Basement Studio in New Jersey

Hi Everyone, I've been visiting this site for some time now and have been blown away with the wealth of knowledge flowing through here. I've finally got the nerve to post a topic and hope you can help. We live in NJ outside of NYC, and we are remodeling our basement and I'm trying to claim some space for my studio. We have removed old drywall from ceiling and old tile from cement floor and are waiting to frame. Most of my work is editing/mastering music, some composition and recording 2-3 indie bands a year. Noise is rarely a problem and my neighbors are great and have never complained in the past. The space my wife is graciously allowing me to use is on the left side of the diagram below, between the stairs and the tool room. The door on the bottom left is to our garage and will not be used to enter studio. Another door will be needed, most likely on the 4th wall yet to be built. The proposed dimensions of the space are 11' x 14' with a 7' ceiling (2" less if I hang the ceiling). This already takes into account 2x4 wall const. with 2 layers of 1/2" drywall on each side w/ green glue. There is also a 3' x 6' alcove under the stairs. The problem I have is the gear I own. I have a Trident series 70 (7' long) , a JH 24 2" machine (32" x 28") and 2 lg racks of outboard. I was considering closing off the alcove and housing the tape machine, amps, computer and any other noisy gear. Any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Particularly how to set up this room for best acoustics and layout. Thanks!

i think if you have the CR face the stairs and put your noisy equipment into the alcove you'll be in decent shape, then if you want to record bands you could use the larger room. so you might consider overall improving the isolation of the entire space as well as treating or planning the treatment. depending on the floor, you could stain and polish the concrete or add a hardwood layer. maybe consider turning the CR sideways to make it wide.

Hi Glen, Thanks for your reply. I love the idea of having noisy gear in th alcove and the console facing the stairs. The problem i'm having trouble with is fitting the 7' console in that spot and being able to access the 2" machine, especially for aligning. Also, that alcove has a window. It would be great to be able to keep some of that natural light. Any thoughts? Thanks, Jerry