LayDown Studio - studio plans/reconstruction

Just started working with a guy who has a small studio and I would really like to re-invent the whole place. Its a small humble studio that could use some work. Will be posting pictures and some ideas I have to make it a little more appealing to clients, bands, and artists as well as the overall sound. I will be doing some work with sketch up as soon as I have the measurements of the current studio. Looking to do the most for as little money possible. Thanks guys, C

have some dimensions for the control room. It has an 8 foot ceiling. The width of the room is 7'9". The length of the room is roughly 14'. There is room for a live room out side of that, and in the process of putting in a vocal booth. As far as control room, does this seem too small? Or can this be treated in the right ways?? Thanks, C i will be posting some sketch up pictures and pictures of the room. Hope this helps...

here's a rough over head view of the dimensions of the studio. There is a door and a window in the control room. and we are going to be adding a small vocal booth to the right of the control room in the little pocket. Next to that is a bathroom. The front door to the studio is on the left of the whole screen where the other cut out is. Adding more soon...

Here's a better sketchup over head. Need to find out the best acoustic treatment for the control room, live room, etc. We plan on putting up a small angled wall next to the bath room for a vocal booth, and perhaps a window in between for artist/engineer communication. ANY IDEAS ON TREATMENT IN CONTROL ROOM SPECIFIC? Thanks, C

here's something with the vocal booth idea. If any one would like to help continue with some sketchup help... it would be much appreciated... Still need to figure out acoustic treatment for the control room as well as layout, and treatment for live room, and vocal booth. Thanks, C

Aloha and welcome to the forum! :D Congrats on your studio build! Any chance you could please:

Edit your profile to include your location. This is very important, because this is a worldwide resource, and as such, material costs and availability vary widely. For example, masonry is cheaper than gypsum in some parts of the globe, whereas it's the exact opposite in other regions.

Also, when posting pics, please keep them down to about 700 pixels wide in order to eliminate the need for scrolling. You'll probably get more of a response by doing so and this will really come in handy two or three posts down the road. It's also part of the forum guidelines. Thanks! :wink: For more info, check out both of these links - http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7572 http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3231 Looking forward to your build! Aloha 8)

kendale wrote:

Aloha and welcome to the forum! :D Congrats on your studio build! Any chance you could please:

Edit your profile to include your location. This is very important, because this is a worldwide resource, and as such, material costs and availability vary widely. For example, masonry is cheaper than gypsum in some parts of the globe, whereas it's the exact opposite in other regions.

Also, when posting pics, please keep them down to about 700 pixels wide in order to eliminate the need for scrolling. You'll probably get more of a response by doing so and this will really come in handy two or three posts down the road. It's also part of the forum guidelines. Thanks! :wink: For more info, check out both of these links - http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7572 http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3231 Looking forward to your build! Aloha 8)

Sorry about that. I'll make sure the next time. I was trying to make them smaller from the first one. I wonder if I can edit out the first picture and re-insert it. Hmmm On the other hand, I'm trying to figure out the placement of the gear in the control room. Right now it is so, where the speakers are facing the room from the window. This is the way the owner has had it for quite some time. I believe be putting them long ways will allow the sound and bass waves fully form. Now if I'm place the speaker on the northern wall (in pictures) then I'm trying to decide to just put in Bass traps in the corners, or to build a whole section across that wall. Right now we have dual screens in the room, and I have a 32 inch flat screen that may go in the room eventually behind these for post production and client base stuff. Oh yeah the northern wall of the control room is made of cinder block, so I will need to cover it with something I suppose eventually, not too sure here either. There are however 4 small auralex bass absorbers in the corners of the control room. I was thinking of taking these down, like said before, to build bass absorbers from ceiling to floor, or using them all in one corner of the room. Judging from the setup and adding bass traps, diffusers, etc. in the control room I think it will suck up space in no time. Is this room too small?? Alright that's it for the mean time. Its a start of a rant, that plays in my head over and over... WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK!!

Aloha, While the room ratios are not ideal, it is possible to treat the space you have, though it may be a tight fit for more than two persons at a time. Two things: - Could you post your skp file? - Give us a couple of days to work something out Thanks! :wink: Aloha 8)

certainly. here is the file for sketchup. This is the existing studio as it is now. Was already done before I hopped on board. Hope we can get something going or worked out soon. Thanks... C

i'll be posting some photos of the actual space soon.

i would put the vox booth into the live room so you have easy visibility with players. you can add some inside-out walls over the big window and exterior door and add interior window and door. some additional slats to break up the wall angles and add broadband traps. in the CR you probably have enough space for some nice bass traps and soffits if needed. on the back of the CR add a couple of doors to create an air lock and double up as an amp booth. leave the other space as a lounge, bathroom and some storage. in the CR use some absorbers to cover first reflection points on side walls and ceiling. use some smaller absorbers to break up an flutter echos in the live room and CR but not make it dead.

Nice! So don't put the iso on the right of the control room to use that small space there? We were thinking of putting in another small window there to talk to the artist. I was thinking we could probably throw up some kind of cover when mixing, like how tmix did on this page in his control room... http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/files ... ls_187.jpg http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/files ... ls_574.jpg or would this still be a bad idea and go with the new one...

you could put in a small window in the CR into the vox booth. i've designed them with either plugs, drapes, or sliding absorbers (since its a first reflection point in this design). sketchup attached.

curious, it shows the slot bass traps. Would i fill those spaces full of material. Maybe 703 stacked up or some sort of other insulation material? I've seen corner 703 stack up in triangular wedges, and then covered with a front framed cloth. ?? I am looking for cheap (by doing it myself), but DO want the best sound, as well as best room(s) setup. Any other suggestions? We're running Dual screen, mac g5, ProTools LE 16 channels, various preamps and equipment. actual pictures coming soon.

