John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum Archive

Hey there. I have attempted a rough draft with Sketchup. Please forgive me for the shotty draftsmanship, for this is the first time I have ever used drafting software. Despite the learning curve, I think I have come up with a decent layout for my studio, that will be built inside a metal building insulated with closed cell foam. I plan on using MSM isolation methods on all the interior walls. I know that I will have a third leaf because of the outside metal wall, but from what I have read, the metal wall would not serve as a good outer leaf. I will be recording loud drums and guitars, and my closest neighbor is about 100' away from the building. They are pretty laid-back, but I do not want to push it. A little drums is fine, a blast beat snare drum at 9 p.m. is not. I do have isolated power from my house. The building has a 10'w x8'h rollup metal door on one side. I plan on using this for equipment load into the storage area. Just wanting to bounce my plans off of someone that has more experience in studio design and construction before I start busting knuckles. Thanks

P.S. My budget is around 10,000 usd and I will be doing most of the work myself. I also plan on using a couple mini split A/C units as well as a ventilation fan of some sort.

Here is a little better pic of the layout.

I know that I will have a third leaf because of the outside metal wall, but from what I have read, the metal wall would not serve as a good outer leaf.

Probably right, but that sprayed-on foam insulation raises an interesting possibility: It provides good damping for the metal, and a good seal too, even though the foam doesn't have any useful acoustic properties, form the point of view of absorption, diffusion or mass. There might actually be something there, worth looking into...

The building has a 10'w x8'h rollup metal door on one side.

Blam! OK, well there goes my plan of using the shell, shot down in flames...

Just wanting to bounce my plans off of someone that has more experience in studio design and construction before I start busting knuckles.

There's a few things I would change, such as not making your CR narrower at the back than it is in the middle. It needs to widen out as you go back, not get narrower. Your doors are also in awkward positions, and angles, and the LR is rather small compared to the CR. The sight lines don't look to encouraging either.

I'd say there is room for improvement.

What are your basic goals?

My budget is around 10,000 usd and I will be doing most of the work myself. I also plan on using a couple mini split A/C units

Three rooms, three mini-splits units, plus installation.... that's going to eat up a rather large chunk of your 10 grand.... I'd re-think your budget a bit, if I were you...


- Stuart -

Thanks Stuart for the reply. I appreciate your info. I will definitely rework my plans a bit and repost.
Peace

TC

May I ask if you ever finished the studio. I am also located in Graham and had a lot of the same questions that you did and wondered how it turned out. Thanks

Hey there, small world! No, I am still hashing out the details on my studio. If you would like, you can personal message me your number and we can talk sometime. Thanks
Tim

Hey Stuart,
What if I built a sealed wall around the roll up door as if it were just a continuation of the other walls with insulation and the proper sealant to make it airtight? Could that be an option in using the outer structure as a leaf?

Ok, I went back and did made some adjustments to my layout and I also came up with a game plan for the isolation of the metal building. I searched for anyone out there that was or has been in the same boat. I came back with very little but, I what I did find out is that the metal is pretty much useless for mass (duh). The foam does dampen it well. As far as the three leaf thing goes, I think I can build the room within a room inside of the metal shell and the third leaf will not be as prevalent as long as it it not perfectly sealed, which it is not at this time. I framed off of the existing trusses for the outer leaf ceiling. I figure i can take a few of these studs out and slide sheet rock on top of them, secure them to the studs from the bottom with some sort of angle brackets and caulk. Then put pink insulation in the stud cavities. Build the walls on the floor and put sheet rock on them while they are on the ground, and then set them up. I will have to do this in small sections of course because of the weight. Sealing the outer wall might be tricky though. Any input here would greatly be appreciated! Here are some new pics!

A better layout

Any progress on this? I'm in Midland and needing something as an economical yet functional addition.

Looks very promising!

I am still working on some details. I have been doing a lot of isolation research and am on the fence on the way that I want to do that.

I am still working on some details. I have been doing a lot of isolation research and am on the fence on the way that I want to do that.

There's not a lot of options for achieving good isolation at low cost! What is it that you are concerned about?

- Stuart -

I am just trying to avoid mistakes as far as my placement of drywall. As far as cost effectively goes, I threw that out the window. I have ordered enough 5/8's drywall and green glue to do the outer leaf at this point. I am gonna build an outer leaf wall around the roll up door and walk in door. I am going to attach the rest of the outer leaf drywall to the existing framework of the building. I know I have the potential for creating a three leaf system, but I don't know any other way around this. I am just hoping that there is enough dampening from the closed cell foam on the metal to help with resonance. This building does stand alone and is a good distance away from any neighboring structure. I am also still playing with internal room layout. I have another control room layout I am working on that may serve me better. I appreciate your help.