Starting a New Build.

Hey all I recently bought a new home and I am in the designing part of my "new" studio I plan on doing two vocal booth's and probably a ton of absorbtion. the Cielings are already done w/ drop tiles I will most likely get the more acoustic friendly versions from Armstrong and was thinking about just laying some R-30 on top of those but here is one drawing I did let me know what youns think about this.

Hi rpriggleman, First of all many congratulations for your house and also for your studio. If you have finally decided to built a new studio, you might be aware of few more things ( I think). Actually I am very new to this stuff and don't have much idea but I can learn from you guys. i wanted to know that what appliances would be better to use in a studio and what are the essential ones. Please share if you can. thanks a lot. _____ [SPAM SIGNATURE DELETED BY MODERATOR]

welcome! (both) i would try to avoid the concave inset on the middle door of the room - maybe just a flat wall there. what type of isolation needs do you have? the ceiling tiles will not provide any significant isolation.

well mostly for the isolation I am looking for vocal and to be able to crank a guitar amp up a bit. the center room in the picture is technically a hallway and the drop ceiling tiles are basically gonna be in the control room area. and the booth walls will go all the way up to the real ceiling above the tiles. I will do another draw up as well w/ a few other idea's I have.

Can you post the actual measurements of the space you are planning to work in, give the details about the materials used for construction of the existing space, especially the drop ceiling that is not doing anything in reference to isolation, but whatever is above it material wise is important as is that measurement.

here is another pic w/ the dimensions on it. The walls are currently a type of horse hair plaster material. I plan on building 2x4 walls w/ r-30 between the studs and 1/2 or 5/8 drywall the ceiling above the drop tiles is the same a type of horse hair plaster. but there is plumbing and duct work above the drop ceiling and I will have to re-route some things to build the booths.

"Can you post the actual measurements of the space you are planning to work in," Not what you are building but how it exists right now, those measurements...we need way more information than you are giving, like the existing walls, what they are made of, not specifically the finish but the framing/structural condition if you can...the height is still in question or did I miss that? Your isolation needs and how much you are budgeting to this are really helpful items. Is this a basement or a wooden floor construction...upstairs...upper floor...?

well I haven't actually torn into the walls to know if they are 2x4 2x6 or what not one wall that is exposed is a 2x4 wall on 16" centers and it has the old 2" wood slats across the 2x4's the entire distance of the one wall that I can see. the actual room is 14' wide and 26' long and the one room I am planning on using as well is about 14' wide and 12 deep or so. this is a basement build but the floor in the main room is a wooden type of floor and I will pour concrete into the smaller room since it is gravel as of now. The ceiling hieght is about 8' to the drop tiles and 9' to the original ceiling. and no clue what's above it. Budget I haven't really gave much thought on this yet. Sorta gonna be a build as I go and can afford it. but for starters probably about $3,000 to get me going roughly.

Sounds like an older home with lathe walls...sturdy construction most likely full 2"X4" studs, tall ceilings...close? Anyway with a nine foot ceiling height in a >basement<, man this is something that many others wish they had so don't rush on it...these guys around here know their stuff, let them help you, there is no shame in not knowing what to do and asking for help. Be looking in from time to time as my time permits and experience is required. edit: I am a bit confused you say this is a basement but you mention wood stud walls...is it earth bound or maybe just a garage that was closed in? Are the existing walls in this basement wood? Please explain if possible.

here is another one I just finished drawing up using double walls....Still trying to figure out how to do the duct work as well but we'll get something thunk up LOL

xSpace wrote:

edit: I am a bit confused you say this is a basement but you mention wood stud walls...is it earth bound or maybe just a garage that was closed in? Are the existing walls in this basement wood? Please explain if possible.

yes and no....the main foundation is brick and river rock. but on the studio side it is wide open to the outside and they used wood. there was a 2x4 wall running down the middle of the basement that seperates this large room from the laundry area and the other large room I am going to use as a drum room. Hope this helps

perhaps flip the space so the iso booths are on top and could share windows with each other and the drum booth and perhaps have the CR turned. move the middle door to the outside down to the space where the one booth exists.

I love this design and AWESOME work....The only problem I have is my fault for not disclosing this and didn't realize it till it was already too late. The one door sorta can't be moved because it is a door that leads to the outside that is already there and there would be entirely too much work and cost involved to move. and the one wall is a wieght bearing wall and cannot be moved / taken out. Sorry I didn't let you know b4 hand.

do you need to use that outside door? if not, then possible you can incorporate it into the front wall of the CR but not use it for day-to-day access. then shrink things to fit within the load bearing wall. another option - use the drum room extended slightly into the other room as the CR and use the CR and booths in that location?