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Pennsylvania Garage studio in the woods!

Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2017 8:51 am
by mluck
Hello everyone after a long time lurking, this is my first post here!

I’m using soundman2020’s first post as a template.

Where am I? Pennsylvania, United States

What am I attempting to do? Build an overdub studio on the 2nd floor of a detached garage. (I know this is not an ideal location but it’s all I have!) I’m in need of a good space to record vocals, guitars and mix my own projects.

Where am I right now in the project? Planning and design. I plan to add 4 corners of bass trapping. I plan to use traffic-master vinyl plank flooring over the plywood. I already have a box of 703 panels 2x4, 2” thick that I use in my current setup. I have lots of building materials (my father is a contractor).

How loud am I? I mix as quiet as possible. I only track vocals, acoustic & electric guitars. Everything else is VST instruments ITB. The garage is also on a wooded lot and my neighbors live pretty far away.

What do I record? Myself! Vocals are my main priority. Genres include: Singer-songwriter, pop-rock and country-pop.

What is my budget? $10k USD, my father is a contractor and he already has a lot of the wiring and wood materials that I need. He will also help me with the build since it’s in his garage :)

What do I have to work with? The Second floor of a detached garage. I have been allotted a 17’x14’x8’1”(H) space within a larger room; the entire upstairs measures 22’ W x 28’ L x8’1” H. The studio room will have no windows and 1 door opening.

What’s it made of?

1st Floor
  • - Concrete Slab floor
    - 8’4” to Drop Ceiling
    - 2” to bottom of 16” Truss to bottom of 2nd floor ¾” T&G Flooring
    - First floor walls are all 12” concrete block (filled with concrete) 2 sides are underground.
    - Remaining 2 sides have a 6” stone veneer and one side has a 14’ garage door.
2nd Floor (Studio build floor)
  • - Total room 22(W)x28’(L)x8’1”(H)
    - Alotted studio space 17'x14’ from the block*
    [indent=#]- * Add 4.5” if measuring from the stud. (See Pics)[/indent]
    - ¾” T&G Plywood Floor supported by 16” (H) trusses on 24” Centers.
    - Continuation of first floor wall on 2 sides 8” concrete block filled with concrete (30” H)
    -------- 3.5” stud wall sits on outside of 8” plate on top of 8” concrete block wall (4.5” inside)
    - Ceiling height is 8’1”, Roof trusses on 24” center with 6’ crawlspace at the peak.
    -------- ½” plywood flooring between trusses for storage.
    -------- 3.5” between ceiling truss joists for insulation
    - Interior walls are standard 2x4 on 16” centers
    - No windows and there will be 1 doorway.
    - The outside of the second floor is covered in ½” plywood and ¾” cedar siding.
What initial questions do I have?
1. How should I address the 30”(H) block wall on 2 sides of my room?
2. Would it be better to treat the ceiling joists then cover the ceiling in fabric? Or cover the ceiling in drywall and build a hanging cloud system?
3. Where should I position the door in my room?
4. Do I need to treat the area between he joists and the floor?
5. I’m open to any and all suggestions!

Thank you so much for your time! I truly appreciate it!