Two rooms: Dead or Alive ?

Hello, In the following situation I wish to know whether it would be best to kill or keep alive, the two rooms in question. For an overview of the floor planning, see this image - not posting it here since it is larger than 700px in width. This is the area in question: See the overview image for a textual representation of the rooms. The building as a whole is shared with a few other companies, none of which mind the studio build or the potential noise that it will add. Control room (in millimeter) (H x W x L): Dimensions: 2400 x 3050 x 4270 Ratios: 1: 1.27: 1.77 (decent I guesse) Studio (in millimeter) (H x W x L): Dimensions: 2400 x 2380 x 2295 Ratios: 1: 0.99: 0.95 (yes, horrible) As it stand right now, these are just empty rooms in which I can build whatever I like. What I can gather from the forum and from other various litterature, killing the studio/vocal booth alltogether, is probably the way to go. In regards to the control/mixing room, I am not so sure any more. The room ratios are better in there and it really feels like it should be possible to keep some livelyness in it. My budget is hovering, somewhere around £6.000-£7.000. So, my questions are: 1. Should I kill both rooms or make an attempt at keeping one or both alive? 2. I intend to build rooms within the existing rooms. Should I make an effort to give the inner room walls unparallel features in both rooms or just the control room? Thank you. /Gash

Gash wrote:

So, my questions are: 1. Should I kill both rooms or make an attempt at keeping one or both alive?

Make them dead. Rooms that small have such strong coloration that there is no value to their live sound.

2. I intend to build rooms within the existing rooms. Should I make an effort to give the inner room walls unparallel features in both rooms or just the control room?

There is no intrinsic value to angling walls or ceilings. If I was you I would not. For a more in depth discussion about splaying surfaces read this thread. Andre

Thank you Andre, that just about does it regarding the studio part at least. I will make it completely dead. I still feel there should be some kind of way to keep the control/mix room from going completely dead. At least to keep it comfortable to work in on a daily basis. I would welcome more opinions on this part. I am going to read the post you linked to now. Thanks for the tip. /Gash Edit: Wow... that sure was one informative post you linked me to, thank you, again.

Gash wrote:

Thank you Andre, that just about does it regarding the studio part at least. I will make it completely dead. I still feel there should be some kind of way to keep the control/mix room from going completely dead. At least to keep it comfortable to work in on a daily basis. I would welcome more opinions on this part.

You used "kill the room" and "live." By dead I mean along the lines of the EBU reverb time recommendations. Not completely dead.

Edit: Wow... that sure was one informative post you linked me to, thank you, again.

Your welcome. There are few absolutes in design, and the elements interact. When a poster asks for help and is not clear on what they want or giving requested information, it is very frustrating. You mentioned in another thread that you are new to this studio design thing. I hope you noticed how a seemingly simple question's response touched upon room modes, early reflection control, room size and height, budget considerations, studio designs around the world, and Christmas! After all that, the OP understood the best answer is "it depends." Doing acoustics properly is world of multiple factors and decisions. Very few things can be answered simply without knowing several other details. You know this already, but for other readers, good studio building is 90% design and 10% construction. Andre

You used "kill the room" and "live." By dead I mean along the lines of the EBU reverb time recommendations. Not completely dead.

I see...

...and Christmas.

Yes, it seems Christmas can be tricky. On a more serious note. Have I interpreted you correctly when I say that it is your recommendation that I treat, both the studio room and the control room according to EBU times? /Gash

Gash wrote:

On a more serious note. Have I interpreted you correctly when I say that it is your recommendation that I treat, both the studio room and the control room according to EBU times?

For the control room yes. For the studio room use it as a guide. Try a litle livelier, and hear how it sounds. Andre