Hows this for a design? Attic stuido/practice space. Drawing

I am building a home studio/practice space in my attic. Right now it is just a bare bones 40'x14x room. There are several problems I am trying to figure out in this whole process, and I was hoping you could lend some thoughts. First off I should say that this studio is primarily for me and whoever I play with at the time or friends. I don't expect to do have alot of clients coming in here. I mainly want to record my own music. One problem I face is the heat. In this room there is one window, and although there is no insulation in the room yet I still worry it may still be hot after I finish construction. I can not put centeral air in the house because it was not built for it and would cost too much to install. The best thought I have had was to put an air conditioner in half of the window, contain it and force the air in to a vent that would run along the edge of the floor in all the rooms. Now the down side to this is that the AC will probably be loud, and it is in the space I want to have my mixer and monitors. I'm hoping if I contain it well enough this won't be a problem. I only intend to Contain the AC and not the rest of the window because It would be nice to have some natural light in there from time to time. And its the only window in the attic. Part of me plain just doesn't want to board the thing up. Another concern is cable length. I think with the recorder more towards center I will be able to minimize my cable length to record a variety of room types. Also, this room has a pointed ceilling. Which would be better accusticly, to have it go all the way up to the point or cut it off at the trusses/studs that join them? Overall I think the following design will make a versitile yet comfortable practice space and recording setup. But then Thats what I'm asking you. Do you have any opinions of this set up? Can it work or is it a failure in the making. Thanks for the help. Mongoo http :// homerecording.com/bbs/attachment.php?attachmentid=11468

Hi Mongoo! A very rough Picture, i can´t find the Controlroom... Isn´t it related to the Rightside near the Wall to the Boothrooms? I will paint around some Ideas on your Picture! Jasmin

Jasmin, I was kind of playing with the Idea the the control room would double as a practice room. Like I say, I'm mostly interested in recording myself and friends. The way I invsion it so far is... I'm going to be recording and playing back and forth alot when I'm the only one there, so halving to open a door and walk around sit down, play, get back up and walk around another wall to check the mix might get old quick. Just because I see this as being pretty repetative. On the other hand If I want to record myself in a more isolated situation I've got that option too. That is why I am thinking of having the practice room double as the control room. I will still have foam in the practice room. Just not as much as the Isolation rooms. I just see taking a coulpe of steps forward, hitting record and going right into it less annoying or tidious. Do you think this is a bad Idea? If so why? The only down side to this set up I can see off hand is that I can't listen to my monitors when recording in the practice space. but then I will probably be playing so I wouldn't be able to anyways. I think this also opens up the room alot more to feel more comfortable. I'ld like to see or hear any ideas you may have about improving the layout. Thanks Mongoo

Hi Mongoo! My English is not the best, but i understand "roughly" what you mean. Okay, some Coments from me: I think Recording and Livesound in one Room can Make some Problems. It is your turn, but imo better release a single Room with two doors for Example. If you use some Computer with Tubescreen there can give it some Trouble with Guitars and Microphones if you are nearly them. My first View bring me this Pictureexample: That gives your Sound a Led Zepplin Touch, the recordet in one Song the Drums in a Stairhouse... I think it is better to use one or a Doubledoor to get the Noise Outside! And last is the cable length, okay, i know, they are even 1cm to short, but it is better to have more Cablelength and have a better Layout to use the Gear. I hope I find the right words! If not tell me, i am looking for better in my Dictionary! :wink: But the two Sofa´s tell me you make good Partys there! :D Rock on! Jasmin

I could have a removable peice of foam or drape that covers that area when practicing. I don't know what kind of video monitors I will be getting but could stay away from the bad ones. Can anyone else help out here? Thanks. Mongoo

Hi Mongoo! A removeable Piece? In my head was something like this: http://www.johnlsayers.com/Studio/Images/sjoko3/sjoko.pdf or a Version rebuild to your related Size like that: If you want to get out some Trouble by combined Contoll/Liveroom i have only some like this for you: Computerrecording: - Make sure that you have a "low Noise" Computertower. A good Microphone will recording loud Computers they are more the 5 Meters away from. - Computerscreen must be placed far away from any Speakers (some Monitorspeakers are proofed!) or use some Flatscreen, but the are here in Germany more expensive than Tubescreens. - Get the Microphone out of Range the Tubescreens, 1,5 Meter will bring you a Noise, actually i use 3 Meter and its seems good. But i looking for a good silent Booth, it is only a test for me! But as I say: I think it is better to build an additional room for better Sound. In the last years i often change my Home to do some Jobs, i always making Music and all Problems that i have can i have had. Thats make me crazy over the years, now i will make perfect. Another about your Cablelength Problem: Look up for cheap Second Hand Kabel in good Quality! I do this too and can buy from an closed Studio a big Package with a lot of Midi and Audiocabel for a nice Price. This is all that i can say for the Moment! CU soon Jasmin

Thank you for all your help Jasmin. When you say Tubescreen monitors and Flat screen monitors, do you mean CRT vs Flat panel? CRT are the big fat monitors but they come with both a flat screen and a curved screen. Flat panel monitors are very thin and have a flat screen. And which ever video monitor where talking about. Are you saying that they will interfere with the Audio monitors or just the Guitar Cabnets and P.A. Speakers? Do you happen to know of any enclosures for Computer Towers? Something to put the computer in to keep its noise isolated? My only concern with doing this would be that the computer would get too hot. Maybe it can be worked out some way though. The thing to remember is that I will not always be recording in this room. Only when I want to play everthing together at the same time with friends. Or when we just want to do a ruff take or a live recording. Otherwise recording will take place in the isolation booths. Do you think that it will be a problem for my Audio monitors to be facing the window? Will I be able to make accurate mixes in that room? Thanks again. And let me know of any thing you can think of. Mongoo P.S. Jasmin, Could you draw a little picture of how you would design the studio and practice space in this 14 foot by 42 foot room? Thanks.

maybe something like this? cheers john

Hi Mongoo! I write no between the lines, it is better for me to translate and answer...

