Production.
Made Fun.

Humdinger Studos is in it's third building since being founded in 2012. With each new studio, the team have worked hard to improve the quality of the experience for clients. While there are some great studios around Melbourne, we felt that studios with good quality sound proofing were hard to find. So, when we moved into our space in Peveril Street in 2021, acoustics were our main focus.

Managing Director Evan Munro-Smith explains how we went about the creation of both our main studio and podcast studio.

When building the new studio - soundproofing was the number one priority for both the podcast and main studio - why was that?

Noise bleed is not an easy problem to solve! In our previous buildings we weren’t able to properly soundproof the studios either because the cost was too high or there wasn’t enough space to create the separation needed.

Not being able to soundproof the previous studios caused all the problems you’d expect for video and podcast recording, like interruptions when cars drove past, or having to shoosh people in the office if they were having too much fun.

It limited the kind of projects we could use them for, and was preventing us from running them as professional studios. Those frustrations really motivated us to take soundproofing more seriously when fitting out our new space.

When planning soundproofing - what did you have to take into consideration?

It started with the choice of building - we needed something larger that allowed us to build standalone double-walled studio spaces while keeping enough usable floor space to work in.

We had to consider what else we’d be doing in the building and try to put distance between the studios and anything potentially noisy. We also had to consider the building code, which has strict requirements around building materials, fresh air circulation and accessibility.

How was soundproofing integrated into the bones of the studio build?

The studios are double-walled with an air gap and clad in two layers of 16mm Fyrchek plaster on each exposed side, effectively creating a room within a room. The studio doors are custom made with added density and lined with Code 6 sheet lead, hung in solid oak frames and fitted with acoustic seals.

For our podcast studios, we built a circulation space so the studio doors don’t open straight into the hallway, which helps isolate the studios from the rest of the office.

All of our studios require fresh air circulation in order to meet building code requirements, but installing large air vents in the walls would compromise the soundproofing. To solve this we worked with an acoustic consultant who designed large U-shaped ‘baffle boxes’ which allow fresh air to flow while absorbing vibrations so noise doesn’t travel through them.

After the build what additional things did you do to further improve acoustics?

Once the studios were built we worked with Thomas from Verbox who supplied acoustic polyester to fully line the interior walls of our large video studio. He also supplied acoustic wall and ceiling panels for our podcast studios to absorb any reverberation.

What sort of feedback have you had about the soundproofing so far?

Excellent! Even industry veterans with sensitive shoots have been really impressed with the results, particularly compared with other studios in Melbourne.

Of course nothing is perfect - we are constantly working on the space and we always ask for feedback from clients on how we can improve!

As the gnarled caterpillar of Stupid Old Studios turns into the beautiful butterfly of Humdinger, the team are ramping up their comedy offerings with Humdinger Originals! A new slate of independent comedy nonsense made for the love of comedy for those who love it too.

When five mates, Bec Petraitis, Matt Stewart, Andy Matthews, Alasdair Tremblay-Birchall and Evan Munro-Smith first started the company over a decade ago, it was because they wanted to rent a warehouse to film sketches in. And they did - who can forget the classic series Disgusting Toilet Apartment! It was funny because it was true (the warehouse toilet was gross and Alasdair lived in there).

Together they made many online shorts as group Stupid Old Man, an ABC Fresh Blood show called Australia Think Tank and a sketch show filmed across the country Australia, Get It Up Ya!

But as the production house grew, it became harder to carve our time for their own ideas, instead making fun things for other comedians and organisations. But with a shiny new studio and huge growth over hte past decade, Humdinger is returning to its roots with a renewed focus on original content.

We're relaunching our YouTube channel and are excited to bring you a slew of new shows under the Humdinger Originals banner!

Space Murder - July 30TH

Famously, in space no-one can hear you scream - which makes it quite tough to solve a murder! But that won’t stop our four brave, bold and hapless adventurers from trying in SPACE MURDER!

Join show creators Bec Petraitis and Kay-Lyn Cavanaugh alongside first mate of music Jamatar, as they hop aboard a very legit looking space cruiseship in a live play RPG murder mystery adventure.

Join special guests Urvi Majumdar, Han Arbuthnott, Geraldine Quinn and Mish Wittrup as they shoot for the moon and hope they don’t end up dead among the stars!

