Ready to start construction. Any last minute advise?

Well, I've finally removed all the old walls and existing structure that was in the way, with the exception of HVAC, sewer lines, etc. The approx. size I have to work with in the control room is about 17' wide and 23' deep. I'm still trying to get some feedback on what may happen acoustically with the bay window at the rear of the room. I'm considering placing 2 large glass panels (approx. 6' high by 4' wide) and angling towards the walls and down. I'll probably have to use curtains for absorption/diffusion during mixing. Is there any advise or last minute ideas I may be able to use in the control room design. I'm having to do this in stages as budget will allow. The control room is my first priority, and then start working my way towards the other end of the basement for the iso rooms. If anyone believes I should lay this room out in a better way, please, I'm all ears. The drawing below is not to scale. Thanks, Aaron

Aaron - that's looks fine mate - well worked out - I assume those are columns (the circles) in the wall between the iso room and the sound lock?? they are your limiting factor yes?? cheers john

Maybe I'm missing something, but it looks like the scale of your drawing is off? Best, Dave

Yes, the circles are the posts. I have actually removed one of the posts that was in the way (where the equip. racks/amp room are), and reinforced the beam w/ a steel beam. So the circles on this drawing is what is now existing. The scale is off. I've had too much stuff in the way to be able to measure the other side of the house, and I'm not much for drawing. It's somewhere between 45 and 50 ft the entire width. The depth (inside) is 23' 2" from wall to wall. There is a small room off the basement (originally used for sup pump) that is under the front porch. The measurement from outside wall to the left side of the small room is 17'3" (as seen in the drawing). I'll post some additional measurements later. I don't have them here at work. The back of the room (where bay window is) is not symmetrical to the rest of the room at all. The HVAC and main sewer drain is in the way, plus the window is off to one side. Will this cause any major issues in the acoustics of the room? Or should I block in the window? I like having the view though. Thanks, Aaron

Hey Aaron, Well if you can post an accurate picture of the hard obsatcles/stairs/sump/bathroom etc., I'm sure some of us might have some thoughts, but without actual layout, I wouldn't know what to improve. Looks like you have a pretty good jump on it though. Best, Dave Blauvelt

OK, here are the detailed measurements of the space. This is how the room looks now, with existing walls and structure, etc. Thanks :)

Hey Aaron, I started on a corner plan, which might be cool, but thought the visibility might get tough, so I tried it another way. Best, Dave

Oh yeah and the scale seemed a little weird. So I used your hard figures from beam to beam and total wall distances, to cover what I think must be the important measurements. It seemed like the stair bath area was drawn a little large. But just guessing here. :lol: Dave

Your first drawing is a cool way to go Dave - I like that plan :):) cheers john

Wow! 8) I haven't figured out the "drawing to scale" thing. I've got the general ideas down, w/ measurements, but it's not to scale at all. I'm working on having that done. I love the layouts. On the first one, how/where would I gain access to the small room off of the basement (directly across the room from the W/D). Also, the main entrance to the studio/basement (daylight basement) is the door between the W/D and stairway. I need to have (or would like to have) that room isolated out of view from clients. The imediate room you come into, is also a snack/kitchenette room and is plumbed for a kitchen type setting. There is a counter top, small refridgerator, and it's plumbed to add a sink in the counter top. There are also cabinets on the wall. It looks like I forgot to add a couple of measurements to my drawing. I'll edit it and repost. May be tomorrow though. :D

I love the layouts. On the first one, how/where would I gain access to the small room off of the basement (directly across the room from the W/D).

Not sure where you mean. East? The vocal booth? What I thought was cool about the vocal booth is that it has the bay window and other window -- nice place to hang.

need to have (or would like to have) that room isolated out of view from clients

That should be no biggie. Maybe a picture would help. Double check your measurments on the important stuff. Drawing to scale? Just let the program do it for you. Select a line/box whatever and right click "position and size" and type in the exact dimensions -- you will have to type 6.5 ft for 6 feet six inches etc. The same can be done for angles. Looks like you have plenty of space. Dave

Quote: I love the layouts. On the first one, how/where would I gain access to the small room off of the basement (directly across the room from the W/D). Not sure where you mean. East? The vocal booth?

It is the 6' 8" x 3' 5" room at the top of the drawing. By the way, I'm still working on doing this to scale. I'm redoing it from scratch, plus I have someone drawing it on Autocad. I'll post when it's done. Thanks, Aaron

OK, Here's another drawing that is to scale. It has the basic figures in it now. The earlier drawing I posted has some additional details.

