John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum Archive

Hi all,

I have the opportunity to build a studio/jam room in my backyard. I'd like to make it as isolated as possible (within a budget of about 10K), so that I can record drum tracks and casually jam without causing the neighbours too much grief.

The structure will probably be about 5.5m x 6.5m (external) with a gable roof (about 2m at the walls and 3.5 at the peak) and the nearest neighbour is about 20m away.

I've been reading through Rod's book and looking through as many threads here as I can find on the subject of isolation and "soundproofing". I have a couple of questions about my specific situation that I haven't been able to find an answer for, which I hope that somebody here can help with.

Question 1:
With a MAM system, how do you address the external skin of the building? I want to build a decoupled room within a room, with 2 layers of drywall internally, but I don't think I want to put drywall on the outside, I'd have to then skin it with something weather proof? Or can I use a different material externally (weatherproof) with an equivalent mass to the 2 layers of drywall?

Question 2:
Can this structure be built on stumps and still be effective? (Cost and access to the site are a barrier to just pouring a concrete slab). If the outside and inside are fully airtight does the earth just act as mass?

I know my budget seems on the low side, but I am recycling a lot of materials (structural timber, windows, etc) I have left over from my house build and I will be doing all the construction myself. So I plan to use the cash for insulation and plaster (drywall).

If anyone has any thoughts/advice this would be much appreciated.

Thanks so much,
Jesse

Hi Jesse. Please read the forum rules for posting (click here). You seem to be missing a couple of things!

But a couple of quick answers:

Question 1:
With a MAM system, how do you address the external skin of the building? I want to build a decoupled room within a room, with 2 layers of drywall internally, but I don't think I want to put drywall on the outside, I'd have to then skin it with something weather proof? Or can I use a different material externally (weatherproof) with an equivalent mass to the 2 layers of drywall?

You can build the outer leaf any way you want: it does not have to be drywall. For the exterior of the building, it could be stucco, fiber-cement sheathing, brick, concrete, or any number of other things. As long as it has enough mass to do the job, and is extremely well sealed, then that's fine.

Can this structure be built on stumps and still be effective? (Cost and access to the site are a barrier to just pouring a concrete slab). If the outside and inside are fully airtight does the earth just act as mass?

What do you mean by "stumps"? As in tree stumps?

Basically, if you raise the floor off the ground in any way, then you trash your isolation. Even a concrete slab raised off the ground has much worse isolation that the same slab on the ground.

I know my budget seems on the low side, but I am recycling a lot of materials (structural timber, windows, etc) I have left over from my house build and I will be doing all the construction myself. So I plan to use the cash for insulation and plaster (drywall).

... and doors, and windows, and the slab, and the HVAC system, and the electrical system, and the caulk, and the Green Glue, and the acoustic treatment, and the finish floor, and the lighting, and... US$ 270 per square meter won't go very far to doing all that...

I'd re-think your budget. Even if you do have a lot of materials, and the right tools, and do all of the building yourself, 10k is tight.


- Stuart -

Thanks for your reply Stuart.

Sorry I missed some stuff (Everything I thought I missed I either don't know or don't have). What should I have done?

Question 1: That clears that up. Thanks!

Question 2: I meant a structure sitting on "stilts" or "piers", "stumps" is what Australians call it.

This is what I was thinking:
But what I gather anyway is that it's no good. I'll have to shell for the slab.

Thanks again for your prompt and thorough reply, it is very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Jesse

Sorry I missed some stuff (Everything I thought I missed I either don't know or don't have). What should I have done?

It's all in the forum rules for posting (click here). Especially the part in big blue letters, about half way down the page... Plus a few other points...

But what I gather anyway is that it's no good. I'll have to shell for the slab.

If you want decent isolation, yes. But you didn't say how much you want (point number 5 on the list of forum rules.... ) so we don't know if you need that or not.

- Stuart -

Wow. That is annoying. I read the rules first up and filled it all in before I posted and somehow didn't submit it. I was thinking "what's he on about?", then I noticed no info in my profile. Anyway, apologies.

Yeah I didn't think I could be specific about the levels because none of this exists yet. My drums are in storage 'till I build this thing. But I don't play metal so it's not super loud, just rock/country/folk and mostly drums on their own (recording). Other than the occasional 3 person jam, always at reasonable times of the day.

I realise that the above is exactly what the rules say is useless info. sorry. I wasn't really looking for specifics though, more general guidance. Mostly wether that floor thing would ruin everything.

Thanks heaps,

Jesse

So after going around and around on this, I've now got a shipping container on site and will be attempting to isolate that.

It's air-tight at least. And I've seen it successfully executed at least once before.

I've now got a shipping container on site .... I've seen it successfully executed at least once before.

Maybe that was right here on the forum?

http://johnlsayers.com/Pages/Spark_1.htm

I'm looking forward to seeing your plans for the studio, and following the build process. It would be great to have another Container Studio here on the forum.


- Stuart -