Newbie questions - starting out

[gherkin]

Hi folks, I'm a newbie (sheesh, so many of us!!) to studio design , although I've been recording for many years.

I've just moved from a rented house in which I had a project studio (lined the walls with removable panels) to our own place with a reasonable area downstairs for my project setup.

As with everyone, budget is a key factor, and as yet, I havent drawn any detailed plans. (I am still at a very basic stage with SmartDraw, and will spend some time on it this week to elaborate on my ideas.

In my basic layout, do the basic dimensons seem like a good starting point?

I have plugged the numbers into various Room Mode calculators, and am still not really sure what I'm seeing.

I plan to go for a splayed wall room, and will float a floor in the Studio area (concrete floored garage).

The ceiling height is 2.290 meters.

I guess I was curious as to your initial reactions to the general dimensions, and suggestions as to how to move forward from here.

I have been lurking for a while, and will continue to digest the various threads and articles relevant to "Studio Newbies 101"

Thanks to all for your comments, sorry for the long post!!!

Cheers


Geoff

[gherkin]

Hi again,

OK, after reading about a million pages of text and examining loads of images posted here, I have started to develop some ideas for the potential layout of my space.

Firstly, sorry for the waste of bandwidth initial post. I have learned enough to get a basic plan happening by just reading (and reading.. and reading!) so, yeah, sorry for the wasted bandwidth. righto.........

1. The Studio floor

The studio is a concrete garage, and at the moment the floor level is about 2 feet lower than the floor level of the CR. There are 3 steps going down into the garage.

I was thinking of using a floated floor, raised so that there is just one step down in level into the Studio.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Am I better off keeping the Studio floor lower, to get more ceiling height, or am I better off floating the floor higher, for better isolation? (ie more absorption under the flooring)


2. Control Room

- for splayed walls, the consensus seems to agree that 6 degrees seems to be an acceptable minimum, so I am feeling like I'll start with that.


- is the room long enough to warrant diffusion on the back wall? I was thinking bass trapping and absorption, but if anyone has any thoughts Id be interested.


- there is already a cupboard in the control room which I was thinking I could use to house my computers. I would be thinking of a 15mm smoked glass door, and because the rear of the cupboard winds along behind the wall, I could install fans to remove the heat / circulate airflow. Would the glass at this point in the room cause any potential reflection problems?

- I was thinking of suspending ceiling clouds to control roof reflections...



OK, I am off to browse and scour for more info, but here is an updated picture.

Thanks for any insight!!


cheers

Geoff

[John Sayers]

With a bit of change to your existing walls could you consider something like this - the control room is a better proportion (wider) and you get two booths.

cheers
john

[gherkin]

Thanks for the reply John!

I like the idea of 2 booths, one of the difficulties I am facing is that the existing wall structures define one existing room, and one existing garage, with different floor depths. The floor in the garage is 3 steps down into it, if that makes sense. So opening up that space requires a new floor to be put in the garage part (studio).

Would raising the floor to the same level as the existing floor cause any obvious problems?

Thanks again for your help!

cheers

Geoff

[John Sayers]

Shouldn't be a concern if you raise the garage floor to the same level. Where you remove the walls between the rooms place a beam over to support the ceiling. a 10" x 3" (250 x 75mm) would do it.

cheers
john

[gherkin]

cool, thanks again John. I will look into options for dealing with the floor.

You don't think I can use the exisiting layout to any useful degree?

(Just trying to examine my options - bear with me!!!)

I can see how the control room benefits from the size increase, but the live room loses some of its size... How would drums fare in such a small space? (I suppose either space is relatively small...hmmm)

I am also playing with some ideas based on putting the control room where it is on my original drawing, but facing to the right into the studio, with a small booth where the couch used to be. I'll post it as soon as I finish it....


Thanks again John!



cheers

Geoff

[John Sayers]

Geoff - both designs will work - I'm just offering alternatives - I can't help myself :)

cheers
john

[gherkin]

Thanks John!!!

I have been looking at a design, maybe a bit like this...

Slightly smaller control room (which doesn't bother me in that I usually only work with one or two people present at a time, not really big bands etc)

This idea gives me a booth, and a bigger space for vocal group and/ or drums. Plus, I can biff a couch in there and use the space as a 'waiting' , loitering, girlfriend chatting' type space while mixing....


Any thoughts?


I have decided that the diagonal, level the garage floor idea is probably a bit ambitious for my a) budget and b) timeframe.


anyway, any thoughts, as always, most welcome!!!!

All the best for Christmas and New Year !

cheers


Geoff

[John Sayers]

The only problem I have with that is you appear to be facing the wrong way - windows and doors at the rear like that are a problem.

Why not flip the control room vertically and enter via the booth - then through a door between the speakers??

cheers
john

[gherkin]

Thanks John!

I will revise the ideas to incorporate facing the right way!!

I didn;t realise the window behind you was a problem, thanks for that!



many thanks!!

gotta run - surf is pumping - cheers


Geoff