Daytona Beach Studio - Layout / Dimension feedback

First of all just let me say thank you for everything I’ve already seen on this board, it is amazing and I cant believe that something like this exists! - Info 1. I am building a “Hillside Ranch” home in Daytona Beach FL which is on a sloped lot, from the front it looks to be one story but the lot drops in the back allowing for a full basement that opens to the backyard. The home will be concrete block construction with a concrete floor in the basement and wood floors up top. 2. I have allocated space for a home studio in the ground floor (basement), I can use about 30’ X 16’ X 9’4” ceilings. I’m hoping to get 3 good rooms out of that: 3. Budget: I am hoping to spend under $10KUSD on the studio construction and acoustical treatment. General materials such as plywood, drywall and hardwood floors, etc. are already accounted for as they would be needed for normal construction. A. Live Room: mostly used to record drums (rock type stuff) I was thinking that 14’ X 16’ should be sufficient and would also allow enough room for a full band practice session once in a blue moon. I’m assuming that floating the floors is a good idea. B. Control Room: I am shooting for a comfortable sized control room so I can have room to move around and be comfortable enough for the occasional (but rare) client (I produce bands from time to time but the studio is mainly for personal use). Also dimensions/treatment for what the best (most flat) monitoring environment would be. C. Iso Booth: The iso booth must be big enough to house a few amplifiers and still have room for vocals to be done, I was thinking maybe 10’ X 5’ should cut it. GEAR: Protools digi 002 mac G5dual mackie onyx800r pre Roland 50R powered monitors bad cat/orange amps custom keller drums tons of other misc. stuff. Questions/Concerns: 1. I need to make sure that I have good isolation from the master bedroom directly above the space and the rest of the top floor as well. I’m assuming that isolation from neighbors isn’t as much of a concern because most (if not all) of the studio is underground. 2. Most importantly I’m looking for a feedback on room sizes, dimensions, treatments and such to make sure I am making the most of the space I have. I’m not really set on how I’ve allocated the space, so any suggestions on how to best lay it out within the total area I have would be much appreciated.

Before you do anything, get Rod's book and read it. I finally got my copy and ... wow. It will address all of the questions you pose above, not to mention questions that haven't even occurred to you yet. There are specific techniques you should be aware of for recording studios, and Rod's book outlines them beautifully. Also, read the sticky thread about floating floors, since you mention floating them. Layout-wise, what you have there is too rectangular to be ideal in terms of sound. Look at some of the layouts in the forum, or some of John's sample layouts. Based on the dimensions you list, I'd look at the corner plan on that page as a point of departure for your design. If you can post a diagram of your space, preferably using sketchup, then some of the people lurking here can help you with a killer layout. Good luck!

everything jwl said... John has a number of plans on the SAE site which would be suitable for what you want to do. here's an idea also.

wow! very cool idea. I'm gonna try to see about inverting it so the drum room is buried further underneath the house. Thanks so much.

any chance you could post the sketchup file of that? I'm just learning my way around and what you have done here would probably take me days. Thanks alot.

hallo, Try importing the jpeg and trace it, Will still take days but hey! Resize the jpeg to right dimentions once it's in skp. then trace away. I did that in 2 mins so with some care it might work.

sweetness, thank you.