Studio layout, barn conversion Ireland

Hi guys I am converting half of my barn into recording studio. I had a post up during the week but took it down to put more detail. I hope to record everything from singer songwriter to full band. The walls of the barn are 6 inch concrete block, I am going to make an inner ceiling, the bottom of which will be 10 ft high but can go higher in the center with an apex truss design. I was wondering am I on track with the design I have here? Any comments or ideas would be greatly welcomed. Going for room within room, floor is concrete but will lay insulation down and put another floor screed over that. Thanks in advance for your input.

Hi, Couple of comments. Overall it looks ok, but a few things to think about to make your life easier. 1 Consider adding a door between your break room and live room. 2 consider moving the bathroom door to the side for ease of adding a sink to the room. 3 consider moving the stove sink etc to the opposite wall to ease traffic patterns and limit pipes etc entering the isolation wall 4 review the sight lines from the control room to the live room. For me this would be the deal breaker with this design. If I was going to the trouble of putting in a window, I would want the most complete sight line I could get. 5 Have you figured out a plan as to how to treat the wall first reflection points and maintain room symmetry with regards to the acoustical treatment and still have the window and door located in those positions on the same wall in the control room? 6 If you use the break room as an air lock, put the previously mentioned door into the live room from the break room, you could then remove the door between the control room and live room giving better isolation. 7 No plans for an iso booth? This isn't necessary but very useful. Steve

How much of this space is already built and cannot change? To Stev's point, the layout could be better so sight lines are better and the rooms work better plus leave some space for an iso booth is desired. The CR cannot simply be all concrete it needs a lot of absorption to enable it to function for critical listening.

Hi guys thanks for your input. Steve I have tried another design to include another room and hopefully increased visibility. Also moved washroom and kitchenette. Glen for my inner leaf I plan on using timber framing with insulation. I had this thought, not sure if it will work but if you look at attached photo I will try to explain my plan. If I build frame on the floor then attach and seal gyprock and then erect wall with gyprock facing the concrete wall that would mean the insulation and the frame would be facing into the control room/live room. Then I could cover with material and have the insulation act as an absorber. You think this may work? The only fixed walls so far are the outside concrete walls, so have lots of flexibility with design. Will attach a photo of that also, if you see where the concrete wall ends I am going to build it up to the first wooden runner to gain extra height. PS Steve you don't by chance know the fadermaster guys out in Vancouver? Thanks again for your help!

I also had the thought that maybe a corner control room design maybe a better way to go for this space?

not sure if it will work but if you look at attached photo I will try to explain my plan. If I build frame on the floor then attach and seal gyprock and then erect wall with gyprock facing the concrete wall that would mean the insulation and the frame would be facing into the control room/live room.

That's called "inside-out" construction, and this forum is the home of it! As far as I know, John himself invented that method, many years ago. And yes, it does work. The sound waves don't care which side of the mass you put your studs on. As long as you have enough mass on each leaf and a big enough air space, you can build it with studs on either side, to your heart's content! - Stuart -

Great, glad to hear that that will work. Now just to finalize design.