Home Studio Has to Move...out of Home!

Overview of situation! I have to relocate my home studio for baby room and may use a cheap, cheap warehouse space in central CA. Give thanks for all the experienced and inexperienced people who take their time to respond on this forum. It's been a big help reading them! I figured creating this thread could help maybe with a real life example of chapter 10 in Rod Gervais' Book, just not in a basement, but design fits well with budget minus a few things to be discussed. I have read fairly well enough to remember crucial details with construction that will not be re-iterated and assumed to be included with the plan. If I was planning a studio build with an area of 725 sf (say 25x29' or maximize tailored to budget) in a 1000sf warehouse Any help is greatly apprecialoved Design -What if I used Rod Gervais design his book "Home Recording Studio: Build it Like the Pros"? Is the one used in chapter 10 a good design? same dbl frame const., but inside a warehouse so the outside wall would be the Dbl. frame construction with dbl layer gyp and insulation on the outside and inside, instead of concrete like in the book example. The only difference is dimensionally, as I would make the entire rectangular area to which I will build to be 25'x29' and make the control room, and two other rooms the same exact dimensions so that the live room space would have 25'-18'10" = 6.17' longer on vertical dimension pg 250, and 29' - 22' 8" = 6.34' longer on the horizontal dimension (please see Fig 1 below). And the ceilings 9ft high! This design was used to fit within budget. I Like the design layout but am open to other suggestions, such as make the same CR design and scale up the CR, IR, and SR dimensions to fit 25x29' . Fig 1. STC of dbl frame studio walls = 50 - 55 (I know the STC rating is only at vocal Hz range. Also the building/metal walls could be at least 5ft away from studio structure, will have exact dimensions of building hopefuly soon) -Ceiling : New with 2x6 joists and three layers gyp. One layer on top of structure/ceiling? Is this the weak link in the design? STC??? -Framing/walls and ceiling will be de-coupled from the ground using the same ND isolator system withe the same design for floor. see Page 91 (Gervais) -floor is currently concrete; Planned ND isolator system design, see Page 91 (Gervais), with semi de-coupled floor; 1 lyr.OC703, 2lyr ply, laminate Space The current space possible, a cheap warehouse space. I can get 1000sf in CA for a good deal as buying is not an option. I am aware of risks involved. There are loud trucks going by at the corner of warehouse units closest to the street = 100ft away) but, no loud mechanical metal banging or lug rubbing near by, and I will do a SPL meter test in the space. Will also work much in the night. No Hvac system to tap into, yes I have speculated the costs of a new system and cant manage. There are loud trucks at the corner of warehouse unit closest to the street = 100ft away) Studio Function/purpose Private Home studio to be relocated, productions good for Digital/CD public release, clients by word of mouth, provide a 5 or 6 (incl. vocals in booth) member band live recording, Will have sufficient quality channels and monitoring system for live band via control room, private, some public. Good Drum recording space, overdubs Isolation -Walls/ceiling isolated from concrete floor using ND isolator -Dont care about music loudness to the outside Soon I will post building dimensions Main Concerns right now and would love some advice: Renting not buying, anyone's experiences?? rent is cheap! What about Dark Pine studios layout? Are these layout designs available to use? One Big Room Better? Is STC = 50-55 for walls and concrete floor with ND isolator system good enough for industrial warehouse to keep sounds out (mostly ups style trucks driving by), not worried about sound leaving? Will have SPL meter reading soon I know this is the big question I might not get a response but what the heck, Is this at all possible with a 10k loan and a little room fro an additional 1 or 2k, I have all the gear for productions and monitor systems? Hope to hear back from a compassionate viewer. Thanks for time if you read!

For what it's worth, heres my .02.

Renting not buying, anyone's experiences?? rent is cheap!

Month to month is a dangerous proposition. Try to get at LEAST a one year Lease. 3 years if you are going commercial.

What about Dark Pine studios layout? Are these layout designs available to use?

I would think not, as Rod specifically designed it for a client. And each studio situation/conditions are different.

One Big Room Better?

Better than what?

Is STC = 50-55 for walls and concrete floor with ND isolator system good enough for industrial warehouse to keep sounds out (mostly ups style trucks driving by), not worried about sound leaving? Will have SPL meter reading soon

You design the TL for what ever reading you measure on the outside vs the inside. Of course, each owner has the right to lower his expectations and compromise according to their own judgements ...ie...when will you record vs time of most noise vs client use vs TL construction costs etc. However, EVERY studio is a compromise.

I know this is the big question I might not get a response but what the heck, Is this at all possible with a 10k loan and a little room fro an additional 1 or 2k, I have all the gear for productions and monitor systems?

This is impossible to answer at this point. First off, you don't have a building yet. And to my way thinking, you don't know what the potential difficulties are yet either. HVAC, the existing building envelope, Building inspection Dept/Codes/Permits/Fees...Material/Labor Price and availability, your design ...all and more have a bearing on the final cost. Yea, DIY' is much cheaper, but you can't remove some things from the cost structure. And btw, anytime you do things in a COMMERCIAL BUILDING(especially California)...you are obliged by Code to have some things brought up to Commercial level. Like possibly Title 24 bathrooms(handicap) Time is another thing. DIY' may be what you are planning, but if you have to make a living at the same time...well, that's pretty self explanatory.

Hope to hear back from a compassionate viewer. Thanks for time if you read!

