Starting to worry - your thoughts guys

I think half the problem is we do all have to make some compromises when working inside an existing structure and it's these compromises that freak us all out because, in my case, I am freaked out that I will spend all this considerable time and money making something I am disapointed with. When you buy a car you know it will start but when making a sound proof room, on a budget, within an existing structure, having to make the odd shortcut from what is considered best practice and doing it all by yourself at nights and on weekends there are many times when you wake up at night thinking "am I nuts" or "is this actually going to do what I want it too" I appreciate all the help and comments, it's got me where I am today, which is give or take a couple of windows and doors a nearly finished studio of my own that hopefully will be soundproof enough not to upset the neighbours when my frustrations get taken out on a set of Pearl drums!!

Based on your construction you should definitely meet the criterium of "dont bug the neighbors" My 1st floor studio has me in a position that I never hear what is happening outdoors and you can stand next to the room on the outside and not hear a peep.

A lot of good points brought up here - my take on this Isolation to the outside is #1 concern in most cases - without that (unless you're lucky enough to live in a vacuum) you can't use your studio AT ALL. Either neighbors or family will make your life a living hell - not to mention ruining that perfect acoustic guitar track with a barking dog, kids slamming doors and fighting, etc. If you're using the space even semi-professionally, I'd have to agree with Bryan about room-to-room isolation also; the "cut and try" method works, but is slower than sin. On a tight budget and a true "home" studio deal, it can work but if you can, good iso is better for reasons already stated. Same reasons for only considering a single-room setup - it can be done, but it's slow and awkward. A smaller, but actually soundproof, room beats a large one that can only be used 1 hour a day between 2 and 3 pm. Having a separate place to store acoustic guitars when mixing is a necessity. All the pix of pro studios you see in Mix, etc, that show guitars on stands in mix or tracking rooms are just BS eye candy. In almost ANY basement studio, a dehumidifier is NOT an option; it's a necessity. The only non-detrimental thing that I can think of that needs high humidity are orchids. Guitars, pianos, and any other acoustic stringed instruments are happiest at between 40 and 43% humidity - mold is happiest at higher levels, which is another reason NOT to allow this. Constant air circulation (small fan or two) is another necessity in damp-prone locations - if the air isn't moving, it can't dry out the space. One way to set this up is to have all fans and dehumidifier on the same power strip; only shut it off when actually recording, or mixdowns if the fans are too loud to hear reverb tails, etc. All the moisture control is even MORE necessary when soundproofing is involved; wood framing/wood panels can handle 10 times the moisture level that gypsum/steel construction can before mold, etc - all masonry construction can handle 10 times as much as wood. This makes drying/ventilation REALLY important for typical home studios, since the least expensive construction that works is gypsum either on wood or steel. 'nuff blathering, gotta go... Steve

giles117 wrote:

I prefer to adjust mics prior to hitting record. I rpefer to get good quality tones and levels before we start recording takes..... Just the way I was trained......Not etched in Stone...... We may not have unlimited budgets but we dont have unlimited time either....

Ahhh, there is where we are different! The one thing I DO have is unlimited time. Well sort of. I was merely suggesting that rather than throw in the towel and fill a less than perfect studio with concrete (and yes, the thought has crossed my mind once or twice) there are work arounds possible. You also have one other thing over me (and probably a least a few others here): Actual recording experience. I bought a Digitech Harmonizer on a whim just about 2 years ago now because I thought it would be cool (now I have myself AND 4 off key singers!!). About 10K work of software and hardware later, I've got the bug and want to improve my recording skills which is why I'm building a studio. I'm sure I'll run into phasing problems once I'm in something a little better than a spare bedroom with no treatment. Fortunately, when I get a little discouraged (or a lot frustrated), I have you guys to come back to to lift my spirits back up. That may be the most underrated benefit of this forum! len

I agree Len, especially since I have no experience whatsoever. I've been in studios and have been recorded many times, but I've never been "the engineer" nor have I ever built a studio before. I just realized that I have the opportunity to convert these rooms of mine so I jumped all over the chance. There are many, many obstacles that come up so when I'm discouraged or doubtfull, it is great getting positive feedback and info on this forum. :!: :D Just thought I'd chime in there.

