Hello, and Questions

Hi everyone, my name is Nick (as you've probebly guessed from my username. I only just registered on this forum, but I've been reading for maybe 3 or 4 months, and there's some pretty great stuff on here. Anyways, my mate and I have begun leasing a commercial space, and we're building a studio over the next couple of months. Before we start, I have a couple of niggling questions... Here's some background on the space, if it helps at all... Concrete floors and ceilings, iron panel walls (as you can imagine, not that soundproof! Fortunately, the suites surrounding ours are used only for storage so we dont have to be super soundproof (don't flame me for using the word soundproof...I do realise it doesnt exist!) 1. What are some common door constructions for studios? I don't see the point in making fantastic walls if the door is a weak spot... 2. I am planning on building both a control room and a live room in the space. The walls will be made from 70*35 stud pine, finished in 2 layers of gyprock (drywall). Will i get less or more transmittion through the walls if i finish both sides of the frames? I ask because I have heard that if you cover both sides of the frame the gyprock sheets will cause resonances and the isolation will be worse? Thanks guys, just ask if you need more information. Nick

Hey Nick - Welcome to the forum. Carve out an hour or two and read through all these FAQ's: http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewt ... 7fca965c42 There is a WEALTH of info here that all the pros have put together. Once you've gone through, then ask some more pointed questions. Hope this helps.

nickfranklin wrote:

Anyways, my mate and I have begun leasing a commercial space, and we're building a studio over the next couple of months. Before we start, I have a couple of niggling questions...

Nick, believe me when I tell you this - a 1/2 way decent studio could take a couple of months for a professional studio architect to design and detail - and seeing as you and your mate don't even have the most basic understanding of the construction - and shouldn't begin building without a design - I think the 2 of you should take a deep breath along with a reality check. Unless you want to throw your money away building something that no one is going to enjoy recording in - and still be stuck paying for your rental agreement without any income - I suggest you spend some serious time reading and learning - I say this because the first questions you asked are more basic than we are used to encountering here.. From where you are right now - you could spend the next 6 months just figuring things out unless you hire a pro to do your design for you - and even then you would probably be 4 months from starting (never mind building it in the next couple months) by time you line everything up. Good luck, Rod

Rod is right. I'm a carpenter with plenty of building experience. But once you start thinking of building (even a VERY simple) studio, it takes a lot of time invested in researching, reading, planning, seeking pro opinions, asking questions, and repeating these steps about hundred times. Rod has put together a fantastic book that is a MUST have. Suggest you pick it up. This is not a sales push for Rod, but getting this book will save you time, money & aggravation. I've been planning (and I stress "planning") my studio for close to 10 years - as it all started with a drawing on a napkin. Then I joined this forum 3 years ago and have been reading. I thought I knew what I was doing - with my construction experience and all. Then it came time to start. I wanted a VERY SIMPLE (almost "rule-breaking") design. This quickly was abandoned in favor of doing it the right way. My budget tripled, I had to take apart things, hire people and wait until I got more money. BUT - I was not about to waste my time and complete something only to find out that sound leaks from every possible place imaginable. And forget sound leakage, you NEED to be concerned with codes. They're there to protect you against fire, structural failure, etc... So there's alot to think about in beginning a project - especially a project this "specialized". I would start by reading those basic FAQ's that Steve ("Knightfly") put together, and buy Rod's book. Then I would start reading through EVERY "build diary" you can find on this site. I can't begin to tell you how much I've learned from reading these. Hope this helps - and the best of luck.

Here's a link to the Canada mortgage and housing co. with information that they have gathered on door ratings, gaskets and such. As I understand it, concrete is what to shot for. It yields better results, all things considered. Looking forward to your build,

[quote] Nick, believe me when I tell you this - a 1/2 way decent studio could take a couple of months for a professional studio architect to design and detail - and seeing as you and your mate don't even have the most basic understanding of the construction - and shouldn't begin building without a design - I think the 2 of you should take a deep breath along with a reality check. [quote] I appreciate what you're saying mate, I really do, and thanks for the input. We actually have been designing the studio for quite a long time (a year and a half aroundabouts) and we're not far off a pretty decent design. There are some details about construction that I'll be the first to admit I dont know about, for example, doors, and hence I asked. Thanks for the input though, thanks. Nick