Is this building ok for a studio?

Started by rumsey84 on 5 February 2010. 3 replies.

Originally posted at johnlsayers.com, topic 14031.

Hi guys, Quick background, I'm a sound engineer from Dublin, Ireland. I've begun looking for a place to start up my own small studio after a number of years working as an inhouse engineer. This will be the first studio I own/run myself. From my studio I'd like a control room, as large a live room as possible, and at least one vocal/amp booth. I'm completely open to having one control room and a single live room if that's what the expert opinion would recommend. I also need a small kitchen and toilet area, but this can be absolutely tiny! ;) Equipment-wise I'm still looking at a few things, but it will probably be a 16/24 I/O system (Apogee or SSL) to a decent 16 channel mixer (maybe a Toft ATB budget permitting), a couple of nice outboard pres. I'm 90% sure of the equipment I'll be going for, I'll post that if it's relevant, but it comes in at about 15-18k (Euros). My total budget is 30k. This leaves about 12-15k for the studio construction, and all things acoustic related. I know this is quite tight, but this is my first studio, I'll be renting, and hope that I'll be moving on to bigger and better things in 5-8 years, so I don't want to put TOO much into the studio construction when I know it won't (and can't!) be coming with me. I am still considering having the studio professionally designed, but at this stage I don't think the budget allows for that. I have just come across this property today to rent, and the rent is absolutely fantastic. It's in the center of the city, just off a busy street (in the sense of people using it, not traffic). It is surrounded by small garage/lockups, although there are residential buildings close by. The building is about 600 square feet, 29' x 21'. The ceiling is a worry. First of all it slants (may be an advantage?), from about 10' at the entrance to about 8' at the rear of the building. The problem is, the ceiling is just corrugated metal with some wooden rafters (pic attached). The walls are standard breezeblock. The main door is large and metal (very rusty!). There is also a metal door at the rear of the building. The space is completely open except for the toilet which is at the rear-left of the building. There is a fresh water tap at the bottom left of the building (where the sink is in the map). The floor is concrete. It is a little uneven, especially at the entrance where it noticeably dips to meet the street outside. So, my questions: Above all I'd like to know if this property is suitable for a small recording studio? If it is, the rent is great, and I want to snap it up as quick as possible. Is the ceiling a massive problem? What would be required in building an acceptable ceiling. Is the concrete floor a problem? If I do what's needed to the floor and ceiling, will I find the ceiling height too small? Any opinions on the rough layout of my drawing? I realise I haven't angled the walls and all that, but as a rough layout is it feasible as a studio? Are the booths too small? Live room too small? Control room too big? In my plans I've allowed for 6" walls. Is this too thin? Can I, after having followed all construction advice, expect there to be no noise spillage outside through 6" walls and breezeblock? Thanks for any help, hope that isn't too many questions, above all else I'd just like to know what people think of this space as a potential studio! Thanks, Rum
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Couldn't see how to add multiple images, wanted to show a few pics I took of the place this morning, hope it's ok to add them like this. From the front facing the back (shows iron door which I imagine would need to be blocked up).
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This hopefully shows the roof, which I'm most worried about.
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Pic from the rear to the front-right corner. The small wall is wooden and temporary.
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