New Build Timber Framed Studio

Hi There, I have been going over this web site now for sometime and have decided on my final layout / construction method for my studio. Its a new build double wall timber frame based on the SAE garage studio design 2. I am taking the MAM approach to the construction. For practical / personal / cost and technical reasons i have decided to build of a timber joist floor and not concrete which probably flies in the face of all the advice on the site / books etc but this is the decision i have reached. I have noted others who have constructed in this method with successful results. I tend to record live drums and di bass / guitars etc, then over dub guitars miked in the live room. I dont use any bass amps as i am getting good results with di / Ampeg modelling software. This is not a commerical studio so i pretty much dictate how things are done, mainly working with young bands / musicians etc. I would greatly appreciate any comments on the design / construction of the studio and i also have a few questions. I am really not sure how to ventilate the studio. Air conditioning is not common where i am (East Lothian Scotland) so i will only be providing heating and ventilation. Will probably just use electric panel heaters but the ventilation solution eludes me. Any suggestions as most of the info on the web relates to full HVAC sytems which is not what i am after. Only supply air and extract. The thought of building this airtight / soundproof building then punching holes in it kind of scares me !!!! Any comments / feedback we be greatly appreciated. Colin.

It looks great! Andre

i'm with Andre on this. however... the structural roof - why not make it flat or peaked and use that extra room in the live room - full height, and for trapping in the CR (and maybe raise the CR ceiling a bit.) a peaked roof will leave space overhead for HVAC ducts, silencers, air hander, etc...

I agree with what Glenn wrote. Andre

...not to mention it becomes the area of the roof that water will fall to.

looks awrite to me, big man! ;-)

I'm interested to see what you come up with. I have a similar shaped room (slightly smaller) that I'm trying to work with.

Sorry not been back sooner on this post. Started work on this studio now. My reason for the roof design was that i read that control room ceilings are best sloped away from the mixing position at min 10 deg to help reflections. Decided that the same roof would give a bit of space over the live room for ducting and to give the room a bit of 'space'. I appreciate that the water would collect in the middle but given a well detailed / specified valley gutter and roofing system i dont see this as an issue. Colin.

Colfin wrote:

My reason for the roof design was that i read that control room ceilings are best sloped away from the mixing position at min 10 deg to help reflections.

Read this. It is your studio. You have to do some research.

Colfin wrote:

I appreciate that the water would collect in the middle but given a well detailed / specified valley gutter and roofing system i dont see this as an issue. Colin.

Best laid plans is all I'm saying.

i wouldnt be too keen on a valley through the centre of my studio, as recently ive had an issue with water leaking from my roof into the cavity and down the wall/window of my house. if you make sure the gutter is well detailed/installed, you shouldnt have a problem. one way to eliminate this, would be to make the entire roof fall from the highest point of the control room to the extents of the live room. internally you could build it any shape you want. there would be a bit of an attic/ceiling void, but you could use that for a/c, storage or whatever...

A fellow Scotsman !!! Hows it gaun !!!! As they say. Interesting reading regarding sloping ceilings. Maybe not as critical as i had thought. I just got it fixed in my head that the 10 deg sloping ceilng was the way to go hence the roof design. Subject to this I have been looking at redesigning the roof falling from the high point at the back of the control room to the lowest point at the rear wall of the live room eliminating the valley as you have suggested. More height is always a good thing i suppose. I like the idea of sloping ceilings in the rooms from a design point of view so this would be a balance in between. The inner ceilings could also be framed down as you suggest also and need not follow the structural roof. I have attached an amended section. This would be roughly 8ft at lowest point and 10 ft a highest point. I have a planning restriction of 4.0m total height which dictates the design also. Any takers ? Colin.

Subject to this I have been looking at redesigning the roof falling from the high point at the back of the control room to the lowest point at the rear wall of the live room eliminating the valley as you have suggested. More height is always a good thing i suppose.

As in the thread I linked, NARAS has a recommendation that control rooms be a minimum of 3.3 m height.

I like the idea of sloping ceilings in the rooms from a design point of view so this would be a balance in between.

What about having the splayed ceiling in the tracking room and as close to 3.3 m height in the control room? You have a chance to meet a wordwide accepted standard in your studio. Andre

I could achieve 3.0m max ceiling height in my control room given my height restriction and splay the tracking room ceiling as you suggest. What would be the best direction of the splay of the tracking room ceiling given the plan layout or is it unimportant. I would have thought the low point would be at the wall with the glass doors ?? Colin.

Colfin wrote:

What would be the best direction of the splay of the tracking room ceiling given the plan layout or is it unimportant. I would have thought the low point would be at the wall with the glass doors ?

Agreed with the last sentence. Andre

Ending up with a profile like this.

Eventually................the completed studio. The design was based on the SAE garage plan and the construction method was based on the `from shed to studio` thread contained on this site. So far everything is performing exeptionaly well. Thanks for all your help. Colin Findlay. http://www.thelanestudio.co.uk

More photos ..........

before ...............................and the steeple view window !

the reverse studio diary! :) Looks great, well done.

hope thats a real burglar alarm... doon at the pans! lol looks the business, man!