I AM a compassionate viewer and a long time DIY'r. I figure if there is a will....well, there's a way. But the most important thing is to do your homework. Which if you have Rods book, well...you're on your way. :mrgreen: However, each building has it's own specific set of conditions. Once you know these, you have a better grip on what it is going to take to reach your goal. Compassionate or not, I understand what you would like to do. But the moment you enter the "commercial building" realm, to operate a "business", at what ever level, in California you open Pandoras box. At least from my experience. And it ain't cheap. Word to the warning too. My ex boss thought he could do a quick renovation on a small suite in a strip mall building without applying for permits. BAD mistake. During the renovation, he leased it, and then got caught by the local BID. Had to tear out EVERYTHING, got sued by the client, was fined $4k AND the cost of bringing everything up to code(bathroom was $10k alone) I'm certainly no expert, but I'd suggest talking to your local BID, BEFORE you make any kind of Rent/Lease agreement..PERIOD. You might be in for a surprise. And frankly, from talking to a half dozen online inspectors, studios can be a NIGHTMARE to pass code. And VERY expensive. fitZ

Thank you for your .02 cadesignr! We are gettn some of that real cold weather from your direction here in Cali, and its been cold! I cant say much in comparison to what the east coast experienced recently but I could imagine! Well, every little help at this point will help save big issues and money in the long run. Especially since, well what seemed to be a harmless short cut, can cost me the entire budget (10k for bathrrom alone!!! yikes) .

studios can be a NIGHTMARE to pass code. And VERY expensive.

:cen: :cop: :cry: It can be exciting to build your own studio, but it isn't as simple as design then build. I am realizing the importance of taking your time to plan accordingly when it comes to a studio with a budget and will definitely fallow your advice.

Better than what?

whoops! I meant to say, is one big room better than 2 (a control room and a live room) with the square footage I have to work with, which is based on my budget? The obvious higher costs of course come from doors and the two windows, which I have priced out. But also, I am finding out it may depend on what the local BID's input is, and of course the space I have to work with, which is of course still up in the air. So there is still possibly a good level of designing yet to be done. Once again, I chose the design in Rod's book as two rooms are desirable, and fits within my budget...so far that is, and the control room seems to be a popular shape/design, and I can see why! Maximizes space and minimizes acoustic problems for both CR and LR. But yes, I definitely am aware that from space to space will have different requirements. So off to the next steps. 1. Contact Local BID regarding warehouse and design in prospect 2. SPL meter reading at warehouse 3. Keep space searching well, I am still optimistic that this project will be continued and completed in some shape or form as I am anxious to get my studio back up and recording. AND Hopefully, hopefully those who read this thread will also get to see and learn from beginning to completion what it takes to succeed, never fail :) , OR never start, as I will continually update with info and photos with any progression or final decisions. Thanks again cadesignr!

Thank you for your .02 cadesignr! We are gettn some of that real cold weather from your direction here in Cali, and its been cold! I cant say much in comparison to what the east coast experienced recently but I could imagine!

Hi again. Well, I'm FROM Sacramento. My folks still live there and I just talked to them a couple of days ago. Yea, the valley seems to be getting some of that cold front there. I live on the Oregon coast, and NORMALLY, it stays relatively mild as the Ocean temp moderates the weather here . But this winter has been REALLY cold. I only have a small woodstove to keep my 2500sf home warm. But it has double insulation and gets nice and cozy. Although I have to spend considerable time splitting wood. Up side is no heating bills other than the firewood itself...which is relatively cheap compared to Oil or electric. No gas in my area.

Especially since, well what seemed to be a harmless short cut, can cost me the entire budget (10k for bathrrom alone!!! yikes)

That included the demo of the old bathroom and cutting the slab to relocate various plumbing drains because of the Title 24 requirements, which are very strict in California. But this is why I said talk to your local BID, because the bathroom in my ex bosses building had to reflect the type of business and projected building load(people). The business was an educational/training company which expected a normal load of around 20 people, which required two toilets, one of which had to be handicap compliant. Yours may not require it. But only BID can tell you. Hence my suggestion. However, I believe warehouses still fall under "commercial" compliance, and as such require electrical, plumbing, HVAC, structural etc to be installed by licensed contractors and must comply with commercial codes. This is an expensive proposition which can suck up your budget very quickly.

whoops! I meant to say, is one big room better than 2 (a control room and a live room) with the square footage I have to work with, which is based on my budget?

Square footage? You don't know what you have to work with yet...exactly. Untill you research the BID thing, and use that to analyze potential buildings that allow your budget to work. Untill then, you won't know anything. Who knows. You might be lucky enough to find a situation with more square footage than you thought you could get. But in my view, if you are recording "commercially", then there is no question you need a live room AND a control room. The fact is, you can't monitor over speakers in a one room scenario. You'd have to use headphones, and THAT won't allow you to hear the truth. Bleed from the live sound in the room will alter your perception of what you are hearing. Soooooo, that's my story and I'm stickin to it! Also, the monitoring issue has a lot to do with your design as well. Depending on what you are planning on recording, Transmission loss between the two rooms may be critical. 110 db drums 5 feet from the partition wall will require substantial and well planned TL construction. Not to mention a control room design which does NOT mask comb filtering in the live room. Amongst others. But those details are way to complex for me to comment on at this point. Besides, my disclaimer is in full force here..ie...I ain't no stinkin expert. :mrgreen:

So there is still possibly a good level of designing yet to be done.

Absolutely

But yes, I definitely am aware that from space to space will have different requirements.

You betcha. :P

So off to the next steps. 1. Contact Local BID regarding warehouse and design in prospect 2. SPL meter reading at warehouse 3. Keep space searching

Good luck and keep posting your progress. We'll be here. fitZ