AES 2007 SSL Shed and Small Scale Design

If anyone had the opportunity to attend the AES show in NYC this year, you may have seen the SSL display which included the Mix Shed. If you are unaware of the mix shed(see: http://www.solid-state-logic.com/shed/ ), it is modeled from Peter Gabriel's writing studio at Real World Studio in Bath, UK. I was wondering about the concept of designing a pre-defined space that is acoustically optimized for mixing and overdubs. Really, taking the SSL concept and creating a blueprint of sorts for users. The mix shed structure used by SSL is from Summerwood ( http://www.summerwood.com/ ) which is available in differing sizes. Any thoughts on a group effort to choose a design (size) and gear list and draft a mixspace within those confines? Perhaps this could be a fundraiser to benefit this great site; chip in a bit of money for a completed sketchup file with all the bells and whistles such as soffit monitors that are matched to the rooms acoustics, acoustically neutral rack positions, etc... Money might help offset site hosting costs. Any thoughts?

I wouldn't be leaving my SSL laying around outside in a tool shed! I can't imagine it sounding that great, plus wall vibrations. I don't like the idea of a dummies guide to owning your own studio either. There are so many variants and budgets to cater for, like size, country and building perments. I feel the standard gear list would be a dual Mac G5 running pro-tools HD, most users on this site use PC's and would be substituting recomended gear for what they can afford. Neumann for berhinger Mac for PC green glue for bubble gum :) If you don't have the knowledge or ability to find the info your looking for, than you shouldn't be doing it the first place. 9 out of 10 people i meet in this industry are all talk, with no knowledge or experience to back it up. anyway the fun is in the chase

I wouldn't be leaving my SSL laying around outside in a tool shed! I can't imagine it sounding that great, plus wall vibrations. If its heated/air conditioned, I can't imagine defining it as a tool shed despite the exterior appearance. I don't like the idea of a dummies guide to owning your own studio either. There are so many variants and budgets to cater for, like size, country and building perments. That first sentiment seems an antithesis to the nature of this website and forum: people helping others at all levels of understanding. As to the budgets, permits, etc... that is the reason a size could be chosen that best represents the average area available to most site visitors. The acoustic properties of a 16'x20' space are largely determined by interior treatments and reflections from equipment and associated racks. Sound containment, on the other hand, is a function of building materials and Mass-Air-Mass construction. I would imagine a group task to design and outfit a common space would be quite educational for site visitors. Yes, budgets are varied. I have a $7,500 USD per month gear and expense allocation, that doesn't make the exercise any less relevant for me than it is for a newbie. My ATC SCM150s are as much in need of soffits as another's Mackies. The concepts are universal, that's why so few on this site answer the same questions repeatedly. Finally, how many times have we seen a question asked, a design offered, and zero follow thru? At least a yearly design effort could raise donations for the site and give more plans for people to work with. I feel the standard gear list would be a dual Mac G5 running pro-tools HD, most users on this site use PC's and would be substituting recomended gear for what they can afford. Neumann for berhinger Mac for PC green glue for bubble gum :) That's the whole point. A DAW, controller, and related peripherals would pretty much have the same issues of reflections and ergonomics until you get to the likes of a 8-12' SSL. Whether its a PT HD expanded system or a native Logic DAW, the gear is less relevant than the room (except speakers) when dealing with acoustics; which as you may recall, is the point of this site. If you don't have the knowledge or ability to find the info your looking for, than you shouldn't be doing it the first place. 9 out of 10 people i meet in this industry are all talk, with no knowledge or experience to back it up. anyway the fun is in the chase While that certainly is reason for some to hire professional expertise, this site is devoted to helping others understand what are sometimes rather abstract properties of physics. Most people seem to do well in grasping these concepts with visual aids. A completed plan with Sketchup file is great for visually bringing together concepts. The few on this site proficient with Sketchup offer so much for free to others, it is truly mind-numbing. At least a group effort with access to the file in a members area with passcode controlled by a small donation would benefit everyone. Serious members and newbies alike can visit a plan and ask questions and the donations help sustain a fantastic site and become an asset to draw more informed questions. On the whole, much like the SAE drawings, just scaled to real restrictions and constraints. If you have every envisioned actually using the garage plan and done so with real gear in those rooms, you may become somewhat claustrophobic.

Kyle wrote:

The few on this site proficient with Sketchup offer so much for free to others, it is truly mind-numbing.

