6.5m X 5.18m room in Adelaide, Australia. Need some advice.

Hey there, I am equipped with a bit of technology to record with: Alesis M1 Monitors Alesis I|O 26 interface Apple iMac 2.2ghz Intel Mics, etc etc The one thing I don't have is good acoustics. I've got an external room that is is my music room, which I'd like to make a studio on a budget. It's a home project. I have attached a SketchUp of my room. I am looking for your opinions concerning layout and positioning, and any general ideas. It's a weatherboard/steel construction with gyprock interiors. I'm aiming for a control room/live room scenario, perhaps with provisions to easily convert an area to a vocal booth with dividers, etc. I would like to, if possible, make the changes reversible. I'd appreciate any help! Cheers!

Hai fompsweeva, Welcome to this forum. In order to participate I have to ask you to check this link: http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4063 Then, when ye dun, get a few days of and spend your precious hours to absorb the goods on this forum. There's lotsa great info in there. Then design your room, with your newfound knowledge and show it here. We love to comment onnit ;) good luck

Spoken like a wiseman. Right on!

Okay, I've done a bit of reading and I've done a bit of negotiating. I'm able to build a permanent structure so long as it can be re-converted back into bedrooms or usable domestic rooms when we move on from this house. That pretty much limits me to dividing the room in half and then treating the two rooms temporarily. The goal here is to record bands, to be able to hear the sound I'm getting through the monitors in the control room as accurately as possible with minimal spill from the live room. Here are some very rough plans I've come up with... I am thinking a double stud wall down the middle of the room will give me maximum isolation with the right insulation materials. This is a home hobby studio so some compromises may be made. I have considered using a dual sliding door system in the middle of the wall instead of a separate doors/window, as where the window is positioned in this plan provides very little viewing coverage from the control room.. What do you think of this?

Second picture in plan

(could you please resize them pix to max 700x700 so we poor ppl (who can't affort suppabigwidelcdscreens) don't have to scroll all the time?)

Done.

You never mentioned the measurements of these rooms...is it wise to make it two rooms when one would "git er done"? If your hung on the idea of two, I would swap the control room - tracking room placement, then flip the control room desk setting.

xSpace wrote:

You never mentioned the measurements of these rooms...is it wise to make it two rooms when one would "git er done"? If your hung on the idea of two, I would swap the control room - tracking room placement, then flip the control room desk setting.

The measurements are 6.5m X 5.18m room as in the post title, which split up with a wide wall makes approximately 2x 3mx6.5m rooms. It's a big space. Having a control room would be good as I want to be able to monitor my sources with minimal bleed. I have also considered swapping the two rooms. The only reason I've kept it as it is: - Load in - one less door to get equipment through. - Versatility - it's easier to use the control room for other purposes and it connects with a pergola outside, making it an ideal indoor entertainment area. I would guess the control room flip idea would be to have a longer room without the built in stoage to wreck the symmetry? Thanks. :)

Wrecking the asymmetry, yea, it's important in a listening environment. Sorry, I don't always retain topics :)

Well, I think I might actually end up going with the flip idea. I think the positives outweigh the negatives. Better symmetry and I can then put the door in line with the access door, meaning my window will allow me to view a greater area. I'll sketch something up. Anymore suggestions? :)

is it a possibility to remove the cabin? That way you have more options on your design, build it from scratch.

It is possible to remove, but I'd much rather leave it - it's good for storage.