After reading those last 2 comments it makes me reiterate, it is better to get as close to The Best solution as possible rather than have headache after headache and get caught up in the endless money pit spending bug... I was a Guerilla Recording engineer, using any spoace availabe. We got by, but the results were less than stellar and oftimes lackluster. I learned, I adapted. When it was time to build my 1st personal deal (Mobile Recording Truck) I used every ounce of experience and knowledge I could find to build a truck I could get great recordings from (because the acoustics were as close to right as I knew how, etc.... #1 reason why I say Auralex is BS. Take advantage of this advice and slow down a bit to get it right...... Cutting corners IMO is when you are broke, but if you take some time you can find inexpensive ways to get it right. Realize I was "broke" when I built this studio, I lost a lot of major contracts and went from $110K/year as a freelance A/V Tech, FOH Engineer to $600.00/month barely find a gig....My wifes 1st Album paid for our Studio(s). Blood Sweat tears and eating in everyday...The End result was well worth it.....911 was a PITA - Cost me a Major touring gig with a VERY well known Young artist. We were scheduled to Hit Austrailia the weekend after 9/11 and of course air travel was suspended, by the time they regrouped (45 days later) a new crew of guys had organized a US tour for this artist and replaced myself and the other engineer slated for the tour with their "in house" engineers.... Life is a.... :) and then you kiss your wife. The studio I built that is in those pics cost me a total of 4k in materials after all costs were counted. I actually disassembled part of it cuz I did it wrong and I didnt want the headache later..... Trust me it is worth it. A good room/rooms will improve your hearing more than you can imagine.....

Very sound advice (no pun intended). Believe me, I'm not advocating doing everything on the cheap or just building to make sound rather than music. I have been chastised, scorned, ridiculed, and worse (kinda like Bill Cosby's Noah) because of my insistance on things like double walls, splayed walls, rooms that have certain dimentions and outlines even though I could get "more room" another way (I've got lots of "room" in the parking lot) because I am trying to do things the right way. As I believe Knightfly said, "A carpenter is not an accoustic engineer, an HVAC man is not an AE, a plumber is not an AE, etc." Bryan, I'm trying to do it right. In fact MORE than right if that makes sense so that I end up with the best possible recording space my talent and begging ability will allow me to build. len

I agree with Steve.... I am an engineer, not a carpenter, so it took some time to build this thing cuz I had to learan I went. Home remodeling and this are too totally different ballgames. I understadn the asking if this or if that. I did plenty of it...Evntually just doing what the pro's said do. :)

Great story, Bryan... Very heart-felt.

Hey Bryan, Do you have any photo's of your studio anywhere I could look at? Thanks JohnG

Check out Giles117 studio (Kensee entertainment group, ltd...) it is on Johns Studio under construction section of the site.

Hi Bryan, The timber slats in your live room - I want to do a wall(s) like that in mine but I am not sure if I should do it directly behind where the drum kit will go or down the other end of the live room in front of the drums. If I did it behind the drums do you think I would get to many reflections from the timber. I was going to use 1x6 dressed pine with 1" gaps inbetween. The walls on each side and in front will be cloth covered 2" 705. Any ideas appreciated JG

If angled properly, the reflections off the timber give your drums a much more open live sound. Too dead and your drums sound suffocated...... You want the wood......

I am not sure what you mean by angled. The wall behind the drums is straight up and down and square so when I attach the slats they will also be straight up and down and square. Only one of the side walls is angled. The rest of the rooms walls are sqaure. You can see the angled control room wall to the right and the square walls left and front. I am taking the photo where the kit will go and the wall behind me is just a wider version of the one you can see in front. Thanks JohnG

As I have been away for a while, do you have a copy of the floorplan you are working from??? Mybe that will answer my question as posed....

Sure Bryan, Here's the floor plan. Plan is drums down the 2.8m end facing into the room and vocals will be done in the middle of the room faccing the window, gtars amps down the skinny end. Floor is particleboard. Ceiling is drywall All walls are/will be cloth covered 705 rigid insluation Thanks JohnG

As you install treatments, I would do an angle on that north wall. You can use that West wall as a resonator wall and with an angled resonator on that north wall you'll end up with a nice sounding drum room. You dont want dead drums. They sound suffocated and void of life....