Echo Bar Recording Studio Build Diary

Discuss studios designed and built by others.

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ricotrex
Posts: 62
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:58 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Echo Bar Recording Studio Build Diary

Post by ricotrex »

Hello All,

My name is Erik Reichers. I have recently finished building my studio in North Hollywood, CA. Well, almost finished, I still have a few things left to do. I guess I'm about 90% done. Anyway, I have utilized the information on this forum and other sites to help me achieve my goal. I did not post things while I was building and perhaps to my detriment, however I am very satisfied with the way my studio has turned out. I learned so much from this forum that I thought I owe it to this community to share my photo journal. Perhaps it will be of use to others in their research?!

First, I want to say thank you to John. Without your knowledge, experience, and generosity for sharing with all of us, my studio would never have been built. I also want to say thank you to everyone else for your contributions no matter how great or small. I can't tell you how many hours I went sifting through post after post to find that one crucial piece of information that helped me move forward with my studio.

I have a lot of photos to share. Hopefully they will provide for good discussion among the members and readers here. Keep in mind I am not posting them in real time. My build is done. Wether I got things right or wrong the point is for everyone to learn something from my successes and mistakes. So keep in mind, "Shoulda, coulda, woulda!"
Last edited by ricotrex on Thu Nov 10, 2011 5:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
ricotrex
Posts: 62
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:58 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Echo Bar Recording Studio Build Diary

Post by ricotrex »

Here is the sketch up design for the studio. It went through many revisions but this was the most practical idea that I came up with.
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ricotrex
Posts: 62
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:58 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Echo Bar Recording Studio Build Diary

Post by ricotrex »

The best part about my sketchup plan was that it was to scale. I purchased a laser measurer and mapped out the existing perimeter of the building and built it into my computer model. Once I had a finished design, I took it to an architect who imported it into auto cad. He made some necessary adjustments and then we submitted it to the city for approval. Everything was permitted and up to code.

These are a few pictures of the building before I did the demo.
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incidentally the building was a former medical marijuana shop. Someone spent a lot of time hand painting this mural on the wall.
ricotrex
Posts: 62
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:58 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Echo Bar Recording Studio Build Diary

Post by ricotrex »

here is the full mural
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The building ended up having a lot of useful infrastructure. There were already 2 air conditioners on the roof and 2 ADA compliant bathrooms. I should also mention that the entire ceiling was insulated. this was a big bonus.
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Here are a few more shots before demo began.
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ricotrex
Posts: 62
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:58 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Echo Bar Recording Studio Build Diary

Post by ricotrex »

Before I began my demo I spent a day in the building with an SPL meter listening to and documenting the environmental noise. I took measurements from many different parts of the building. I made note of the loudest noises that occurred throughout the day. This was important so that I could build accordingly for noise reduction.
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I really did spend all day in the building!
ricotrex
Posts: 62
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:58 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Echo Bar Recording Studio Build Diary

Post by ricotrex »

This is day 1 of DEMO!
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I did all the demo solo! I used a big heavy hammer called "The annihilator" It made my top 10 list of favorite tools to use during my build!
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This is the very 1st hole I made in the wall.
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It grew and grew!
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I did all this destruction with one hammer! It was a great stress relief!
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Last edited by ricotrex on Thu Nov 10, 2011 5:05 pm, edited 2 times in total.
ricotrex
Posts: 62
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:58 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Echo Bar Recording Studio Build Diary

Post by ricotrex »

I had 3 main walls to knock down. None of them were load bearing. I spent about 5 days on DEMO!
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I rented a 20 yard dumpster and had the debris disposed.
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ricotrex
Posts: 62
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:58 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Echo Bar Recording Studio Build Diary

Post by ricotrex »

Finally onto a few fun details. This was the first shipment of supplies that came to the studio. This was a pallet of 1" by 1" by 3' long wooden dowels from Madison Mills in Nashville.
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What are these for you might be asking? They are for my custom diffusors that I made for my back wall of my control room.
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This a sketchup design of one of the diffusors. It is to scale.
I had to cut each and every single piece for these diffusers. here is a document for the frequency range and lengths for each piece.
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Overall there was 2600 linear feet that I had to cut. It took me 17 hours to measure and cut all the pieces I needed for my diffusers.
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ricotrex
Posts: 62
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:58 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Echo Bar Recording Studio Build Diary

Post by ricotrex »

The easy part was cutting the wood. The hard part was gluing them in sequence without shooting myself!
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These took me a week to make.
They came out great!
ricotrex
Posts: 62
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:58 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Echo Bar Recording Studio Build Diary

Post by ricotrex »

More photos to come!
BriHar
Senior Member
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Location: Turbenthal, Switzerland

Re: Echo Bar Recording Studio Build Diary

Post by BriHar »

They're looking for people like you for the City Planning Commision! :lol:

Seriously, they look good. Will you finish them in laquer or a nice bright acrylic?

Hope you took a nice rest after that stint.
Brian
As you slide down the bannister of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way...
ricotrex
Posts: 62
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:58 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Echo Bar Recording Studio Build Diary

Post by ricotrex »

Hey Brian,

Actually I left them "al natural" they work nice with the color scheme in my control room. I didn't have much time to rest because the framing crew came the next day.
Here is a shot of the lumber being dropped off. This was a happy day. It felt like progress was being made finally after so much time planning.
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ricotrex
Posts: 62
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:58 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Echo Bar Recording Studio Build Diary

Post by ricotrex »

Here are some shots of the framing crew chalking out where the sole plates and walls were built.
This was really neat to see because it was exactly like my sketchup model that I designed.

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ricotrex
Posts: 62
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2010 3:58 pm
Location: Los Angeles

Re: Echo Bar Recording Studio Build Diary

Post by ricotrex »

Also, it is worth mentioning that prior to framing I went around the existing perimeter of the building and filled and sealed all cracks with backer rod and caulk as well as filling in any holes in the concrete with quickcrete. I also added another layer of drywall with green glue to the dividing wall that separates me from my neighbor.
RJHollins
Senior Member
Posts: 437
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 2:13 pm
Location: Orchard Park, NY

Re: Echo Bar Recording Studio Build Diary

Post by RJHollins »

Very much enjoy the pics & description on your build Erik !!!

Only wish you would've been here [posting] during the planning & design phase.

Look forward to the continuing documentary :)

Sincerely.
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