Woohoo! The construction started today!

Not unless the specific brand claims it's fire rated - these are two entirely different materials. Acoustic caulk's main claim to fame is permanent flexibility and sealing of air gaps for sound control; fire putty is intumescent and pretty high mass, seals SORTA OK until it gets HOT, at which time it swells up as much as 10X and forms a hard char which is supposed to withstand even a fire hose. People have used the acoustic caulk and "buttered" outlet boxes with it, but as far as I know none of the common acoustic caulks claims to be intumescent; maybe non-flammable, but it's not the same... Steve

Just a few quick questions. The pictures show some type of vapor barrier on the outside of the foundation walls. What sort of insulation was used on the foundation walls, and what kind of insulation did you use for the second set of walls and where did you get it from? Thanks for your time. Tim Lee

Hello Tim, The insulation on the first wall was installed by the builder when we got the house. It looks like R19 fiber glass insulation with some type of vapor barrier on one side. It is attached directly to the concrete foundation with anchors. The insulation on the second walls is 3" Roxul AFB. Here is the information about where I bought it from. http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2561

How is the isolation from room to room since you've built this?? Thanks for your time!! Tim

I don't have the doors, window, and wall plates installed yet. The contractor just finished sanding the walls (he is taking a lot longer than expected). He will be starting to hang doors and window this week and then start painting. I can tell you how it is in the next two weeks.

Hi Shaz, Great stuff and great photos... I love when a plan comes together :-) Keep us informed... Best Regards, David

More updates. The floor is in, working on the control room window, paint is done, most of the doors are installed (no door knobs yet ... )

track lights are installed too (I will be adding more lights to the track.) I had to special order the control room entry door, it might take another week or two to get it)

Hey Shaz, the place looks great and your floor looks awesome, it's funny how putting in the floor really makes it look like you're actually accomplishing something. 8) Had a question about your sliding doors, they look like the same kind I ordered, I've just installed one of them and noticed a rattle in my moving door, I haven't had a chance to investigate what it is yet but I was wondering if you might have run into the same problem? Anyway the pics look great, I can appriciate the work you've gotten done. Arthur

Thanks Arthur! It will probably take me another three to four week before I can setup all my equipment in there. I'll let you know if I experience any rattles (I hope not though ...) Anyway, I think my contractor bought the door from home depot, I can't remember the manufacturer, it may be anderson. I'll let you know. Shaz

Shaz - what kind of window/s are you going to be using, and what was the price? That is my big sticking point right now. This studio looks great, and the pictures really help to get a sense of what it means to build one. Thanks!

The window is custom built with two pieces of glass. I used 1/4" and 3/8" with 6" airgap in between. Here are pictures of the finished window. It cost me around $300 for glass and about $120 in wood, stain, polyurethane, neoprene etc ... The isolation is really good, I still have to install the door knob in the ISO door and I am waiting to get a second door installed at the control room entrance.

Shaz - this is wonderful - thankyou for posting these pics. It's far better than the Studios Under Construction site as it's as it happens and there is discussion as well - excellent. :D The craftsmanship is also great mate :D One question. The window - haven't you mechanically linked the two wall frames by inserting the timber between the two window panes? here's my drawing of what I think you have done and another of what I think you should have done. cheers john

John, I only put screws on one side of the timber between the two panes, the other side is floating with acoustic caulk underneath and no screws. What do you think about this method? Shaz

OK - that's cool but you lose the acoustic dampening that the soft fiberboard with cloth gives - which is even better when you add a layer of fibreglass as well. But as you say - it works :) cheers john

Hey Shaz, Got another question about your sliding doors, those are the same ones I have from Home Depot. Would you be so kind as to close your doors and tap on the the doors where they join in the center and listen to see if yours rattle. I've got a bad rattle that's worrying the crap out of me, it seems like it's the weather striping but for the life of me I can't figure out how to stop it. If I put just the slightest pressure on the doors it goes away but I can't figure out how to tighten that joint. I've had it apart three times and can't find anything wrong. I may be worrying about nothing but it's the first time I've actually installed slidding doors and since there between my mains I'm afraid their going to give me trouble. Thanks, I hate to trouble you but it might save me some gray hair. :? Arthur

No problem Arthur, I will check it out this evening and let you know.

Well, the construction is finally over. I put in the OC703 panels last night. I can't wait to move all my stuff in there. Here is how it looks:

A few more ...

Ahh,. so it was you who outbid me on the recording sign! Just kidding. The place looks great. It looks almost like a burnt yellow color on the walls and maybe maple floors. Beautiful. Excuse me if this was covered earlier. I just ordered a window for my place at Home Depot. It's a Windowmaster brand W/soundcontrol option. Might be the brand you put in..the Sound Control is a special order. they say it's a 40STC window, 25% more soundproof than their in-stock vinyl stuff...which I've been happy with. You can S.O. with tempered glass at additional cost. my 6040 window was about $350. You can also order the sliders with the sound control option...2 weeks wait though, but they're made here in So Ca.

"I just ordered a window for my place at Home Depot. It's a Windowmaster brand W/soundcontrol option. Might be the brand you put in.." I actually ended up building a custom window myself, I was thinking about getting a pre-made window but after several recommendations from people here on this group, I decided not to. I couldn't be more happier with the way it looks and the sound isolation. It turned out way better than I expected. STC of 40 may be good enough depending on your wall construction, just make sure your window provides you same or better STC rating than your walls. 2 weeks of wait isn't bad, I am still waiting for my control room entrance door from Lowes, I ordered it two weeks ago, I called yesterday they told me another two to three weeks!! :x

Shaz, Your place looks great!!! Congrats! Dave

Arthur, I checked out the sliding door and didn't notice any rattle. If I push it hard enough then I can hear minor sqeaking sound but that's about it. Shaz

OK guys, I hooked up one of my synths to the monitors in the room today and played some drums and bass LOUD. The room sounds awesome!! no rattles at all. The wall treatments also seem to be working out great. Now for isolation, it far exceeded my expectations!! I played some loud music (well, noise for the most part ...) I could'nt hear a thing right outside the basement window. Inside the house, I do hear very little sound, my family didn't even notice the sound until I told them about it. Most of the sound is low end which I was expecting anyway since I didn't do anything special like the RC etc on the ceiling ... I am very happy with the sound I am getting so far. Hopefully, I can get some good mixes out of the room. :D

Thanks Shaz, I was afraid of that, I think something is wrong with my doors, so I guess I'll take them out and take them back :x Thanks again for checking. I'm glad to hear your room is sounding good, it sure looks nice. Arthur