Project Studio in Walk-Out Basement
Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2017 7:11 am
Hi y'all,
In the beginning stages of a planning a project studio in my walk-out basement. The building is a pole barn-style shop with a large garage in the front, and split level in the back. In the back, there's a walk-out basement (where the studio will be) with a back door at ground level, and a semi-finished loft area directly above. Pictured below is the current basement layout, with the garage in the Sketchup screenshots for context.
Overall internal dimensions of the basement are 38'x19' 5". Current large room is 23'x19' 5". Medium and small side rooms are 12'x15' 6", and 7'x15' 6" respectively. Ceiling is low and unfinished, 7' to the bottom of the joists. Insulated walls are in pink, and walls without are in blue. Just studs and standard drywall. Link to Sketchup file since it's too big to upload to this server.
Currently brainstorming viability and early construction plans with the following goals and limitations in mind:
In the beginning stages of a planning a project studio in my walk-out basement. The building is a pole barn-style shop with a large garage in the front, and split level in the back. In the back, there's a walk-out basement (where the studio will be) with a back door at ground level, and a semi-finished loft area directly above. Pictured below is the current basement layout, with the garage in the Sketchup screenshots for context.
Overall internal dimensions of the basement are 38'x19' 5". Current large room is 23'x19' 5". Medium and small side rooms are 12'x15' 6", and 7'x15' 6" respectively. Ceiling is low and unfinished, 7' to the bottom of the joists. Insulated walls are in pink, and walls without are in blue. Just studs and standard drywall. Link to Sketchup file since it's too big to upload to this server.
Currently brainstorming viability and early construction plans with the following goals and limitations in mind:
- This build is being motivated by the fact I'm starting to get more serious about music production. I've been a serious hobbyist while in college, but now looking to have a space to grow in experience and clientele. Looking at this studio to serve that goal for the next 3-5 years or so.
- While it's my desire to use this studio for paid work, this is not designed to be a commercial, come-and-rent-time studio, rather to serve as my personal studio. Still, it needs to be comfortable space to bring clients for vocals, overdubs, demos, mixing, etc.
- Budget for construction elements is $3000-$4000, but might be able to push closer to $5000 if there's a really specific need I can present to family that have expressed willingness to pitch in. (There's another budget for gear, additional treatment, etc)
- Want a mixing/control room that can hold a small band, plus enough space for gear like keyboards, pedalboards, etc. Probably in the current large room.
- Want one or two small/medium-sized "booths," primarily for close mic'd tracking. Vocals, acoustic guitars, amps, etc. Serious drum tracking is less of a priority for the booths. Will likely do most drums in the garage, semi-finished loft above, or another studio altogether.
- A major concern is the low ceiling, being only 7' to the bottom of the joists. However, the space above is semi-finished loft bonus space, and won't be in use at the same time as the studio. Not concerned about noise bleed into/from that area.
- Does it seem even worth constructing a project studio in this space? I know it's such a low ceiling, especially once you getting into "room within a room" territory. Worried about sinking money into the project and still being left with something that's bad.
- With the low ceilings, is it possible to make a room wide/deep enough for a decent live room (for drums specifically)? I can do drums in another space, but different flavors are good, plus would like something that's a little more isolated from the outside world.
- If we decide it's worth using this space (the most immediately obvious space for a studio I currently have access to), what would happen if I build any room/booth double walls straight to the ceiling, rather than building a box-within-a-box? Just thinking about the lack of vertical space available, and the fact that I'm not concerned about bleed into the loft immediately above....
- Would it be worth ripping out the wall between the two small side rooms in order to have for booth construction? Just thinking in the sake of keeping costs down, not having to find a new place for all the stuff we've accumulated since the small room is currently a storage room.
