John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum Archive

Hey all. Construction is coming along nicely. The builders are working a good 8-9 hours a day to get things done. The placement is in the bottom side of a garage, and takes up about 2/3 of the actual garage area. The control room is a comfy 14x12x9 high feet and the live room is 14x16x9 high ft. It's not big, but feels comfortable to work in. Anyway, I've finally finished up most of my wiring design in the studio. I use a Digi 002R system, and I plan on having the 16 channels of the snake box permanently installed into specified inputs, automatically routed through specific processors. Simple clean design. I dont have much out-board gear anyway, just a few pres and compressors. Like I said, specified input on the snake box in the live room will be labeld as to what each line connects to. Simple.

BUT here's where I really needed help. In order to save the track for the garage door, I decided to build the wall under the door's track. Outside it would look a little funky (of course, its in a garage anyway - it doesnt matter), but on the inside, the over-hang would provide a lower ceiling directly above the sofa in the back. The room is symetrical except for the door. (I'm working on designs for future acoustical tuning...wait to bash me later for having a rectangular room). This is the space I had to work with, so I think this was the best option for a design to utilize the space the best. Anyway.

The design consists of the higher ceiling dropping down a little over 2 feet, and then staight back 4 feet. (Refer to the pictures) This leaves just enough headroom for a nice cozy little over-hang for the sofa in the back. Great.

Now my concerns are in the 2 ft wall that I have created behind the mix position. Will this cause a significant amount of slap-back relection? Will it cause bass-buildup behind the mix position? The other concern is now the wall that will be behind the sofa, now with yet another bass-collecting spot behind it at the 90 degree angle. Essentially, I have created double the problems that anyone has with a square ceiling and wall that meets at a 90 degree angle behind the mix position.

Or have I?

Perhaps I could use this to my advantage? I could install rising clouds that began at the jutted-out ceiling, or even slot resonators, or even a diffusion system, or hell, even solid studio absorbtion foam all along there. But one thing that I am really trying to keep in mind with this is the high-class look I'm trying to acheive.

More questions concerning studio design and acoustics will follow, I'm sure! So please be patient with the amature. Thanks all!

Another picture for another view. This is the area of concern right now. Another thought I had concerned lighting back in the cozy little over-hang. Maybe just a few eye-balls along the back wall, simply accent lighting. I really don't want any direct lighting back there, all indirect for that warm feeling. Any thoughts?

Perhaps I could use this to my advantage? I could install rising clouds that began at the jutted-out ceiling, or even slot resonators, or even a diffusion system, or hell, even solid studio absorbtion foam all along there. But one thing that I am really trying to keep in mind with this is the high-class look I'm trying to acheive.

you've got it - an angled ceiling is a good idea. Why is it four feet deep?? does the door roll back into the whole space??

any chance of a plan of what you intend to do?

cheers
john

Thanks for the reply John. Actually, yes, the door does roll back into the entire space. We were attempting to salvage the space for yard tools and lawnmowers, etc. It looks like it worked out pretty well. That's why it comes out 4 feet. That's the way it is, so that's how it's gotta be. It makes it nice and cozy over the couch anyway. I like it on the inside.

John, you are suggesting that I could use this lowered ceiling to my advantage? In what ways could I shape it with hanging clouds or absorbers to provide the best acoustics possible? Remember, the ceiling is only 9 feet high. Because of this, I have thought of simply installing absorbtion foam to cover the 2ft drop. What other ideas might you have?

By the way, I'll have some new pictures tonight of the latest construction.

Bump?

well you could use angled clouds or even small hangers in that spac like this

cheers
john

John, is this a common design for the ceiling? clouds? what about diffusion on the ceiling? where can I find these materials?

Sorry for all the questions. I've done a lot of searching on the forum and I seem to have run into a few unique problems. What other designs can you suggest, and how would I go about building it?

About an hour ago I stood in the middle of the soon-to-be control room. When I clapped, there was practically zero room ambience. Really just a nice clean sound, but not quite dead sounding. (Then again, I haven't even put up the wallboard yet!) But the room has all the insulation backing facing me. The room will most likely brighten up once the walls are finished. But when I clapped, I listened closely for quick reflections. Immediately, I noticed a tingy sound coming off the ceiling, almost as if there were a spring sound directly above my head anywhere I stood in the room. What is the best way to combat this?

Here's some pictures of the latest construction.

Bump, anyone?

spicyitaliano wrote:John, is this a common design for the ceiling? clouds? what about diffusion on the ceiling? where can I find these materials?

I'll handlke a couple of these, 1st slow your roll, when you put the drywall in the room will sound horrendous. I am telling you that so you won't panic. All you have done at this point is build the isolation part of a studio design, what is next is the treatment to make it into a REAL studio.

John's suggestion for your ceiling is to break up the floor to ceiling nodes and to give a very NICE place to put some bass trapping.

A diffussive ceiling would be bad for a control room. But ging with a more absorptive ceiling is a better ideal for your situation.

If you search the forum you will see and read the various recomendations for ceiling design. John just gave a you a case specific ides to give you great results. Run with it. That abosrptive ceiling will be your friend once you get all the drywall in and build it. Do you have a plan you can upload showing your treatment ideas? If so upload it and glean some advice or confirmation.

Bryan Giles