Watch the first of six episodes of SPACE MURDER! starting July 30 on Humdinger Studios' YouTube and C31 Melbourne later in September.

Made thanks to the support of the Community Broadcasting Foundation.

Matt Stewart: Best Man - July 23rd

Stand-up comedian and one third of the popular comedy podcast Do Go On, Matt Stewart releases his brand new special Best Man for free on July 23rd.

Best Man is a stand up show rooted in love, romance and the hypothetical "would you have sex with yourself to save the human race"?

In a double premiere with Dave Warneke's special, tune in live to watch them both back to back, while chatting with the comedians themselves via the wonders of the internet. Only on Humdinger Studios' YouTube channel.

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Dave Warneke: Hotter In Real Life - July 23rd

The afforementioned second member of the double premiere, double act - Dave Warneke's special Hotter In Real Life is premiering just after Matt's, like a twin who just missed the exit.

But the show will deal with the important thing everyone is thinking about - Dave Warneke is HOT! Just how hot? I guess you’ll have to watch and find out. Still images just won’t do this guy justice. And sure there will also be jokes, but we cannot stress this enough - this show ismostly about how hot he is!

You might have seen Dave in guest roles on TV shows like Upper Middle Bogan, True Story With Hamish and Andy, or in the AACTA award nominated Do Go On web series. He can be heard every week on the hugely popular comedy podcasts Do Go On and Book Cheat.

Tune into the double premiere on Humdinger Studios' YouTube channel on July 23rd.

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Gamey Gamey Game Returns - July 28th

Everyone's favourite show purportedly about gaming will make it's return at the end of the month!

Long suffering host Evan Munro-Smith and cool girl with much better things to do Naomi Higgins will return to the Gamey Gamey Game desk for weekly episodes from July 28 to September 1st.

Expect laughter, tears, more tears, additional tears, stop crying Evan, this is supposed to be fun.

Watch the first episode on Humdinger Studios' YouTube from July 28 or catch the live stream on Twitch July 25.

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More to come...

We've got a few more Humdinger Originals cooking in the oven, we'll let you know when they're nice and hot soon. Prepare the cream! By that I mean our original content is like a pie. So you could top it off with cream. Don't make it weird.

This article is part of a series highlighting Humdinger members. Click here if you want to find out more about membership, and other support we provide to comedians.

Melissa is an award-winning comedian, writer, and performer whose work spans improv, stand-up, clown, and sketch comedy. Her solo clown show Mel McGlensey is MOTORBOAT won Best Comedy at Adelaide Fringe 2024 and received multiple accolades across global festivals, including Edinburgh, Perth, and Melbourne. She is a company member of Soothplayers and The Big HooHaa, and has directed and produced numerous improvised shows. A graduate of Second City Film School and the University of Oregon, Melissa also writes for outlets like Reductress, The Onion, and The Hard Times. Her short film Networking Lunch has won multiple international awards.

How did you first hear about the studio?

From a friend who had a desk there! (Lance)

What sort of work are you making at Humdinger?

At the moment I am using it as a base for writing and creating my brand new show, Mel McGlensey is NORMAL, which is making it's world premiere at Edinburgh Fringe is August. I use the desks there for festival admin and correspondence and I use the rehearsal spaces and writing rooms to meet with my director and collaborators. I will also shortly be using the space to work on FACTIONS: The Podcast, which is my Comedy Lab-supported audio project. More info on that to come soon!

Why did you decide to become a member of Humdinger?

The facilities are great, but it was ultimately the community that drew me in. I've met so many great people and fellow comedians there who I've gone on to collaborate with and also just generally be pals with.

Why do you think it's important to have a space to come and create?

As freelance artists, we often miss out on the communal vibes of a brick and mortar space. Having a physical location where you can go to create and to socialize is a vital part of the creative process and I feel so lucky to have that in Humdinger.

What are the main benefits of Humdinger?

Sausage Sizzles! Haha, I kid, but also it's true! The social benefits of being a member at Humdinger cannot be understated. The state of the art equipment, knowledgeable staff and general good vibes are also great though. Plus, sometimes there's dogs.

Where can people follow your work?

Instagram, Tiktok or on my website

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