John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum Archive

Hey guys, I really hope you are all doing really well.
I joined this group couple days ago and have gotten many practical and valuable informations that I didn't even know.
Just to tell you my background, I have been composing music and just got really into making a studio.
I don't have many spaces to afford in my house so I have decided to build my studio in my garage.
It is a 3 car garage and I can only afford to use 1 car garage space.
My original goal for this studio is to use it to mix and record vocal and guitars.
I wanted to use this whole space to use for both and I found out that it is not a great option.
therefore, I came up with a plan to divide the space into 2 using wall and use one space for tracking room and another room for control room.

To tell you all the information that I have for the space.
garage dimension = 11.8ft width, 18.7ft length, 9.1 height.
1 side of length is wall to outside with a door to outside, Plan to build a wall to make another length side of studio
1 side of width has a 1 car garage door and another side is connected to the house.
wall texture is Orange Peel
flooring is cement but I am open to any suggestion.


Here goes my questions.

First, My garage dimension is 11.8 ft width, 18.7 length, and 9.1 height.
I have done some research and I found that Height 1 , length 1.39 and width 1.14 ratio is good for control room.
So I planed to make my control room with 10.4 Feet width, 12.6 ft length and 9.1 ft height.
and divide the garage room space with a wall to make a 6.3 ft length, 10.4 width and 9.1 ft height room for recordings. I am planning to make a vocal booth that fits along with 2 guitar booths so that I don't have to acoustically treat the room for vocal and guitars recording.
I would like to know what do you guys think of this plan? I have attached a plan in image please check it for better understanding.

Second, I need to build a wall to make a studio in my garage. (It is 3 car garage and I am using 1 car garage space for studio). to be honest, I am very new to building a studio so I have no idea on this.
I need a decent sound proofing so my family won't be too bothered by the sound from the studio. Any help is appreciated on it.

Third, I need to build a wall that divides control room and tracking room. I was thinking to build a basic wall since I don't have to really worry about sound coming in to control room from recording room. and I am not planning to build a window on the wall since I will be using a vocal booth and guitar booths in the tracking/recording room.

My first goal would be building these two walls (a wall to make it a room and a wall that divides control room and recording room).

I am not sure if I have provided a good info for all of you to understand.
Please request me any info on anything if that can help you give me better and more accurate advices

Thank you so much in advance.

Sorry for making you wait 5 days for an answer here!

I wanted to use this whole space to use for both and I found out that it is not a great option.

Using the whole space would require some crazy planning and acoustic treatment. Plus, your dimensions aren't great. So dividing it would be a good idea.

therefore, I came up with a plan to divide the space into 2 using wall and use one space for tracking room and another room for control room.

flooring is cement but I am open to any suggestion.

Concrete is the best acoustically but garage floors often get cold. You could install some laminate or something with a thin layer of underlay to provide some thermal barrier. Or wear shoes.

First, My garage dimension is 11.8 ft width, 18.7 length, and 9.1 height.
I have done some research and I found that Height 1 , length 1.39 and width 1.14 ratio is good for control room.
So I planed to make my control room with 10.4 Feet width, 12.6 ft length and 9.1 ft height.
and divide the garage room space with a wall to make a 6.3 ft length, 10.4 width and 9.1 ft height room for recordings. I am planning to make a vocal booth that fits along with 2 guitar booths so that I don't have to acoustically treat the room for vocal and guitars recording.
I would like to know what do you guys think of this plan? I have attached a plan in image please check it for better understanding.

Here are some points:

You didn't once mention isolation. When it comes to building a studio, this is pretty much the biggest detail we need. Without isolation, you might as well use a bedroom in your house with some commercial acoustic panels hung up on the walls. Without isolation, your listening environment and recorded material will be affected by sounds outside your garage. Also, your neighbours will hear the music coming from inside your garage. There are bylaws you must abide by to avoid getting shut door or fined.

Another reason I mention isolation is because in order to achieve isolation, you must sacrifice space. This typically means building a room in a room. So, your room ratios will all be changed. In order to find out how much isolation you need, get someone to play the loudest instrument you'll ever have in there (bass guitar, electric guitar, drums) and measure it with a proper SPL meter set to slow C weighted. Then, go to your property line while that person/those people are still playing and measure it there. Document these values. Simple subtraction will tell you how well your garage is doing at isolation your sound. Then, check your local bylaws and see how much you need to attenuate.

You also shouldn't build your "recording" room with 3 booths in it. The bigger the room, the better. I'd suggest to just have one "recording" room and your control room.

My first goal would be building these two walls (a wall to make it a room and a wall that divides control room and recording room).

Your first goal should be to determine how much isolation you need to/from the outside world as well as between your rooms. You can find which materials and spring gap you need to use to achieve these levels here:

http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewt ... =1&t=21770

Then, 3d model the entire thing in as much detail as possible. Then go get building permits. Then start building.

Greg

Oh and I just saw your pdf again and noticed that you have all of your doors in the corners. That will screw you up bad for proper bass traps. Don't ever put doors in corners unless you can't help it!

Lastly, it appears as though you don't want to do an RFZ style control room. What style are you going for?

Greg