Studio build

[Will-K]

Hi there everyone, this is my first post... I have read through the rules & regulations, and hope that my post is found to be completely compliant of these.

I am currently in the process of planning the build of my recording studio here in London. I mainly produce electronic music & record vocals, so my main source of noise is what I play through my monitors. I will be building a control room, with a large vocal / drum booth, as well as a small lounge / waiting area with a desk. All in the space of around 400-450 sq ft.

The reason I don't have an accurate size is due to the fact I haven't got the keys to a unit yet... I have been to visit several units of all very similar dimensions etc but cannot put a deposit down until I have a plan together for building... (As I cannot afford to be paying rent without being in business for more than a month or so)

The building that the unit will be within, is an old brick-built warehouse building from the late 1800's, with 4 floors, which would've originally been open space, but has since been divided into business units with plasterboard stud walls. So any unit I take will be of around 400-450 sq ft, with a concrete floor & 3 internal plasterboard stud walls (with neighbouring businesses) & one external brick wall with huge victorian windows.

I have intended on building a room within a room, with 4 walls, like in the picture below (4 timber stud walls built directly onto the concrete floor with a ceiling resting on top of those walls, with one layer of 12mm plasterboard on each side...)



However, I'd like to attach one wall to the brickwork either side of a window, to allow an open window with fresh air in the control room... I'm not fussed about noise from traffic etc coming in... as it is a reasonably quiet location.

So, I have a neighbouring business unit on each side... The room will be built on one half of the space, so on one side, there will be my lounge area between the control room & neighbouring unit. On the other side, will be a gap of a few inches, between the control & the neighbouring unit.

So, here are my queries:

Between me & the neighbour on the closest side, will be the existing dividing wall, which is a timber stud frame with a sheet of plasterboard on each side, [Shown in diagram as purple wall] Then if i build a room which then consists of four walls of a timber stud frame with a layer of plasterboard on each side, would it be sound proof to a humanly inaudible level, so that the neighbours can't hear me?

Or should I still go for 2 layers of plasterboard on each side of the new walls? Or perhaps only put the 2 layers on each side of the wall that is on the side that faces the neighbouring wall?

I also wonder if sound transmission could be a problem through the concrete floor to the neighbouring units or the units below?

& lastly, by framing the wall around the window to tie it in with the outside brick wall, would that transmit sound along the brick wall to the other units? Or would that not really be an issue?

I have tried my best to describe, but I am aware that it may still be confusing… I do apologise. Hopefully the diagram will help

I'd like to thank you in advance for reading this & any advice you may give. It is highly appreciated.

Many thanks,

Will.

[gullfo]

Welcome! It might be better if isolation isn't a main requirement for you to simply make a good vox booth. Then the rest of the space will have more volume and possibly be easier to treat. Then you might only néed to add proper isolation walls on the shared walls - remove the existing drywall, add more mass inside, then your new wall with 2x 5/8 (16mm) drywall - I.e. A proper double leaf. For Structural transfer, you'd need to do tests to determine if it will be a problem or not.

[Will-K]

Hey, thank you ever so much for your response, I thought nobody had got back to me! Not sure how I missed it I am in the unit now, currently building away, logged in for some more info. I will certainly take your advice into the project.

Also, do you think people on here would be interested to see the build photos?

Thanks again,

Will.

[Roguejackal]

I would defiantly be interested I read all the builds on the construction forum.

[RJHollins]

Pix are Mandatory !!

And we like to see what happening

[Soundman2020]

Like we say around here: "No pics means it didn't happen". So since there are no pics yet, we don't believe you, yet! Nothing happened yet

- Stuart -

[Will-K]

Well, I guess I better get uploading some pics!

I'll organise some to hopefully go up tomorrow, so that you can admire my wonky handsaw cutting

[Cold]

Hi,
One point, if you are going to build internal isolation walls stop and do your research about multiple leaves. I think what you were initially proposing is a 4 leaf wall system.

Gulfo's solution is probably best though.
Did you set up a speaker in your area and go into your neighbors unit to check for how much isolation you need?

Steve

[Roguejackal]

Is this build happening mate or have you hit problems?

As i said before I read all the builds to get tips from pictures and from the advice the mods and others give to everyone.

[Will-K]

Hi RogueJackal, yep, it has happened! I'm pretty much complete now, It's been a hectic couple of months but I'm here now. All sweet. I'll be uploading the build photos soon!

[Will-K]

Hi guys. I'm back, almost 5 years later.

I had great difficulty trying to upload those photos back in December 2011. In fact I was unable to.

That studio did get completed and some good times were had there but not for long. I became quiet ill not long after and ended up having to sell the place only 18 months later in mid 2013. Gutting. Without banging on too much about poor me, I will say it took a couple of years after that to recover both physically from the illness and mentally from feeling as though I'd lost everything. But I am back.

I began building a new studio in January of this year, 2016, with a friend / business partner. It is in a newly built industrial unit, 1000 sq ft with 20 ft ceiling. We divided the space into 3 studios and a reception area. two of the studios are small project studios and we rent those out to tenants. The other studio is the main studio, where us two will be working.

We are at the point of acoustically treating the main studio now, for which I have been back on here browsing for ideas this week. I may even post about an issue we have with two corners (door in one corner, vocal booth window in other) sounds silly as we purpose built the room but it kinda had to happen that way... lol
I have photographed the whole build and will create a new post for it to show folks. I will also post the photos from the old studio.

I apologise for my absence and the shocking length of time it took to get back with photos of a studio I no longer own. I hope to become a better contributor to this wonderful forum.

Best regards,

Will.

[Will-K]

Hi guys. I'm back, almost 5 years later.

I had great difficulty trying to upload those photos back in December 2011. In fact I was unable to.

That studio did get completed and some good times were had there but not for long. I became quiet ill not long after and ended up having to sell the place only 18 months later in mid 2013. Gutting. Without banging on too much about poor me, I will say it took a couple of years after that to recover both physically from the illness and mentally from feeling as though I'd lost everything. But I am back.

I began building a new studio in January of this year, 2016, with a friend / business partner. It is in a newly built industrial unit, 1000 sq ft with 20 ft ceiling. We divided the space into 3 studios and a reception area. two of the studios are small project studios and we rent those out to tenants. The other studio is the main studio, where us two will be working.

We are at the point of acoustically treating the main studio now, for which I have been back on here browsing for ideas this week. I may even post about an issue we have with two corners (door in one corner, vocal booth window in other) sounds silly as we purpose built the room but it kinda had to happen that way... lol
I have photographed the whole build and will create a new post for it to show folks. I will also post the photos from the old studio.

I apologise for my absence and the shocking length of time it took to get back with photos of a studio I no longer own. I hope to become a better contributor to this wonderful forum.

Best regards,

Will.