Even to scale I still think Dave's first plan will work fine in that space. cheers john

Well my trial period ended with smartdraw.. :? I'll be ordering it anyhow. John which version do you use? I think you could massage my plan a little to get access to the little room, which would be good for bass amps etc. Get drawing and give it a shot. Best, Dave

here's a shot cheers john

I like that idea John. I've been trying to design some layouts, but my copy expired over the weekend. No luck yet getting around the time stamp. Oh well. I've got access to autocad here at work, but don't know how to really use it. I guess I'll just have to fiddle w/ it. (No I don't play the fiddle) :D I also like the idea Dave drew up. I started to draw this to scale, but once again, my smartdraw expired. John, on this drawing, any suggestion on the equipment room (power amps, power supplies, computers, etc.) The only other thing on this design, it blocks the small windows on the side wall. It also appears, (doesn't matter which layout) that the equipment rack(s) will have to be on my sides (due to space). Will there be any acoustical concerns with this? Thanks, Aaron

Hey Aaron, If you press "Alt Ctrl" and hold down while clicking the "Try it Free" dialogue -- you get a free 30 day extension -- Smart draw folks told me. Might get you through.

John, on this drawing, any suggestion on the equipment room (power amps, power supplies, computers, etc.) The only other thing on this design, it blocks the small windows on the side wall

I wont speak for John, but I assume you will have some sort of computer/tape machines. IMO get them out of the control room. In particular, I hate computer noise. Looks like you might have room on the South west side of the vocal booth? As far as blocking the small windows, well they are at least small. :lol: Also, I suggest Philip Newells book "project studios - a more professional approach" for lots of common pitfalls before you build. LIKE don't forget to properly deal with your mains and grounding etc. (This even effects computers) You may know this stuff already, but I didn't and I'm throwing it your way. Also Jeff Cooper's book "building a recording studio" has some useful stuff. Best, Dave

Thanks for tip Dave. It worked on the Smartdraw. :D :D The electrical shoudn't be an issue. I've already paid to upgrade my panel from the old screw in fuses to a real breaker panel. Now with that done, I'm going to run my own sub panel. I'll have to wait to see if I have noise issues, before I install an isolation transformer going to the sub panel. I will have all isolated circuits and star ground the entire studio. I'll have to check into the books. Thanks for the tip there too. As far as the "noise room", yes I'll have computers, console power supplies, hard drives, etc. Eventually I'll have a 2" machine, just a matter of $$ and where to put it.

As long as the height of the racks is pretty normal (like a 14 or 16spc rack) you shouldnt have any acoustical issues to worry about. Bryan Giles

Just build a rack unit behind you in front of the lounge. It's also handy for putting keyboards on etc. What I aimed at in the plan was getting access to the control room directly without having to go through a studio which was the only problem I had with Dave's design. cheers john

John, I would prefer to put the rack directly behind me, but I don't think there is enough room for everything...rack and a small couch that is. Need something for clients to sit on. Also have to have access to the back of the racks. The racks will need to be at least 4 bays wide (future toys). I don't know, I may be wrong, could be an optical illusion looking at an empty room w/ no construction done yet. Also forgot to mention...on your drawing John, you have the door changing to the other side for the restroom. I did consider that at one time, and maybe a few years down the road, but it's not possible currently. I would have to redo the entire stairwell, as well as kitchen plumbing. Under the stairs, the upstairs kitchen plumbing runs into the concrete. The stairs are currently built pretty steep too.

There's enough room for a couch and a rack behind you - the control room is 16 feet deep from the glass door to rear wall. I suppose you'll just have to put up with people going thru the studio for a pee. :wink: or add a hallway like this cheers john

Hi John, Thanks for all the insight on these drawings. I've been working on more detailed drawings. Small question though...what if I decided to make this, or have the ability to in the near future, to make this control room ready for 5.1 mixing? Do I need to make any changes in the layout, etc.? Will the current location of the glass doors on the front side of the room be an issue? Thanks again, Aaron

Possibly some insight for you here - http://johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=901 And yes, the front glass will be troublesome with surround speakers firing at it and right back into your face. You'd probably want to build some type of portable absorptive gobo, likely even for Stereo mixing for that matter, to set in front of the glass... Steve