Mongoo wrote:

Thank you for all your help Jasmin. [b]No Problem, but remain: I´m not the most wanted Expert of the World, i´m only Jasmin and look up for Ideas for my own Project! But when i can help so will i do that... When you say Tubescreen monitors and Flat screen monitors, do you mean CRT vs Flat panel? CRT are the big fat monitors but they come with both a flat screen and a curved screen. Flat panel monitors are very thin and have a flat screen. Okay, sorry about the strange Translation, yes, Flat Screen means Flat Panel or LCD. Only CRT kann makes Noises... Otherwise a Flat Panel makes Noise when some Driver oder the System (means Windows or else) will be not right configured. So can make a Mousemove some *grizzels* in your Monitorspeaker. And which ever video monitor where talking about. Are you saying that they will interfere with the Audio monitors or just the Guitar Cabnets and P.A. Speakers? Okay, this means the Guitarcoils can interacting with Tubemonitors, this will made an Feedback. Speakers with no Magnetic Proof (sorry, bad translation again) will, if they are nearly by the Screen, the Picture on it resize, reangel oder do something wrong like this. They stop interacting totally by 1 oder 1,5 meter away! As I say, i often change my Home, first big rooms, then a smaller and so on. So i have all these Problems scince the last Years of Traveling... Do you happen to know of any enclosures for Computer Towers? Something to put the computer in to keep its noise isolated? My only concern with doing this would be that the computer would get too hot. Maybe it can be worked out some way though. A friend of me do some Particelboard with Foam on the left and right side. Between the Computer and the Boards is an 4" Space air. This delete a lot of Noise. Actually I planed for me to build the Stands for my Producertable like this example. Then i will make some tests to get them Noiseless... But i see Problems for the last Models of CPUs, there going very Hot. They must have an Outside Low Noise Fan to get enough cool Air Inside... Buy them by a good Computer Dealer. The thing to remember is that I will not always be recording in this room. Only when I want to play everthing together at the same time with friends. Or when we just want to do a ruff take or a live recording. Otherwise recording will take place in the isolation booths. I understand! But some Recordingsoftware will starts is there a Noise come... Show the Preferences of your Software and set them "Starts at more then -20dB" for Example. My Studio is non public, i work alone there and use this Feature. After Recording i stop them ... This is my way to do that! Do you think that it will be a problem for my Audio monitors to be facing the window? Will I be able to make accurate mixes in that room? I think this was a Problem, true, otherwise you have a good Feeling and good Ears the Mix will sounds better. But it is only an compromise... Thanks again. And let me know of any thing you can think of. I have done... :D P.S. Jasmin, Could you draw a little picture of how you would design the studio and practice space in this 14 foot by 42 foot room? Thanks.

Okay, but give me a few Hours to do that, i must convert foot to meter to get the right feeling for the size. I paint it so as would do, if you don´t like tell me and we repaint it so that you like it! Jasmin

:shock: John paint faster... But i like it, its an great Idea! It looks professionell and I think there is good Sound inside! Jasmin

Thanks for the picture John. Just curious, but why all the odd angles? And would you put cap the roof or let it go up to it's peak? Thanks Mongoo

The odd angles are there to give you a proper listening area for the studio side, an isolation room for odubs and drum separation yet keeping a large rehearsal area as well. For the ceiling I'd keep it open but put a cap on the isolation room. cheers john

John, Is there rhyme or reason with the odd angles? Like is the idea to have the reflections of one wall to hit a 30 degree corner or are the reflections suppose to hit a a 180 degree wall? Or are any assortment of odd angels good? Should the room have 5 or more walls then? If so is there a limit to how many walls? Just asking so I can come up with some new desings but with the lose therory to back it up. Thanks Mongoo

Is there rhyme or reason with the odd angles?

If you d/l the image and measure the "odd angles" you will see that they are multiples of 12 degrees off right angle surfaces. This is to prevent repeated slap echoes off the otherwise parallel surfaces.

Just asking so I can come up with some new desings but with the lose therory to back it up.

Read the material here: http://www.saecollege.de/reference_material/index.html to avoid asking mostly redundant questions. Reading the last 100 or so threads (and links) in this forum and the other forums will give a good introduction. Andre

Okay, I've been trying to come out with some different designs. Can you tell me what you think of this one? I tryed to incorperate some angles but they are just ruff estimates. I put the main equipment into the cornner as to not have interference with the recording gear. I'm also hoping a sliding door will fix the problem with the stairway. With that I can keep it open when I want and close for recording or serious playback. I'd still like to fit a 7 rack guitar stand in there and a keyboard. With the latest adjustments I think there willl be room. Do you think I need more angles in the main room? I'm not sure if that 90 degree angle in the top middle room is a problem or not. What are your thoughts? Thank you. Mongoo