Help designing a Garage Studio from scratch

Hello, I am new to these forums and am hoping I will get the help I am searching for. :) I am seeking help building a studio in my garage. The room is 24'x24'x8'. I've decided to make it only one room for mixing/tracking to get as big of a sound as possible. Right now all of the walls are plywood with some insulation behind them, and the floor is cement. I am trying to do this as close to the way studios were in the 60's. More or less I am looking for help on what design methods were used in the 60's. Were bass traps used? or unparalled walls, etc. Also, I am on a very tight budget, with only a few thousand to work with. I know it won't be anything professional but am trying to get the best for my money. Any help and suggestions are appreciated. :)

Hi "Zildjian"(! :) ). Please check the forum rules for posting. You seem to be missing something! :) - Stuart -

Thank you =)

The first thing you would want to do is get your hands on Alton Everests' "Masterhand book of Acoustics" Page 276, "The popularity of rectangular room is due in part to economy of construction, but it has its acoustical advantages." He goes on "...The relative length, width and height of a sound sensitive room is most important." Further on he states, "Cubical rooms are anathema." Your room is one dimension away from being "anathema" my friend :) I would say that if you are trying to replicate something from "back in the day" then a square room might be a good fit, since the advances in acoustics that we each currently enjoy, were not available to everyone so readily back in the 60's. I want to say that Sun Records had a square room that they recorded in, but it could have been any number of small "shops" that sold records and recorded folks as a means to make ends meet. But to know what you have versus what you "can" do, versus how truly do you want to replicate a room that has so much potential to sound like shit based on old ideas...hell, throw carpet on the walls and call it a day :) You will also want to read thru John Sayers online guide, a few things that might not be recommended by me, but John is the man here and I thing he knows what he is talking about.