Acoustic doors and viewing window vs double sliding glass

1) I've been thinking about a few things for my new studio... I need about 4-5 acoustic doors... From acoustical solutions, that comes out to $15k-$20k. If that's what I gotta do, that's what I gotta do. But there has got to be a slightly cheaper alternative that is aesthetically pleasing while providing a nice STC. So my first question is: Are there any cheaper high stc doors? 2)I have been debating on the viewing window from control to live and from control to iso. I could kill 2 birds with one stone by using 2 double sliding doors. One for control to live, one for control to iso. I get the feeling that may be too much glass though. It seems as though a home depot variety sliding door has a stc33... And 2 of them will have an stc 40 or so. This isn't bad... But I am shooting for STC 55... This leads me to a thought though... If I use a stc 55 door and then use double paned viewing glass that only has an stc of 40... Then it was pointless to buy the stc 55 door. So my 2nd question is Can I get away with 2 double sliding glass doors from both a reflection standpoint and from an stc standpoint? Or does it make more sense to go with home depot type sliding door x 2?

I think you can do it a lot less expensively if you're willing to engineer your own doors. Bear in mind that STC is a meaningless measurement in the context of studio construction. --Keith :mrgreen:

I wish you had waited about another year or so to post this, I might could answer you. :) My plan at present is to use two Home Depot sliding glass doors between the control room and the studio. I couldn't find any definitive answers on this, so I took a chance. (I'm hoping I don't live to regret it). At current, only the control room is finished. When I am ready to install the other doors I've got to look into those details. I have no doubt that the distance between the doors and other factors will come to play. Fortunately for me, I'm not planning to do a lot of high SPL recording in the studio, so it may well be less of a factor for me than for others here. Kieth is correct though, and I have barely looked into it, building your own doors is definitely a good thing to look into. So far I'm thinking that the tracks are the hardest thing. In my case, I could actually use a regular swing type door on the studio side. Please let us know what you decide. I could still rip mine out. :o Scott

I would suggest that you check your door manufacturers. They don't always list their doors as acoustic doors. In my area there are huge high rise buildings facing the ocean. At the moment there's gale force winds plummeting them. If I lived on the 35th floor of one of these buildings I wouldn't want the weather coming in through my sliders to my balcony. And it doesn't. When I approached the company that made these doors I got glass sliders that seal tight and double 8' opening doors that lock tight and stop a drummer. there's lottsa highrise in America, they make em - you just have to find them.

great idea john. I will do some searching