quick pics with the recessed-lighting turned on. You’ll notice the big LCD is still on the floor, but I’ve put the new monitors on the stands. Getting there!

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The custom-built rack arrived last week, but we had no place to put it until the flooring/carpet was installed. It had been sitting out in the kitchen until this weekend. The guys from Fundamentally Sound (client here recording all weekend) helped me move it into the studio. Thanks guys!

It’s a 3-bay, 18RU rack/Producers Desk made by Sound Construction & Supply in Nashville. Now I need to move all the gear into the racks!

The electrican was in today doing the trim out (installing outlets, switches, can-light trim, pulling some audio wire). We’re supposed to get our electrical hookup tomorrow. We’ll see if ComEd comes through!

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HUFF Company came today and installed the glass NoiseBarrier isolation door for the sound booth. The thing weighs almost 300lbs and it took three guys to maneuver and install this monster. It took them a couple hours to install and they filmed it for an instructional video explaining how to install this door.

Now, when you’re in the booth, it’s REALLY quiet (it better be!). The door has a magnetic seal (similar to how a refrigerator seals) and lifts up as you open it. It’s already primed grey, and I was thinking of just leaving it as is (matches the walls fairly well) but the door is scuffed in a bunch of places and I can’t leave it like that. So I’m going to have to paint it. Probably black to match the other doors.

One problem I found when I went to clean the glass is that there is dirt (schmutz!) on the inside of the two panes of glass! WHAT?!? The window has two panes of glass separated by like 1″ of space. There is dirt, spots, a hair/filament of some kind, and other streaks on the inside of these panes. Permanently dirty. Lovely. I’ve got an email in to the manufacturer to see what we can do about that.

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They finished up installing the bamboo hardwood flooring today. They also put the carpet on the platforms. I had them put a felt-padding under the carpet on the rear platform, since people will be sitting there on the couch. Will be a little more comfy. Didn’t put it on the front platform because that’s just holding the LCDs and monitors.

The HVAC guys put the indoor units in yesterday. They’re hooked up to the linesets, but not the electrical yet (will happen tomorrow). Good thing it’s a warm beautiful day here in Skokie (63-degrees F).

Tomorrow the big Isolation Door is getting installed. Also, the electricians are coming to trim out everything (put in the outlets, switches, etc). We still have no word from ComEd as to when we’ll get our electricity hooked up!

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The studio is all painted and it’s looking really awesome! My small console desk is arriving tomorrow and the flooring is now getting installed Wednesday.

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