Building new studios in Paris

Hi everybody ! First of all, this site is fantastic. I've search a lot of informations on the web, and I must say that this site is the most complete, professional and clear that I've seen. So, thank you all ! I'm french, so I apologize for my bad english. Anyway, I finally found a nice space in Paris for my new studios. It’s a big basement (9.5m x 11.5m). I'm working in post production for video-games, french localisation and all multimedia supports. So my work is to record voices. The most of the recording sessions are done with only one actor (maybe 2 sometimes, but it's not frequent), so I don't need to have a huge booth. The most important condition is that the sound has to be extremely clean (no room sound, no noise...), so I want to build a nice vocal booth (at least 2.5m x 2.5m interior) with a good isolation. I've drawn a 3D plan with sketchup. The measures are pretty exact. Here are the different points. - I'd like to build 2 CR and 2 Vocal booth with a really efficient isolation - Each CR should be big enough for at least 3 to 5 persons - we should acces to each CR independantly, if possible, but I don’t want to use sliding doors. - Each CR are equiped with only a few things : A pro tools LE with a digi002 and a command 8, a monitor console (like a mackie Onys 1220), a 7 unit rack (for the Pre-amp, a compressor, the digi002 rack...etc) and maybe a box for the computer (or it could be in a technical room...). So I don’t need a big place for the work station (no BIG desk) Here are the critical points : - As you can see on the plan, there are 5 pillars : A massive one (concrete) and 4 small ones (metal, I think), and no-one of these can be removable. So I have to deal with it. As far as I know, to keep a good isolation, the poles have to stay out of the CR or the vocal booth, right ? - The height of the construction ceiling is 2.85 meters. But, as you can see on the plan, a third of the basement (the yellow area) is right under the hall (alley or walking path...I don’t know the good term...) of the building. It means that the main entrance of the building is right above the basement. We can hear the steps of the walkers (I don’t have a noise level meter yet, but I’ll buy one soon). So, do you think that I can get rid of those noises by building a “box in the box” studio. I’ll build a floating floor, of course, but do you think that an isolating ceiling will be good enough to get rid of the noise ? Is the height ok ? My budget is about 20.000 to 30.000 euros for the whole construction. Right now, I’m working on the design of the studio, but I’d be glad to know all your ideas. Any advice you can give me would be deeply appreciated. Thanks, Greg ps: I'll post some pictures of the room soon.

i think, depending on the frequency of the noise coming through, you could be successful with room-within-a-room construction. if you could take some measurements on the space - not just noise levels but actual frequencies (bring a laptop with Room EQ Wizard if necessary...) then it would hopefully become an exercise of finding the right workflow (since the higher frequency stuff is generally easier to handle). if you have a lot of loud low frequency noise, it will likely be much tougher.

Hi Gullfo, Thank tou for your reply. I'll try to do the measurements as soon as possible. I have observed the room this evening, and I think that the sound is coming inside because of the vents, and because ot the ceiling windows. In fact there are 5 ceiling windows, composed of small cubes of glass...So maybe can I isolate the windows and the vents to get rid of the noise. And I've drawn a placement for the control rooms and the vocal booth. Waht do you think about it ? As I said, any advice, or idea of design you can give me would be deeply appreciated. Thank you very much. Greg PS : I have done a mistake with a beam on my first plan. Now the right blue beam is at the correct place.

Hey Greg!

and because ot the ceiling windows. In fact there are 5 ceiling windows, composed of small cubes of glass...So maybe can I isolate the windows and the vents to get rid of the noise.

Could you get a picture of that ceiling with the windows in it? Much appreciated,

Hi everyone ! I've take some pictures this morning. Thanks Greg Ps: I'll send more pictures this afternoon if you want.

i would go with the room-within-a-room and seal off the windows above. i'd also arrange it into a pair of control room-and-booths with a machine room in the middle. the lounge - i'd turn into a post production room. people can lounge in the halls or between the two sets of control rooms.

Hi guys, I'm sorry but the last weeks were pretty busy...and I've a bad news. Due to a gaz pipe, I can't build anything in the local... So I've started to look for a new space in Paris. And I'm sure I'll be on this forum really soon. Thanks everyone ! Greg

I thought I smelled something...