Studio Design/Layout/Acoustics (John,Knightfly,Giles,Ethan?)

I've read everything I can find on this site in order to determine what I need to do for my Home Bedroom Studio. However, I must plead ignorance and state that I need help. This is a small bedroom studio in my home that I use to create my own music. I’ll be recording live guitar’s (Electric and Acoustic), Vocals, MIDI drums, other acoustic instruments such as flute. I will be mixing in this same room. I’ve noticed so far the sound from my laptop and external drive can be picked up on the condenser mic. I’ve thought about setting up the mic to record vocals, acoustic guitar etc. in the bathroom next door. It has a tile floor and is decent size. The dimensions in this JPEG are shown in inches and/or feet. This was drawn on automotive design software (Catia V5) so I did the best I could. The house is a ranch. I plan to minimize outside noise levels (wife, kids in the house etc) when needed by sending them shopping or something. No neighbors so that’s not an issue. Main concern is creating a good sounding recording and mixing environment. The floor is carpet. 3 walls are drywall and the wall with the window is 8” log. Ceiling height is 8’ and is a textured ceiling that I prefer not to mess with. The 2 doors are solid pine and the closet has bi-fold doors. I want to keep them for now. The window has cloth blinds. What I want to know is: 1) What is the best way to arange this space? (workspace location, etc.) 2) What acoustic treatments do I need? 3) I want to complete the needed upgrades in $100 increments only doing what is needed. Possibly using home made treatments. 4) I also am hoping to minimize wall and ceiling damage incase we sell the house in the next few years. If the JPEG does not work, please tell me how fix it. I tried my best. Thanks in advance.

I am in a somewhat similar situation (located in the family room) and found this layout on the forum somehow/somewhere (thank you's to Steve), and will approach treating my room accordingly. Also check out list in left index. Lots of good stuff and ideas! http://www.saecollege.de/reference_material/index.html Hope this helps.

I appreciate the help. However, my layout is going to call for something slightly different with the closet, extra door (Btm Right that leads to a bathroom), left door location and window. I'm hoping John or Knightfly can help out. Also, do these panels extend from floor to cieling? I'm hoping to find a lower cost, less invasive alternative. At least for the short term. Something that can be done in say $100 increments. P.S. Who resized the JPEG? Thank you very much and how did you do that?

Hi, I've lurked around for a while and I thought I'd go ahead and register so, I could maybe help out if it's possible. How about using portable broadband absorbers since you've only got two corners that bass traps could be permanently placed (I think). Then rotate the mix position 90 degrees and use those long walls for absorption. I've attached a pic. Keep in mind it's not exactly to scale and the number of absorbers can increase or decrease based on your individual needs. Have a look. This can be done in $100 increments if you DIY the absorbers.

Dude, I appreciate the help, however, my acoustic design would still need to be modified. I'm still hoping to here from John or Knightfly regarding my original post.

Still hoping to get feedback from Jihn or Knightfly. Hope I'm not a pest.

warrior, i to have been lurking around for awhile.you keep waiting to hear from john and knightly to help you but i think you are missing out on others experiance with the same questions you are asking. john and knightly are busy men so you need to be open minded to a vast amount of help that other postsers can give .you might want to reshearch other threads similar to yours, i'm sure you may find some of the answers your looking for. good luck :)

jammin dad wrote:

warrior, i to have been lurking around for awhile.you keep waiting to hear from john and knightly to help you but i think you are missing out on others experiance with the same questions you are asking. john and knightly are busy men so you need to be open minded to a vast amount of help that other postsers can give .you might want to reshearch other threads similar to yours, i'm sure you may find some of the answers your looking for. good luck :)

I can appreciate that. However, I'm hoping that someone can answer tp my specific design space. The previous poster offered some good advice but was not totally applicable to my room (entry doors). I want to make sure that whatever concepts I piece together from other information on this site is correct and not a waste of time and money. Maybe I should complete my own design and submit it for feedback. Thank you for your advice. I do appreciate it.

Warrior wrote:

I've read everything I can find on this site in order to determine what I need to do for my Home Bedroom Studio. However, I must plead ignorance and state that I need help. The floor is carpet. 3 walls are drywall and the wall with the window is 8” log. Ceiling height is 8’ and is a textured ceiling that I prefer not to mess with. The 2 doors are solid pine and the closet has bi-fold doors. I want to keep them for now. The window has cloth blinds. What I want to know is: 1) What is the best way to arange this space? (workspace location, etc.) 2) What acoustic treatments do I need? 3) I want to complete the needed upgrades in $100 increments only doing what is needed. Possibly using home made treatments. 4) I also am hoping to minimize wall and ceiling damage incase we sell the house in the next few years. If the JPEG does not work, please tell me how fix it. I tried my best. Thanks in advance.

Here are some specific answers.... Floor should not be carpeted. Seeing that you dont want to mess with the textured ceiling can you locate the studs in the ceiling and hang wires to place ceiling clouds for absorption???? Unless you plan on putting your recording room in another space you need to come up with an effective way to either isolate your laptop, or build a gobo to section off a portion of the room (semi-isolate it) from the sound of your hard drive... One thing to note. IF you are using close mic techniques the noise from your hard drives will be minimized when in the context of a mix...Unless it is strictly acoustic Guitar style or acapella vocals.I didnt get what your major style of music is.... I'd reorient your gear so that it is up against your window wall. And what Kendale showed you as portable treatments is your best bet for easy affordable one by one treatments. I'd start first with an absorber behind your monitors, then move to a rear wall absorber, celing clouds and lastly , the side wall resonators....