New freestanding construction - Plans included.

Here are some basic plans for my new space. I want to build a new building on a block of land in the country somewhere an hour or two from Melbourne. The idea is to build a 'nice' space with excellent acoustics for live recordings. I'm not much interested in tracking everything to death - there are plenty of studios in Melbourne where people can do that. I want to make a space where musicians can come and play music - the fact that is is being recording should almost be a bit of an after through. I want to do things like have nice windows to the world, atleast in the live room. The plans I'll post here at the start, but I've already got ideas about extending from the entrace to add a veranda + lounge etc... Perhaps more studio rooms if required. Priorities: 1) Live room must sound great - The best recordings I make now are in 'nice' acoustic spaces. I find many studios a bit of a sterile place to work. 2) Workable control room. It needs to be good enough to make great mixes, but not excessive. I'm not in to loads of outboard gear etc. Issues: With as far as I've got now I don't have any storage space - or any non studio space (I'd Imagine the second smaller studio would get used like that alot) - Also as I expand the facility this could come in time. Construction - I've been thinking, concrete slab with concrete bricks for the walls - tin roof and then standard offset plaster stud walls etc + treatments. Possible I get a big shed and then build inside that ? The space isnt' fixed, the size isnt' fixed. I think I could really be quite happy with a facailty with just a CR and a largeish - truly wonderful live room. But I can see that I'll end up doing projects which require a few more rooms etc. I'm going to leave out things like toilets (country makes this harder - septics etc) and such for the first generation. This is a cost consideration as much as anything. Thoughts ? (Images too follow in next post)

Here are some ideas I've been sketching up. Nothing is set in stone - I'd like to avoid things like sliding doors and use sound locks (or hall ways as in this design) only for ease of construction. I will end up building this (with some help from contracters as required)

The outside.

That looks like a nice space plan to me. You might also want to check out Michael Jone's' facility that is under construction (http://www.johnlsayers.com/Studio/Mainp ... rriage.htm) which is similar in size to your building. He has a bit more detail there so there may be some ideas for things you have skimmed over but need to consider (or not). Cheers, Darryl.....

I had looked at that design - It is probably quite a good use of space, in many ways having the entrance into the large live studio saves alot of space, and still leaves the option to build other rooms etc as an extension later. I'm really not sure how crazy to go. A workable small control room and a killer live room is all I really need. The garage designs looks good to me too - simple to build etc, I'm just not sure how big the Live space need to be to have a good natural sound with enough reverb etc.

Here is another option I'm considering ... Based on the Sonar design and extended somewhat for the live room.

Or even like this (note the big room at the bottom requires treatments and some shaping etc - would be a large live room) ? I'm thinking I'll use bessa block (hollow concrete blocks) for all the walls (internal and external) adding wall treatments. Should make construction pretty easy and pretty fast. I'll try and use standard window frames etc. Tossing up using sliding glass doors rather than solid core ones. Again it might come a bit down to cost etc. Plan I think is to have a roof space for running extra cables and ducting etc.

Bump - Any takers ? Really I guess I need to know how big a live room needs to be before it's going to sound great (not just good). I do a lot of live work in my living room right now (6x7m with cathedral celings) - if treating this room was an option I'd just do that ! It seems to be a good size with a nice sound.

Hi james

I do a lot of live work in my living room right now (6x7m with cathedral celings)

That size room with, i guess, any (normal) ceiling height is a well sized room, plus if your ceilings are any higher than standard height (@ the walls) I reckon you'd be able to get it sounding pretty good. When I say "well sized" room, I'm speaking in project-studio terms :) cheers

If I can record a jazz quintet or sextet then that's me. Piano Kit Vocals Bass Horns etc.

Hi James.... if you don''t mind... what program did you use to do the design? :D

Sketchup on the mac (I think you can get it for PC as well) - It is amazingly easy to put together complex 3D shapes.

hi james i am building a similar studio in adelaide if you would like you can contact me at [removed]...we can discus a few way to build a nice room