Illinois Studio Build Concrete Block...

I am planning on breaking ground this summer on my new studio. This will be in my backyard here in Illinois. I would like to go with concrete block for the exterior walls and structure, and the attached image is the size I am limited to building. I need to include both control room, live room, vocal booth, bathroom, and storage area in the layout. I will be mainly tracking live drums so a good size tracking room would be preferred. I have worked in a one room studio for many years and really desire the ability to isolate instruments from the control room so I can hear what is actually going to tape. I do a lot of live instrument recording. The wall that is 30ft long will be parallel to the house, so that will have to be the wall with the entrance to the studio. The bathroom will also need to be on that wall as well, so it will be easier to work with the plumbing. The storage room will be housing lots of drums and drum kits, so that will have to be a good size. The ceiling height will be at least 10ft, or should I go higher....12ft??? Thank you for looking at this post. I welcome any comments...I have been lurking on this site for several years in all the posts. Tim Lee Peoria, IL

The ceiling height will be at least 10ft, or should I go higher....12ft???

Higher is better, usually! Especially for a live room, and especially for drums. So if you can go higher, then it could bu useful. It isn't so necessary for the CR or booth, but a live room for drums could certainly benefit from the height. - Stuart -

Ok, Higher it is... Tim

Here's where I'm at right now...this is a general layout option...obviously I will be making more precise changes, but I'm having trouble with the bathroom. The wall I have the bathroom on is closest to the house so it will be easier to tie into existing plumbing. I don't know if I should forget the storage room and make the live room bigger. That would mean building some built in cabinets to hold extra drum kits and such out of sight. Tim

I am in the middle of building my own first serious studio, so I am by no means as good to help you, but I think I see the following problems: In the control room (20x21 feet) you will have a bad ratio, because it is almost a square. Look into good room ratios for all room, especially the control room, where exact listening is critical. Further, I am wondering where you plan to place your speakers into that control room. If you want to face the window, you would rather adjust the room to be symmetrical to that axis, which it is not. So I guess, you plan to be facing north. The arrow shape is not good for creating a ER-free sweet spot. If you plan to soffit mount your monitors, that could be ok. The room is a little wide for that IMO. Well, Stuart! I wanted to at least try helping someone else out a little. Now tell me I am all wrong! :horse: :cop:

Oh, I almost forgot: Most importantly start learning sketchup. You won't be able to pull this off with pen and paper, unless you have skills of an architect. It's free ...