Help with laying out a new studio

Id like to get some advice on laying out a studio and appropriate sound proofing / sound control. I basically have a blank slate and would like to start getting materials together and a basic layout. But so that I can get informed advice, what info do you need first? As Im new to this, heres my guess list.. let me know what else you need to know and I'll post all the relevant info. 1) Room size (floorplan) 2) Ceiling height 3) Raw wall, floor & ceiling material 4) Optimal size of control room (to fit existing gear) / size of live room / etc 5) Budget 6) ????? Thanks for your help! mp

we need all of the above :) but a floor plan of your available area is a good start. cheers john

Okay, Im back. Ive attached a layout of the space I have to work with. The top pic shows the raw room, the bottom pic is a layout that was suggested to me and appeals to me. But here is some further info.... 1) This is a second floor room with the floor made of pre-manufactured pre-cast concrete. The entire floor is covered with high quality "office type" carpet. I have had my band rehearse in this space for a few years and I can say that I can feel the floor "waver" with the kick and bass player (tecumsah narrows bridge anyone?) which leads me into thinking I need to de-couple the drum kit and bass rig. 2) I have indicated on the PDF that two walls are precast concrete, the other walls are 1/2" drywall. All drywalled walls will leak sound into the surrounding office areas... but I dont care much about that. 3) The overall ceiling height is 13'-6". The ceiling is made out of steel (office complex), but it has a "corrugated" pattern (my guess is for support). Right now I have no sound diffusion attached to the ceiling and suprisingly, I get almost no "slapback" echo off the ceiling. The steel ceiling was a huge concern to me, but most people tell me not to worry about it if it isnt creating a problem. I cannot put a drop ceiling in place because of sprinkler head issues and the fact that there are 30" ceiling trusses spaced about every 5 feet. I can attach some diffusion/absorbtion material to the ceiling though. (By the way, what are "clouds"?) 4) My PDF shows a layout that was suggested to me based on my budget for "wall building". It would create a live room and control room that pretty much splits the room in half. The section that jutts out into the live room would include a window. So, thats the basic jist of it. Here are my concerns/dilemnas.... a) Id like to be able to record drums in a nice big open room like the one I have available to me. What should I do to this room to make it acoustically appealing? b) I see alot of parallel surfaces in my rooms, which Im told is not a good thing. Without erecting additional walls, what can I do to adjust for this problem? Gobos? Do I need bass traps in every corner from floor to ceiling? c) Steel ceiling? If its not a problem not, should I just not worry about it? Ive been really focused on it, but other studio geeks tell me not to. d) my mixing board/control chair is fairly close to a back wall. Ive read on the Auralex site that if you are closer than 12 feet, you should try to absorb sound instead of deflect it, what are your thoughts? e) I have a 24 track board, a 16 track analog tape machine and the big Mackie Monitors. Short of alot of outboard gear, thats my control room. This studio is primarly for my band, which is middle of the road "Wilco type" rock. f) Id say my budget (not counting the wall I have layed out in the PDF) for sound reinforcement is approximately 5K. Considering the wall space, ceiling height and overall square footage, Im not shorting myself - but please tell me. I really appreciate the help here, and I have already gained alot of knowledge from this site. One particalar interest is Gobos. The office space my recording studio is in is shared with a printing plate manufacturer. Anyhow, they buy plates that come in these big flat boxes (60" x 40" x 4" roughly). These empty boxes are very well reinforced and (I think) make a good frame for gobos. So, if there is anyone in the Chicago Area that is willing to share construction ideas for gobos, Id be more than willing to give some of the boxes for free to that person. Ive already used some of these boxes by glueing Aurelex foam in the interior... they make great diffusors. But from reading this site, I can tell that there may be better use for these boxes. Feel free to e-mail me at [removed]. Thanks guys!

Well, Ive just seen a few of John's designs as requested by other people building studios.... and I have to say Im a bit embarrassed by posting the design I had in mind... wow. John, please take my blank slate and do with it what you will, I'll figure out the budget problems later. Your designs are too good to dismiss because of lack of cash.

Well, Ive just seen a few of John's designs as requested by other people building studios.... and I have to say Im a bit embarrassed by posting the design I had in mind... wow. John, please take my blank slate and do with it what you will, I'll figure out the budget problems later. Your designs are too good to dismiss because of lack of cash.