Studio Design: Preliminary questions

Hello, all! This is a super site! I can't believe how generous everyone is with their time and expertise. I look forward to becoming an active member! I've been reading for about a week now and I have some fundemental questions that I can't seem to find answers for. Please indulge me. After I get these answered I can begin to think about the actual design and ask some detailed questions with detailed information. My goal is a mid-pro level studio. I want to eventually transition from my present career to recording. I'm not looking to make the next gazzillion-seller boy band single, but I would like to make my living at it. with that in mind... 1.) How big? I've read in some places that the minimum size of a space used for quality recording should be at least 2500 cubic feet. So, assuming 11 foot ceilings that puts me somewhere around 12 x 15 for the live room. Does this sound about right? I know many studio designs here are quite a bit smaller. Am I just wasting money because a "pro" level studio requires so much more than I am aware of? Also, are there recommended minimums for control rooms iso booths? 2.) Walls: Most (if not all) of the layouts I see here all have angled walls. Could I not instead use rectangular rooms (correct wall ratios of course) with acoustic treaments making the "angles"? It seems it would be easier to build that way. 3.) The Shell: Since I will be starting from scratch I am contemplating starting with a pre-fab steel building on a slab. I haven't seen this application anywhere. Is there something inherently "wrong" with a steel building that should shy me away from the idea? It seems to me that a big, open steel building would be just the right starting point. Thank you in advance for any info you all have for me at this point. Once I get these answers I believe I can begin to lay out the studio--and ask a whole bunch more questions! Thank you, Tom

Welcome to RSD! 1. The sizes you mentioned ARE for control rooms. The recommended volume is 3500 cu ft. 2. Yes you can. It really isn't harder either way. Keep asking questions and present your thoughts on the responses until you are satisfied with he outcome. 3. Biggest "problem" is low wall mass. One of the main elements of isolation. Keep posting! Andre

Greetings and welcome, Tom!

Kid_Charlemagne wrote:

Is there something inherently "wrong" with a steel building that should shy me away from the idea?

Do some searches here for keyword "steel" and you're bound to find a few threads where the pros/cons (mostly cons) of steel buildings has been discussed. Here is a recent one. Bottom line: the outer leaf is so think and generally not perfectly flat, so adding mass to them is challenging. More conventional construction is easier to work with. --Keith