Opinions: Should I bother with this space?

I am doing a remodel on my house, and want to incorporate a recording studio. I have a balcony space I am thinking of using for the control space, and the finished attic space over a two-car garage that I intend to use for the performance space. There are some odd characteristics to the shapes of these spaces, so it would be nice to get some experienced opinions. Images are attached, though some make the space look a little larger than actual. See the plan view for a better idea of actual dimensions. Thanks very much.

Hi. Please read the forum rules for posting (click here). You seem to be missing a couple of things! :) That said, your space certainly can be used. It won't be ideal, of course, but it is a reasonable size, and if that's the only space you have for your studio, then it is much better than no studio at all! If you design and build it carefully, following the advice you find here on the forum, then it can definitely be a usable studio. The biggest issues will probably be isolation and structural support: isolation, because it is harder (and more expensive) to isolate a room where the floor is not resting directly on the ground, and structural support because isolation needs a lot of very heavy materials. But if you don't need a lot of isolation, then you can use that place without too much trouble, and if you do need lots of isolation, then all you need is lots of money so you can strengthen then structure and add the weight that is necessary to isolate it properly. - Stuart -

Thanks. I'm looking into it.

Do you think having an open space behind the control room space will negatively affect the monitoring, or is the open space a plus since there wouldn't be reflections from a back wall? Thanks.

Just to be clear, my concern is about how badly the shapes of these spaces might affect acoustics. Just in general, based on the fact that there are angles at the ceiling, etc.

Just to be clear, my concern is about how badly the shapes of these spaces might affect acoustics. Just in general, based on the fact that there are angles at the ceiling, etc.

For the control room, symmetry is critical. At the very least for the front half of the room, the left side should be a mirror image of the right side, as much as possible. From the images, it looks like you'll have some issues there. Try to arrange the room so that your head is on the left-right center line, and the two halves on each side of that center-line are identical, including speaker locations, walls, treatment, ceiling angles, etc. - Stuart -

Soundman2020 wrote:

For the control room, symmetry is critical. At the very least for the front half of the room, the left side should be a mirror image of the right side, as much as possible.

Indeed. That's my problem. Since this space is a balcony, it seems no matter how I arrange it there cannot be symmetry.

Then you might need to build some extra framing with flat panels to make it symmetrical. For example, if there's a strange angle on one side of your ceiling, then build some extra framing on the other side to match the angle, and put thick drywall on it. That's usually the best way of dealing with symmetry issues: Build out the other side to match. Yes, it does eat up some space inside the room, but the benefits of having good symmetry generally outweigh the lost space (unless there's going to be a very large amount of space lost). - Stuart -

Thanks. I have thought about that, but needing the door there interferes with that with the presented arrangement. I wonder about maybe using the room corner, and framing a sloped ceiling on the adjacent wall until it meets the door. That way at least the corner would be symmetrical. I'll have to mock that up and see if it will fit.

Or did you mean to make a slope to the right of the door opening? I'll try that too, but that may really constrict the space. Thanks. Clay

I don't see the picture that I thought I posted with the doorway included. I am posting it again here for reference. Thanks.

One other thing, I had tried this rough layout previously but didn't think it was good. However, this arrangement might be the best option, provided that I put up a false wall to the right of the mixing desk. Thoughts? Thanks. Clay

Dude, that's an awesome graphic of your control room...It's almost photo realistic. Did you do that in Scketchup or use another graphics program? What about turning the room layout by 90 degrees so that it faces the wall with the larger slope? It would be wider than it is long, but it might be easier to get your symmetry that way.

Hi. I am using 'Home Designer Architectural' software for this. Regarding turning 90 degrees, I just posted a view of that very arrangement. An issue is that the open balcony area is to the right, but I might be able to put up a partial wall to close that off, at least near the monitors.

lahatte wrote:

Hi. I am using 'Home Designer Architectural' software for this. Regarding turning 90 degrees, I just posted a view of that very arrangement. An issue is that the open balcony area is to the right, but I might be able to put up a partial wall to close that off, at least near the monitors.

Build a wall n the right side, and put a door it. It will also help to isolate it from the open area below the balcony.

You mean basically close off as a separate room. I'll have to think about that. It would be rather small, but maybe it could work.

Might something like this work? It lacks a good spot for my keyboard though.

How extenssive is the renovation that you are doing? Building new walls and pulling off sheet rock that is already there? What is immediately under the floor of the studio area? You will want to add some mass to the floor. Also I think turning the control room into the corner will allow you to soffit mount your monitors. But you would deffinitely need to put up some new walls to help get your symmetry.

It's an extensive remodel. Adding a wall at this point is not a big deal. I just don't really want to put one in this area, for visual reasons. If I added one parallel to the balcony railing the space would only be 7 feet wide. If I added a wall in place of the balcony railing adjacent to the stairs, well, that would totally change the space. Under this space is the dining room. The ceiling has no drywall there either right now.

What about, instead of a wall in place of the balcony railing, using thick curtains 'as' a wall. That way it isn't permanent. I could put similar curtains on the wall to the left of the doorway for symmetry.

You are not going to get any isolation with curtains. Even very heavy theatre trype velor curtains aren't going to get you much isolation. And they won't help at all with the room symmetry. You'll have hard reflective surfaces on one side and soft absoption on the other. It'll be like being deaf in one ear. Maybe something like a movable air-wall or partition would help, but you are unlikely to get good isolation from it. For the control room, there's no other way to get the symmetry than to build a wall or two or adjust the placement of current walls.

I agree. But assuming perfection can't be achieved here, it would be nice if something could be done to make it 'usable'. Something to tame or reduce bad reflections from the rear area would help. That's what I wonder if some thick curtains might achieve to some extent. Then again, it might be totally useless. I don't really know. Any other ideas other than building walls? Thanks.

I suppose there really is not much hope without symmetrical walls... http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/blog/ ... acoustics/

I wonder... http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/curta ... Nexxus.pdf http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/curta ... absorb.htm

I'm a little bit confused now by some of your pictures. Some of them have two sloped wall/ceilings with one being quite a bit larger than the other. Some of the pictures only have one sloped wall. What's around the corner from the stairs on the far right of the picture with the curtains? Is that a walkway that goes to other bedrooms or something? A plan view with full dimensions would help to get a better idea of how to orient things, and also a section line view would help as well. Those silver quilted curtains are not going to give you good acoustic isolation. They're meant for offices to cut down on some of the background noise and talking etc...Not to isolate for music or loud audio and especially won't do anything for low end.