Knightfly, your post is confusing me!

The diagram located here: http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewt ... 8&start=45 seems to show that the 2 studs are actually touching each other. Isn't that a bad thing? What's wrong with doing it like this:

And a view from the other side: Notice that the staggered stud, exterior wall has no studs that touch the flanking interior wall.

Hey Mike, I'd reverse your wall materials layouts making sure you seal those ends with acoustical sealant (the opposing wall materials.) Bryan Giles

Michael, good catch - I originally started out to draw that WITHOUT the left, wood framed wall - the horizontal 2x4 was just going to be an anchor for the rubber-surrounded sway brace that holds the right, steel stud frame in place without hard contact. In my drawing, though, this is showing a CEILING with two walls coming up to it. Still, there is a flanking path thru the solid wood wall frame's cap and into the ceiling joists. I'll re-do that as soon as I can, thank you - Your proposed layout is fine as far as framing goes, but you'll get better corners if you bring one panel in from the left, leave 1/4" gap, caulk, then one panel in from the right, 1/4" gap, caulk, and alternate til you're done - this gives more caulk beads and a much more tortuous path for sound leaks, without any hard contact between intersecting wall panels. I'll notate that drawing that confused you, until I can replace it with a better one. Again, thanks for catching that... Steve

Point taken guys. I just threw the material up there for the photo. The actual method of installation will be like you're saying.

Michael, I redrew the drawing in question - see what you think... Steve