John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum Archive

I'm building a commercial studio. I would like to make it optimal for stereo tracking and mixing mainly pop and rock music. And also for surround Mix and post for movies and/or TV.

Does anyone has this experience to have a studio that works great for both options acoustically and with the right equipment?

Surround sound should be 5.1 or 7.1 for movies? Would you recommend to be certified by Dolby? What dimensions in the control room you recommend for this.

What monitors you recommend for surround sound. I use Genelec 1031A for stereo. Does all speakers should be the same?

Please let me know any details or tips to consider.

Thanks!

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

I would like to make it optimal for stereo tracking and mixing mainly pop and rock music. And also for surround Mix and post for movies and/or TV.

If you plan to do both 2.0 and 5.1 then the studio should be designed specifically for 5.1. It is easy to mix 2.0 in a studio designed for 5.1, but it is not easy to adapt a studio that was designed specifically for 2.0 and make it work for 5.1

Would you recommend to be certified by Dolby?

If you have a lot of money, and really want it to be a world-class studio, then you could do that. But it will not be cheap.

What dimensions in the control room you recommend for this.

According to specifications such as ITU BS.1116-2, and BU Tech-3276, the minimum dimensions for a multi-channel control room are 30m2 floor area. According to AESTD1001.1.01-10, it should be at least 40m2. At the same time, the volume should not be greater than 300m3, so the maximum ceiling height is about 7m. On the other hand, Japanese HDTV specs call for control rooms to be between 30 and 50 m2, with room volume of greater than 80m3, and a height of 3m to 4m.

What monitors you recommend for surround sound.

How much money do you have? You can spend a huge amount of money on excellent speakers for 5.1, upwards of US$ 10,000 each speaker, if you want to. Or you can spend a lot less and still get good quality sound that meets the specs. Genelec is a good choice. The room in this thread ( www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=20471 ) was originally done with Genelec 1031A's, but that later changed to Eve Audio SC-407's.

Does all speakers should be the same?

In theory, yes, they should all be the same. But in practice, many rooms have different speakers for the surround channels.


- Stuart -

jstudio wrote: What monitors you recommend for surround sound.

IMO, if you're asking questions as basic as this, then you're not familiar enough with the business to be running your own shop. Do some contract work for an existing post house so you can get a feel for things first.

Thanks Stuart!

Dan, yes I'm familiar and have a lot of experience working and doing productions for pop and rock artists in very professional studios with stereo monitoring. I'm basically ready to have a studio with stereo configuration. But because of today's market and increase in home studios I believe that I need a multi purpose studio to be able to keep it moving with work not only for artists but probably with TV and maybe Movies.

That's why I wanna have also a studio that is able to do surround mixing for movies and TV. I'm not that familiar with this and that's the reason I'm asking these questions. I need to have this info before I build the studio to have everything right from the get go.

Stuart for surround sound is ok to have a 5.1 system or is needed a 7.1 system? When each one is needed.

Why you say Dolby is expensive? You mean the certificate or the equipment/ requirements needed to achieve their standards?

Yes, I have a couple Genelec 1031A and couple Yamaha NS10 for stereo purpose. Was thinking about getting couple ATC25 to replace or have them as an alternative. Also I'll check depends on the size of the room if I will need large speakers. Between these speakers I think I would go surround with the Genelec or you think could be Yamaha too? (ATC would be too expensive). Antoher option is to have the 2 rear speakers of a different kind if that's consider professional if not I'll get the 1031A or Yamaha. I imagine a woofer will be needed too.

Thanks!!

Stuart for surround sound is ok to have a 5.1 system or is needed a 7.1 system? When each one is needed.

Depends on what you are intending to do!

Why you say Dolby is expensive? You mean the certificate or the equipment/ requirements needed to achieve their standards?

Both. But mostly certification. Getting Dobly certification ain't gonna be cheap!

Yes, I have a couple Genelec 1031A and couple Yamaha NS10 for stereo purpose

The Genelec's are fine. Forget NS-10s for serious film work. No use at all.

Also I'll check depends on the size of the room if I will need large speakers.

There's a vague relationship between room volume and speaker size, but it's a myth that you need huge speakers for a large room. On the other hand, it's NOT a myth that very large speakers will not perform well in a small room.

Antoher option is to have the 2 rear speakers of a different kind

That is an option, yes, but in general it is better to have all five the same.

I imagine a woofer will be needed too.

Well, that is sort of implied by the "dot one" in 5.1 and 7.1!


- Stuart -