Aloha,

Any other suggestions?

Here are a few thoughts...

I've seen corner 703 stack up in triangular wedges, and then covered with a front framed cloth.

Either design works but stacking up layers of 703 means more $$$.

I am looking for cheap (by doing it myself), but DO want the best sound, as well as best room(s) setup.

Try here - http://www.johnlsayers.com/HR/index1.htm From your PM

I know you said room ratios were not good, would you push the right wall back?

Actually, what was stated was:

While the room ratios are not ideal, it is possible to treat the space you have, though it may be a tight fit for more than two persons at a time.

If you do have the option of moving the walls, you could then achieve a better ratio/starting point. In Rod Gervais’ book “Build it Like the Pros,” http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5670 he points out both L.W.Sepmeyer’s & M.M. Louden’s formulas most widely used in professional studios worldwide. He also notes that the orders listed are (top to bottom) the first to third best ratios in both cases. L.W. Sepmeyer Height Width Length 1.00 1.14 1.39 8’ x 9’1” x 11’1” 1.00 1.28 1.54 1.00 1.60 2.33 M.M. Louden Height Width Length 1.00 1.40 1.90 8’ x 11’2” x 15’2” 1.00 1.30 1.90 1.00 1.50 2.10 From there you could then position your vocal booth in your live room as Glenn stated. Perhaps something like this then? - room dimensions - 8' x 11'2" x 15'2" - front soffits @ 30 degrees - front wall absorber - 6 degree angled side wall slot resonators - rear side wall absorbers - rear corner traps - rear wall absorber Hope this helps, Aloha 8)

Ok, little confused. I've seen these pictures quite abit. http://www.johnlsayers.com/HR/index1.htm Now if I'm not mistaken... these are built totally separate from the studio. They are free standing objects in the corners or beside the walls?? Or ... Are they built into the walls and attached to the walls themselves? It would be best if I could build them outside the studio and bring them in to mount. :lol: But I've always thought these corner bass traps and wall units were built to be permanent, which they very well should, but in case of a move to a bigger better location I'd like to be able to re-use these units with out the hassle...

Aloha,

Now if I'm not mistaken... these are built totally separate from the studio. They are free standing objects in the corners or beside the walls?? Or...Are they built into the walls and attached to the walls themselves?

These can be built separate from the studio and either placed and/or mounted. You could also build them into the walls, but, IMO, one might be better served by just building the appropriate wall treatment.

It would be best if I could build them outside the studio and bring them in to mount. Laughing But I've always thought these corner bass traps and wall units were built to be permanent, which they very well should

The design principles can be used either way to some extent and degree of effectiveness, and is subject to one's individual needs and circumstances. YMMV

but in case of a move to a bigger better location I'd like to be able to re-use these units with out the hassle...

I had thought the same, but have come to realize that unless the space & budget were the same, I would probably build in the treatments if that option were available. Hope this helps, Aloha 8)

kendale not to be a total pain in the butt... can you send me the .skp file from your drawing? I'd like to have it to show my business partner. Also, if we did not move things around, would you think about moving the vocal booth next to the bathroom, to allow more space in the live room? Thanks, C

Aloha,

not to be a total pain in the butt... can you send me the .skp file from your drawing? I'd like to have it to show my business partner.

No problem at all. :wink:

Also, if we did not move things around, would you think about moving the vocal booth next to the bathroom, to allow more space in the live room?

That would depend on your work flow, the amount of people you record at one time, just how much room you need in the live room at any given time, and how much you value having an accurate sounding control room. This is not to say that you can't have both the vocal booth and better control room ratios, but some amount of adjustment on the live room side may be necessary in order to accomplish it. Hope this helps, Aloha 8)

Thanks guys... I'm gonna talk it over with my biz partner... and get back... we need to do a bit of thinking. Finances... and some new equipment *************** On another Note ************* WHAT WOULD YOU DO: I have a power mac G5 dual 2.0 2.5 gigs RAM, and digi 002 rack. We also have this at the studio ... Would you trade for a: pacifica pre - mint pair original NS -10 - good condition senn. 441 MD shure sm7b ??? Question for the moment... Have someone interested ... The way I see it computer will just keep getting better... and the one you have will always degrade. Pre's, mics, etc. will always hold some sort of value... What would you do?? Let me know

This is a picture of the front door coming into the studio. The Windows are obviously covered by drapes and there is an air conditioner there with a vent that drops off in the control room. Was already set up like this before I started..... Need to fix this...

Here's a picture if you turn around to the control room inside the "live room. you can see the fan, which I guess gets turned off and the vent heading into the control room. The drums are usually set up in front of this. The wires coming out is the snake going to the 002 and the octopre.

Here is a picture of the control room inside. You can see where the vent enters into the control room over the position of the engineer. The control room will be turned around. As it is the mix position faces out the window. Not idea for good sound. This big white cabinet will be moved out as well. There are aurelex bass traps in the corner, but we plan on building in full length bass traps for the corners, maybe with sofet's for the monitors we have now. We have an audio desk we plan on bringing in, and maybe later building a better desk for an actual console of some sort. As of now there is only a 002 and a power mac G5. The back wall is cinder blocks that is the existiing outside wall as well, I believe. The inside walls may or may not be insulated.

Another picture of the control room equipment facing out the window.

Control room turned around inside looking out towards the door. Again everything can come out to re-do the walls and bass traps etc. I think we are going to keep the existing walls, instead of expanding to a bigger room.