Hi guys. This is my first time posting here, but I've been around here reading a lot, and have learned a lot. Thanks to John and the rest for starting this forum. Extremely valuable. I'm relatively new into the recording scene and I'm finally out of college, (and grad school) and working and I finally have my very own home studio. For me, this is a big deal.
Right now I have it in a 10' x 10' x 8' size room and I'm having a lot of fun. I've built some floor to ceiling panels with 2 x 4 frame, 2" mineral wool and covered them with burlap. I have those at an angle in my corners, and then I have acoustic foam on pretty much all the walls. I've only been recording vocals at this point and so far, it's been sounding pretty descent. As you know, 10 x 10 isn't the best and I've recently been thinking about expanding and then I realized: "Hey, I have a full unfinished, unused basement that where we just have a bunch of boxes and container stored. I can use it. I've tried to model it in sketchup and I've attached it below. I've also attached some pictures of the basement (ps. I live in the middle of nowhere so noise isn't a problem).
This is what I want. Well, what I want is a rocking studio. But, I can't afford that as yet. I'm gonna have to do it in stages ($1000, $3000, $5000, $10,000 ++ as money allows) At this point, I record vocals, and all the instrumentation is synthesized, so all I really need at this point is good vocal isolation. I'm thinking of starting with building a vocal booth, then expanding in the future (hopefully near future) to having a room dedicated to recording instruments.
Complication: I am a teacher and live in faculty housing. We can do whatever we want to the house. However, within the next few years we might be moving to a bigger house. It would be great if we could have the studio built in a semi-permanent, but movable way in case we move (which would be in about 5 years to another house on the same road).
At this point, I can use half of the basement, because my wife is going to use the other half for her hobbies. There is a room and then three other sections that can be used (so I can use 2 sections, or one section and the room). I need help coming up with designs that will work for me. I record gospel music. Any help is appreciated. I'm looking for ideas in stages, and would definitely be interested in seeing multiple ideas, even if they are bigger than I can afford at this point, because I'm dreaming big for the future.
I have full access to a wood shop and students willing to do free work (I teach at a boarding school) so that will definitely help the budget. Thank you in advance for any ideas.
Ps. I just noticed I didn't put the height of the basement. It's a 7' ceiling (kinda low)
My Future Basement Studio
Originally posted at johnlsayers.com, topic 8586.
Well I dunno about building a non-permenant studio but I would suggest having the control room in the room with the closet if u can get rid of the closet that would be great, or either in section 2. But if ur gonna be moving in the near future, you might as well get your stuff mixed and mastered at another studio if you can and save money up to build an amazing studio when you move out.
You might as well just build a good vocal booth for now and leave the control room for your new place...