New studio plan/ First Post/ Introducing myself

Hello to all. First post. I'm in West Australia. I have the opportunity to move to a bigger premises and build within the walls of a new warehouse. Would appreciate comments, suggestions and advice on the following scenario, and some direction as far a maximising the potential space for a new recording facility. I'm new to Sketchup and staying in two dimensions for now, much like I'm still stereo mixing and not yet doing 5.1! Existing situation: I have had a 2-room brick and mortar professional facility at the rear of my home for the past 10 years (control 5m by 4.5m, Record room 4.5m by 4m, walls 3m high with gabled roof above) I now have the chance to move into a warehouse space where I could build a bigger facility, stretch out and do bigger projects. I record a lot of roots music, bluegrass, rock, acoustic, folk. Produce many singer songwriters, do mixing and mastering. I do record bands live, but usually start with drums alone with maybe DI bass and guide vx/guitar in the control room and build from there. I want to have the option of putting a whole band in a room together, or at least in separate spaces with visual contact. Want to be able to spread my instrument collection around, so that drums, bass, keys, percussion and other junk is accessable and ready to lay down on whim. I do a lot of mixing and mastering. I want a control room at least as good as I have now , and preferably with more room so I can record in that space as well, and have good sight lines into studio space. The Opportunity: I've been looking at warehouses to share with an electrical contractor friend, aiming to share the space 50/50 but happy to blur the interface a little. (he drums, will look after my cabling and maintenance etc.) We have found a great space - one of two units built on concrete slab with tilt-up concrete construction, the other unit is a caterer. Basic details of the building (plan attached) [ Space Pete G 1] Floor space available - about 100m2 of a total 160m2 warehouse space. Roof height 6-7m. Seems best to take the rear section. Can share the rolladoor, and have a separate door which can be used for everday access. Can share existing bathroom and kitchen My specs (wishes) Control room - say 7m deep by 4.5 wide?? - currently working with 5m by 4.5m. Must have sight to most of live room and booths.. Live room - say 35m2 Drum booth - with view into live room Vocal/solo booth - say 6m2 or more I have done a few sketches of possible space usage. I am not bound to use the exact floor position I have chosen, but it makes sense to me at present. Internal studio layout could be approached in various ways too. Here's my current idea. [Studio Pete G 1] Hopefully I've presented enough to gather a few comments Actual questions: 1. I would like general and specific advice on my proposed use of the space. 2 Do you think I can design in such a way to achieve all within my Specs (above) Pete G

I'm concerned I was too unfocussed with my intro, so here's a concise version. I'm about to move to the following place and want to get a design layout worked out: I have access to approx half the floor space, the other owner (of half the floor space) must use the rolladoor (top left), and the reception office (top right) and we can share the kitchen/wc). Thus I presume I will use the bottom half of floor space as on the diagram, but the exact shape is flexible. I want to use the space to build the best tracking/mixing facility I can for rock and acoustic music, say the Band to Nirvana to the Bothy Band to Townes van Zandt in styles (if only) My current plan is as follows: Budget - I dont know yet, but say $40K to $60K? Questions. 1. How is my current layout plan and what would you suggest? 2. I am assuming double leaf stud m-a-m walls to be built, and floated on separate wooden floors - what is a ball-park realistic budget for this? Hoping the above is a little more concise than my first post. Pete G

This is interesting. I am having a conversation with myself, working through my plans, and revising them as yet with no criticism from the Forum. I hope it's forthcoming, but in the meantime, I have revised my initial layout and think I have something more sensible. How is this layout in view of my restrictions? Cheers for now Pete G

Hi all, another modification to the data I've supplied. Damn, I thought I'd followed the guidelines and given you everything needed to play here. I didn't mention that there is a bolt-on mezzanine floor above the bottom 4 metres of the space (coming out 4 metres from the bottom wall on the plan). That was because we planned to remove it, giving me no realistic height restriction. My partner now wants to keep it, but it's a relatively simple job to raise it up higher so I still have a clear 4 metres beneath it to play with. HOWEVER, that would/could mean the two bolted in steel poles supporting the edge of the mezzanine would need to stay in position (with a height extension) and thus compromising plans to isolate my spaces. Here's my current plan, and the space for glass between the control room and live room is tantalizingly close to the pole location, but not quite!!! How will this impact on my design, and are there any suggestions for a workaround? Cheers Pete G

Do you have any actual photographs of the structure/building? Speaking only for myself, a project is just talk until you show real photos :) Good luck

[quote="xSpace"]Do you have any actual photographs of the structure/building? Speaking only for myself, a project is just talk until you show real photos :) Thanks xSpace. As the ownership has not legally changed hands yet, I'm holding off on photos. However, rest assured a few will surface as soon as that happens. Cheers

Hang in there, It's looking ok. Your not going to soffit mount your speakers? the door in the top left of the control room will stop you being able to utilise it for trapping

lilith_envy wrote:

Hang in there, It's looking ok. Your not going to soffit mount your speakers?

I've got a pair of Barefoots and they look and sound fabulous to me sitting in front of the desk. Plus, I dont really like the look of soffits.Does that reasoning wash? I'm not sure.

the door in the top left of the control room will stop you being able to utilise it for trapping

Yes, but it's just that with my current layout, and keeping a nice distinction between my area and the other user of the space, it's a damn good place to put one. Hopefully a better idea will arise!

Hi all, As xSpace probably knew, asking for photos would see how committed I was to this project. Today, instead of signing the docs, our vendor removed the premises from sale! Am I pissed!!! I wont burden you with the details, but I've done about 32 separate Sketchup designs since my first post! A good learning experience. I wont post concept ideas again until I own the place, but in the meantime may I ask: 1. What would you consider a minimum comfortable work space for my work (see first post)? I don't want to be in a space that compromises on these two main spaces. a) Control room - I'm thinking it's got to be say 6 to 7 m long, 5 m wide and a min ceiling of 3.5m. My current room has ratios of 1/1.24/1.56 (3m high) and is pretty nice after treatment. b) Live room -I'm thinking at least 6m in each direction and min 4m high. Any general comments on this? Cheers Pete G

Pete G wrote:

Hi all, As xSpace probably knew, asking for photos would see how committed I was to this project.

Pete, your commitment is not in question. To build anything, one has to see the area and the many splintered things that it entails. Especially a retro fit. And especially X 3 when it is site-unseen :) Somethings are difficult to do without a roadmap.