New Studio Build – Need help and Advise

Hi, We are building a new studio from scratch, and would like to ask your professional opinion. We would like: Control Room Drum Booth Vocal Booth Live Room And if possible some kind of green room, toilet/kitchen facility The space we have is not overly large so this may not be possible. Here is an overview of the garden area, with studio position, as well as an approximation of the studio size and design. Does this look OK? Or can someone see a different way of doing things to better use the space. We cannot have any doors on the bottom edge, as this is at the back of the garden, however we would like a free flow into and through the studio. Thanks very much! P.S. As we are still designing,. We may post other ideas that we have come up with as we go Sorry to open a new thread with this, but felt it would be better to start the debate on the right foot

Hai there, next time just EDIT your original post instead of posting 2 identical threads. ok?

Hi, The Other Post was getting messy, and wasn't really relevant anymore, I have asked for it to be deleted. In my opinion better to open a new one that starts correctly.... maybe not?

I understand your argument. Did you know you can EDIT your post? Just click that button, and clear your test within the post. That's all to it. Ohwell, too late. Welcome to the forum

Hi, Yes I did, and have used it a number of times to correct spelling mistakes :) Thanks! it’s good to be here! Could I ask your views on the current designs..?

My design skills r NOTHING compered to GULLFO's :) (altho I'm quit handy with SketchUp myself I'm waiting for him to drop in and prompt one of his great drawings)

No worries, Thanks Ro.

just a question - how will someone haul there drum kit into the studio? looks like a lot of distance to cover through the garden or back fields... :shock: also, what is the basis for the triangular building instead of a rectangle? land size? existing foundation? coolness? :wink:

Hi Glenn, Good to hear from you. Wish i could say it was for coolness 8) , because i think it is, but no... it's because of the shape of garden. This is really the maximum amount of room we can use. Leaving enough space for a path down the side, and a rear garden for the studio. You're right thou, the garden is very long :!: hopefully it will just make people appreciate getting into the studio more :wink:

i think you might be better off with fewer small rooms...

Hi, Thanks Glenn. Very nice! However, I’m not sure about having the toilet door coming into the control room, because of smells…? Also, do you think there would be any way of having an area to make cups of tea etc, or do you think that would be pushing it due to the size? Thanks again Alex

two words: vent fan! :shock: best bet would be to mark off the site with some sticks and string to see how the room sizes and layout play... maybe a small table in the back of the CR with a teapot and coffee maker? by the outside door so people can grab one on the way out for a smoke...

touche That’s a good idea, and will be doing that once the old building has been Sold. I really like your plan, It’s roomy, and I like the angles. However, A friend of ours has come up with this. What do you think? Maybe we’ll put the toilet door on the outside, as I’m not sure it’s a good idea to have people going through the live room. Cheers

i definitely don't like square rooms... where would you put the monitors? the doors in the front of the room could be problematic... that said, the layout works for me but i'd adjust rooms to be better ratios and consider equipment location, seating etc. for the CR.

Hi, yes i agree... Would be better to have a larger control room.... Maybe a design like yours, but with the control room flipped over, so the toilet is at the top. Then have people enter from that side. Your Vocal booth can be a vestibule..... but then we need to figure out where to have a vocal booth....?

Something like this... But need a Vocal booth.... :?:

The last plan is looking good. How Noisy is the neighbourhood and how tight is your budget? The reason for the last question is thinking about putting double doors on the vestibule to the outside and the control room so that it can be used as a vocal booth. If you have not thought of it yet, install a positive pressure ventilation system into the vestibule/vocal booth. You don't want the smells of hot electronics to get into the toilet.:shock: Thinking: Andre

Hi, I'm not quite sure what you mean? are you taking about "Gullfo copy.jpg"? Surely if we use the vestibule as a vocal booth, eveyone would either be shut out, or stuck in? sorry... i don't follow? p.s. the neighbourhood is fairly quiet... we're out in the country :)

i think this layout works well.

AlexHoward wrote:

Hi, I'm not quite sure what you mean? are you taking about "Gullfo copy.jpg"?

Yes

Surely if we use the vestibule as a vocal booth, eveyone would either be shut out, or stuck in?

Yes, when needing all three acoustic spaces. How often will occur? When doing overdubs, it would provide a third acoustic to chose from. When recording, all people are "locked" into their spaces.

p.s. the neighbourhood is fairly quiet... we're out in the country :)

Great. So you do not have to worry about outside sound getting into your recordings. The concern is sound bothering the neighbors. Andre

AVare wrote:

Yes, when needing all three acoustic spaces. How often will occur? When doing overdubs, it would provide a third acoustic to chose from. When recording, all people are "locked" into their spaces.

That's True, but when it does accur it's going to be a pain. Here's another idea...

We Like this. If anyone can see a way of jiggling it around, then please advise. The next problem is going to be sound proofing. The walls are 100mm thick, which is the width of the Sipcrete we are thinking of using http://www.sipcrete.com/ however, we are unsure how well this stuff works for isolation. From what i've read the general idea seems to be: insulated drywall with double sheets of plasterboard...? however, this probably isn't correct... Could someone please advise the best way of doing this? Thanks

i've sent an inquiry regarding acoustic data as I couldn't find any on their site... you might want to look at the NRC IR 761 (www.nrc.ca/irc/ircpubs) regarding framed wall construction instead as there is significant amounts of valid data.

Excellent! Thanks Glenn. I did the same so i guess lets wait for their results, if there is any....

That sipcrete stuff looks pricey/fiddly. Would be much more economical to use solid 100mm concrete blocks, You can get them delivered by the palletload and they are relatively cheap. They will be a bugger to haul down the garden though, but you might be able to hire a mini dumper to get them down the garden, or have a word with the farmer, he might hire you the services or his tractor :wink: *You probably know this next bit already* Another thing you should think about is building regs and planning permission. You will almost certainly need planning as you are increasing the size of the current structure. And as you will be installing toilet, electrics etc, building regs will most certainly apply. Could be a costly exercise to demo the building because you didn't use correct footings etc