New to Forum: Humbly Request Assistance w/ Home Studio Plan

[sonicsilk]

This is my first post to this forum. I am certain you hear this often: this site is the most informative site that I have found regarding studio design. I am greatly appreciative that such a forum exits. I thank you for your help in advance.

I have derived the attached plan after reviewing scores of studio plans online. This plan had to balance both my studio needs and my wife's need for additional storage space.

The 1st room on the right is my wife's closet with A/C unit in 2'x2' area in corner. The room to left of hall is the recording room (ie. drums, mic'd guitar amps, percussion, acoustic guitar, and vocals). The room at end of hall is the control room. The control room ceiling will be approximately 7' in the front and gradually increase to 8' at the back to help to eliminate mode problems between the ceiling and floor.

You will notice that there is no vocal booth. I don't feel as though I need one. My living room (not pictured in drawing) is a good open vocal room and is extremely functional with the utilization of properly placed gobos due to its 20' ceilings and wide open floorplan with partial hardwood and carpet for flooring. I have cut very good vocals in this room already. 2nd I feel as though I could cut vocals effectively in the control room and the live room with gobos to adjust the amount of live/dead ambience.

The small square in the closet (at the bottom right) is the A/C unit. It will most likely draw return air from the hall through the closet. However, I am uncertain how to handle the return air in the live and recording rooms.

Drawing/Design Color Code and other relevant data:

Red walls are existing exterior brick walls. Dark blue walls are the existing standard 2x4 stud walls with one layer of 1/2" drywall/sheetrock -and 1/8" sheathing on the outide edge of the studs (Currently no insulation in the walls of the garage). Grey Walls are proposed walls. Light blue line at top is existing 7' tall steel garage door that will remain in place to meet deed restriction requirements. Ceiling is 8' from floor comprised of 1/2" drywall screwed to 2x8 ceiling joists. Roof is a standard hip roof with 1/2" decking and composition shingles. Attic space is vented via 3"x12" vents in soffit along exterior perimiter approximately every 12 feet of exterior of garage.

Questions:

***** 1) How do I vent the supply and the return air in the live and recording rooms without an A/C pressure problem or too much sound leakage (ie. drums, etc) ?

***** 2) Is the live room (as drawn) adequate to eliminate sound transmission into the house and into the neighborhood considering the use of very loud (50 to 100 W) guitar amps and drums in this room? This is an extremely important issue to me?

***** 3) Would the existing ceiling (if insulated from above) be adequate related to the sound transmission issue? If so, how much insulation above would be required.

***** 4) Can any member of this forum run calculations on the two rooms to determine if there are any mode problems associated with the rooms?

***** 5) If mode problems do exist would the solution be change in the room design or just suggested acoustic treatments.

***** 6) Can anyone suggest acoustic treatments?

***** 7) Would the control room be adequate for mastering (assuming recommended acoustic treatments?

***** 8 ) What is the optimum angle of the splayed walls in the front, back and sides of the control room for mixing and mastering?

***** 9) Would the control room be adequate for mixing 5.1 surround?

***** 10) I currently use Pro Tools HD3 with high-end mics, preamps, EQ's, and Compressors monitored through 16 24bit/192k converters through a Dangerous 2 Bus (16x2 analog bus) and a Coleman Passive Monitoring system. I use Mackie 824's for monitors (in near field mode). Would it be advisable to purchase monitors intended for flush mounting if I want to be able have a better picture of the sound when mixing/mastering projects in the control room? If so, which monitors, which amps, approx. cost?

***** 11) What type of doors should be utilized in order to minimize sound transmission?

***** 12) Any suggestions on "must have" books covering the questions above?


Your help is greatly appreciated in advance.

Thank you,

Harry Olson

[tmix]

Hey Harry!
Just along for the ride!

[sonicsilk]

Bump

[John Sayers]

Hi Harry - sorry I missed your post.

There's a lot of questions - seems to me you haven't read any of this forum or done any searches - Please read up before you post a whole heap of questions that have usually been answered previously.

cheers
john