Looking for some help designing new studio

Hey guys what a great forum! I’m building a basement recording studio. It’s not a huge space but I think it will make a nice small studio. I want to have a larger studio A room, a vocal / drum booth, and a control room setup for surround sound mixing. I just bought Smartdraw and am not very good at using yet but here’s a pic with the dimensions. I’m hoping you guys can give me some design ideas as I’m new to studio design. I have been checking out the other plans on this site and well as the ones on the SAE site. I’m wondering if anyone has any basic plans in a file format that SmartDraw can open. I appreciate any help you guys can give me. Thanks, Lief Stevens

Hi. the smartdraw can open DXF files? Thanks! Fernando AWS

Scroll down the forum and look for 20 x 20 x 10 garage studio and check that thread out. cheers john

Thanks for the replies guys. Aws - No I don’t think smartdraw can open DFX files John – I spent the evening checking out that thread and the links in it. I also spent some more time drawing out my future studio. I am trying to set the control room up for surround sound and haven’t seen any plans so far with surround sound setups. Any links or suggestions on surround sound would be greatly appreciated. Let me know what you think of it so far and what I need to change. Thanks, Lief Stevens

Here is a sample surround room setup by John. Not sure of the dimensions though I believe it to be about quite small. It's the B room from a larger design he did Bryan Giles

Hi. Maybe this draw could help, I don't know. It've lights too, and some absorver panels in the rear section. Also, farfield & nearfield monitors. Fernando AWS

Jester wrote:

I am trying to set the control room up for surround sound and haven’t seen any plans so far with surround sound setups. Any links or suggestions on surround sound would be greatly appreciated. . Thanks, Lief Stevens

I'm setting up my control room for 5.1 surround sound. Here's a simple plan view: http://www.johnlsayers.com/Studio/Image ... rPlan1.jpg And a few pics: http://www.johnlsayers.com/Studio/Pages/Carriage1.htm I have more detailed (fully dimensioned) plans if you're interested. The main thing for surround sound is the control room geometry, and some additional acoustic treatments for rear speaker attenuation.

Some good articles here - anything by Tom Holman (The "TH" in THX...) http://www.surroundpro.com/sparchives.shtml Read somewhere that one of the main diff's for a surround CR is absorption in front instead of live - still same angles (I guess) but for surround they're talking about adding the ambience electroncally because not killing it acoustically causes more Early Reflection probs... Steve

Yeah - I'm battleing with this at the moment. :):) According to the ITU (International Telecommunications Union) surround specs each speaker should be the same distance from the listener and be identical with a similar baffle for each speaker. (they later mention that the center and rear speakers may be smaller but of the similar brand.) But this assumes that for stereo the left/right speakers are directed at the listener, which in typical stereo setups they are not but are directed behind the listener. :shock: They also recommend that that the rear speakers be at an angle of 110, also directed at the listener The following are two pics to describe what I mean - one is the ITU spec whereas the other is as I see it in real terms. If anyone can direct me to a paper covering this I would be extremely pleased :):) cheers john

John, Bobby Owsinski heads this site, check it out http://www.surroundassociates.com/fqmain.html Specifically here http://www.surroundassociates.com/fqmain.html#1.12.5 I think this is about as clear as it gets for surround at this time... Steve

Thanks for the link Steve - it's still a bit vague for me - for most of the time the system will be operating in 60 degree stereo and "3" - 4" behind the listeners head" is two direct for the mains for my taste. ;) cheers john

You could always just turn down the treble :roll: or hang pillowcases over the mains :? or use D12e's on everything :twisted: or get a bigger head so the sound has to travel further :lol: Like I said, surround ain't there yet - but, if you don't have it you're screwed if you're a commercial facility - For now, I guess if you were to set it up the same as the guys who're (still) inventing it (mostly Holman and Owsinski from the look of it) you'd be as safe as possible... Steve

Well I have been reading a lot about surround sound and have revised my plan. The control room is based on Michael Jones plan only smaller. Please let me know what you guys think. If I have soffit mounted mains do my rear and center speakers need to be soffit mounted? It seems like with the limited frequency response of the rear channel that they wouldn’t need to be. Also where are you guys that have surround systems putting your sub? Thanks, Lief Stevens