John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum Archive

Hi Guys.
I think I have adquired some knowledge here in order to start my new (small) studio.
My budget is pretty tight (as always) but hopefully I'll make it work ($4000 US) anyway, the work needed isnt much since the existing house is made of 20cm concrete, and I already got 2 adjacent rooms for Control Room and small recording room use.
Logically, I won't record drums, but vocals, acoustic guitars and loud guitar and bass amplifiers, thats why I'm going to completely isolate the recording room with a box in a box construction. It has a door and a window to the outside, and one inner door to the main hall. I will block the outer window and door in order to avoid headaches.
Later, in the control room, I will only treat it to cosmetic purposes, since my monitoring level is not loud enough and because the recording room will be the one thats going to be completely isolated. Since I have an existing concrete wall, I wanna avoid 3 leaf issues and reduce my budget.

I've attached a sketchup model for the recording room. The control room isnt modeled yet, but its pretty clear on my head. I will basically put laminated floor and a black tile (acoustic) ceiling . Also, I will remove the existing ceiling (something similar to GB) and put insulation between the 2nd floor joists, then, below that, I will put the tile ceiling, angled 12 or 6 degrees. Also, I already have 6 bass traps and 2 unidirectional diffusors i will use on the control room. I'm considering leaving the front wall absorptive as well, So i might create a small 2x2 framing on the front wall, filled with insulation and cover it with fabric.

On the sketchup model you can see almost all details of the iso booth, also the acoustic treatment: One absortptive wall covered with cloth. One big corner bass trap and one angled slot resonator (the wood component on the opoosite wall of the door)
I'm going to build a MDF door for the inner room designed by Ro, and probably leave the existing outer room door, If it isnt enough I will just build 2 doors.

My intention on this thread doesnt have any specific questions at all. just to post my design here and if I did something wrong I hope any of you guys will shime in and let me know. I will post pictures of the build as well, so new members or other guys can inspire or learn from this (like I did from other builds)

So . wish me good luck, and if you got some time take a look on the SKP file and give me your comments.


Cheers. Javier

It was too big for the forum so I uploaded it on yousendit
https://www.yousendit.com/download/dVlw ... eUxIRGc9PQ

I will expire tho, So if someone can upload it or tell me where to upload it , would be great!

Cheers
Javier

here it is Javier.
before you save a .skp file it's a good idea to go to:

window/model info/statistics/purge unused.
whenever you pull a component into a drawing sketchup saves it within the .skp file. If you don't use it in the model it's still there. Purging erases components and materials you don't use. So your file came down to 450k.

Thanks John!!!

I'd do it like this Javier.

Wow
That looks very good!
Thanks for taking the time!

A couple of questions regarding your design:
-
The way I see it, is that you left the window wall the absorptive wall, instead of the opossite wall (in my design, I left the opossite wall absorptive, and the window wall reflective) In that case, I shall put insulation between the first frames and existing wall, GB boards, then more insulation and cover it with cloth. Then, the opossite window is finished with the last GB layer. Also, on each corner I should do the same. Actually it makes much more sense than mine! Correct me if I'm not mistaken

- Im going to use steel studs for the main framing. So should I keep using steel studs for the "inner" double framming (for treatment) or use timber frames in front of the steel studs? (I guess it wont matter, but from an experience perspective, it may be easier to straple coth on wood framing)

Also, since the i'm not going "inside out" for building reasons (its just tooooo complicated to assembly). I will have to join the second framing over the gypsum boards (attached to the first framing) so the inner framing would be screwed ACROSS the GB into the outer framing. right?

Thanks again and I'm donating now..

javier - you need to have the wall behind the singer the absorption wall because that is the wall his mike is pointing at. For the window wall I would use the depth to have reflective slots - that's the wall the singer sings at.

I used 70 x 45 wooden studs. I don't like steel studs in studios.

cheers
john

I think I gotcha!
I actually edited the last post since I added some more comments about it. dunno If you already read them or not ( i just edited a min before u replyied) so maybe you could read it again..

Anyway, is there a chance you could place the GB boards on the window wall where they should be? That double framing confuses me a lil bit


PS: Did you receive donation.

Thanks again

leave it with me and I'll build it in sketchup for you. You must go inside/out in such a small room.

I can't believe that.
Thanks so much!!!
I'm gonna stay in this place for a long time so its great to know its going to have your ideas in it. I dont have words to thank you

PD: 70 x 45 would be 2x3" studs? We use imperial here for timber...

yes - 3 x 2 studs.

this is what I mean.
cheers
john

Im so impressed
Can I say thanks again??
That looks absolutely fabulous!!!

Some comments:

1. On the "Q.jpg" pic, Did you leave the drywalling on purpose like that? Because one side of the framing doesnt have drywall there, like the other side.
Also, should the studs be exposed like that in the same pic? Maybe the back drywall should cover the entire space. Please correct me if im wrong.

2. Regarding the slot walls: Should I fill entirely the space with insulation,or leave it empty like in the model.



About the CR.
This is the front wall idea (2nd pic) I had in mind for the control room. No plans to use soffits tho ( I have two sets of monitors that sometimes I flip over btw over the console's and stands)
Its just some wood framing to hold insulation together, then will be covered on cloth (front) and slot on the sides.

Like I mentioned before, I already own 6 bass trap panels and 2 unidirectional diffusers that I plan to put at each side of the back wall.
Also, I want to put two diffusers flush mounted on the steel framing for the acoustic tile ceiling

Doing angled false walls for the rest of the room would take too much space IMO. I have a nice red couch that I need to place and my clients should have plenty of space

I think thats my only concerns to start the build !


God bless you

here's the ceiling.
now study how I've built it and apply the same ideas to the CR.

cheers
john

John, (or anyone)
Does it not flank noise through the studs when building inside/out ? Since you have to lift the entire framing, there is one side of stud that doesnt have any mass at all. You know what i mean?
Is that a big issue?

javier - all the studs do is hold up the drywall which is your isolation leaf.