I made a $40 donation and I never had one drawn up for me. It has made me wonder if I didn't donate enough- and also if others (who have had sketchup files drawn up for them) had donated. I also bought Rod's book- twice! LOL ...but I've gleaned at least $40 worth of info from this site- so no hard feelings... I'm all for this being a subscription site- I haven't been here as long as others, but I know a lot of time and energy gets wasted by the good contributors on this forum. I'm 11 grand in the hole, and have shown proof of a studio build but sometimes my posts get ignored while others brand new to the forum get their questions answered and sketchup files drawn up for them... and you never hear from them again. Maybe a subscription based plan would help keep things consistent and ensure the forum gets compensated in some fashion. I don't mean to come across critical- I'm actually very grateful- this website is indispensable.

I made a $40 donation and I never had one drawn up for me. It has made me wonder if I didn't donate enough- and also if others (who have had sketchup files drawn up for them) had donated. I can't imagine there is a correlation between donating and receiving help with a project. If there is, I haven't heard of it. I think the solution is needing to keep your thread alive by bumping it periodically. However, if there were a forum restricted to donating members, perhaps posts wouldn't get lost in the sea of "new design help needed" from which 4-5 posts are generated and nothing further happens. I also bought Rod's book- twice! LOL ...but I've gleaned at least $40 worth of info from this site- so no hard feelings... I'm all for this being a subscription site- I haven't been here as long as others, but I know a lot of time and energy gets wasted by the good contributors on this forum. I'm 11 grand in the hole, and have shown proof of a studio build but sometimes my posts get ignored while others brand new to the forum get their questions answered and sketchup files drawn up for them... and you never hear from them again. Maybe a subscription based plan would help keep things consistent and ensure the forum gets compensated in some fashion. I don't mean to come across critical- I'm actually very grateful- this website is indispensable. Please understand, in no way was I referring to the whole site as a pay site! I was simply referring to an area within the site for those willing to chip in for finished designs. I am not suggesting that drafting plans be used either, simply Sketchup file animations such as those John has done and kindly posted for others to peruse. I have Rod's book as well, it is a fantastic resource in every way. As an aside, if anyone checks Amazon for Rod's book, there is a post from him offering to buy back the book from one who felt the book didn't suit his needs. That is an amazing offer from one of this site's regulars. Another site I frequent, Gearslutz, has a classified section that is only available to registered members. Anonymous visitors can never see the ads unless they register. What I am suggesting is a separate forum for posting completed designs and which is accessed via password acquired from a donation of some sort; similar to the way many museums operate. Simply donate to get in and enjoy the benefits that others worked so hard to create. I am absolutely astounded by the efforts this community has put forth for absolute strangers who never provide follow-up on their projects. A bit of giving back in one form or another is an honorable payment for such a great site. I'm not saying, but I'm, just saying, that's all... :D Kyle

I think it's a great idea- but it may conflict with John's original idea for the forum... So Kyle, what's this all about anyway? ...are you tired of helping others and getting nothing in return? Or are you not getting helped when you ask for it? Where is this coming from? You seem a little argumentative... :D :D :D

studio_drums wrote:

I think it's a great idea- but it may conflict with John's original idea for the forum... So Kyle, what's this all about anyway? ...are you tired of helping others and getting nothing in return? Or are you not getting helped when you ask for it? Where is this coming from? You seem a little argumentative... :D :D :D

If that is indeed how my posts are coming off, then I am not doing well communicating my ideas at all! Quite the opposite in fact! I have been reading this forum for far longer than my registration date would indicate and I haven't posted much at all until now. The SSL writer's room, mix shed, or whatever you want to call it seems like an idea many around here would like and enjoy for ourselves. The physical size could easily translate to a basement, bedroom, or bonus room so ubiquitous in many new US homes. That SSL is offering to sell the room outfitted with their smaller setup is cool, yet they haven't done real acoustic design for the thing. It would seem to be a perfect project for those with talent and knowledge to further the idea SSL is introducing. That said, sketchup isn't free by any stretch, yet it is made available for trial use for those who want to open files from sites such as this. And while I guess I could create a generic design myself and post it fishing for layout ideas, it would seem that a design project might benefit everyone. However, those talented enough to do the Sketchup work and animations really should receive something for their efforts; even if that something benefits the forum rather than themselves. Similar to a showcase of new homes builders are so fond of here in the US. Most of those I have been to require payment for admission and the proceeds go to charity. The charity here is to this forum. The whole thing seems like it could be a bit of fun. Please don't mistake my statements or comments as being hostile; they are intended as anything but cranky. As I indicated earlier, I love to see a plan implemented and photolog of a build and the final results of the work here. So, maybe we can all learn a bit by having a group project. If no one wants to participate, that's cool. Again, no hostility or anything on this end, just trying to communicate through an imperfect medium, that's all! Kyle