NOOB- studio in room w/ REALLY HIGH CEILINGS

Hello! I'm loving this site... I can't believe I haven't seen it before now. Wonderfully informative and inspiring! I'm new and have searched for an answer on the forum. Haven't really run across the answer. Background Info: I'm about to build a studio in an existing space at my church. The space is roughly 30x35', of which 15x26.5' will be mine. The existing large room has 12' drop ceilings. Above the drops is a MASSIVE space that goes up as high as 30-40'. So building walls will be a problem, although it has to be done, since it's difficult to anchor the walls to the "ceiling". We're building the studio in a corner of the larger room, so there will be two existing walls already. I'll attach a rough pic of the layout. Budget is gonna be kinda tight, but I imagine we'll be working between $2,000-3,000 for materials (the construction will probably be done free). I need a control room, a live room for drums, vocal ensembles (as many as 9 singers, if possible), etc, and would like an iso booth for solos, amps, etc. A couple questions - 1) What can be done, if anything, about the high ceilings? I don't know how to deal with that at all... 2) Any ideas as to a decent layout for this would be greatly appreciated. I initially made a layout for the pastor's approval, but after visiting this site, I realize what a HUGE mistake parallel walls are, so ignore the interior of the space in the picture. Again, this site is great! It's obvious to me there are a lot of very helpful people here. I look forward to hearing from someone. In the picture, The thick black lines are existing walls, the red dotted line is the proposed area. Everything inside the proposed area is obviously no good. It can be changed as needed, including all the doors except the one at the top right of the drawing, which is a part of the existing larger room.

Completely forgot to ask a third question... What could be done about anchoring the new walls since the ceiling is so high?

Aloha and welcome to the forum, muzak75 Here's a variation of a plan by John thats close to your measurements for some ideas. I thought the use of sliding glass doors would allow you to open up the rooms to accomodate larger ensembles, yet can be closed off for isolation booths with good line of sight. By the way, most of us would love to have high/higher ceilings. I would consider them to be an asset, especially in recording choirs which should give you a nice amount of natural 'air.' In any case, there are those here on the forum with much more expertise and knowledge on how to anchor your "new walls." Hang in there and let's see if they get a chance to check in. In the meantime, be sure to check out the Reference Section for more detailed info:http://johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2125 Here's a good place to read up on some great info and basic principles: http://www.saecollege.de/reference_material/index.html Be sure to click on the acoustics, absorbers and construction tabs at left and any tabs that show up at the top of the pages. Hope these help, Aloha 8)

Wow... Thanks for the response, kendale! I believe that layout could effectively be used/adapted to fit my space. Do you have the dimensions of that, or perhaps a Sketchup file? I agree that high ceilings aren't a terrible thing at all. The main issue, I guess, would be how to isolate sound from outside the studio and prevent it from coming into the studio via the space above, which is the same space as the other room. For example, a group may be meeting in the area outside the studio. Their noise would float into the space and back down into the studio and the studio noise would do the same. Am I correct in that assumption? Kind of like a box without a top... Obviously a ceiling will have to be built above the studio. I have 12' clearance BEFORE the drop ceiling and about 15'-20' more feet above that. Any ideas as to what can/should be done here?

Aloha, Here are a couple of ceiling diagrams and links: http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2125 http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1168 http://www.saecollege.de/reference_material/index.html Aloha 8)

That's very useful. Thank you! So I assume we can just build a ceiling below the existing drop ceiling? Would it be advantageous to have it pitched upward (not parallel with the floor)?

Aloha, Here's a link to a discussion on ceiling/angles: http://johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic ... ht=pinging

Just curious on the control room side wall angles.... On the SAE site, it specifies 6 degree side walls, yet in a great number of plans, I see anywhere from 12-20 degree side walls... what gives? depends on the space you have - 6 degrees is the minimum 12 is is the preferred cheers john Does this also apply for ceilings? Regards Simon simon - I prefer more than 6 for ceilings if possible. I've had pinging with 6. cheers john

More on ceilings, walls, etc. http://www.saecollege.de/reference_material/index.html (click on construction tab at left - walls and ceilings tab at top) Aloha 8)

Aloha,

So I assume we can just build a ceiling below the existing drop ceiling?

I believe the diagram refers to the original ceiling (the 30'-40' ones in your case) and the new ceiling is to be built in place of the drop ceiling.

The main issue, I guess, would be how to isolate sound from outside the studio and prevent it from coming into the studio via the space above, which is the same space as the other room. For example, a group may be meeting in the area outside the studio. Their noise would float into the space and back down into the studio and the studio noise would do the same.

If isolation is an issue, then the drop ceiling will not help your situation. In order to realize isolation you need what has been described as the mass-air-mass principle. Perhaps a search on this site will prove useful for more info. In any case, you may want to consider some bass hangers in the area above the new ceiling. Here's a good link to review: http://johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic ... sc&start=0 Hope this helps, Aloha 8)

Kendale- Thanks so much for the info. Been a while since I've been on the forum. My day job has had me swamped... :) Would you happen to have a .skp file of the layout you showed me above? It would really help the carpenters get a good idea of what bass traps, etc are all about. We're about to start construction. Thanks!

Aloha, Hey, welcome back!

Would you happen to have a .skp file of the layout you showed me above? It would really help the carpenters get a good idea of what bass traps, etc are all about. We're about to start construction.

I'm sorry to say that I don't yet. :( I've just begun learning the software and haven't progressed to that level yet, but I'm working on it.. :wink: Perhaps one of the guys that have a better handle on it can help out? Looking forward to your pics and progress! :D Aloha 8)

Anyone have the time and/or ability to make the above layout into a SketchUp drawing? Thanks so much!