John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum Archive

I'm looking to build a studio in my garden, and evaluating potential shells. There's a company local to me that provide timber garages, which I believe would be the ideal starting point for a MSM system, as the framing is already there, I just have to add mass to the outer skin before building the inner leaf. The only issue I can see is that they build the walls in frames before shipping and installing, and each of these panels has a 2x4 stud on the edge which meet on a corner, which I believe leaves the corner unaccessible for adding mass to. See images attached.

Assuming I'm correct that this gap exists - am I right in thinking this would compromise the sound proofing as there would be 4 weak points (one in each corner) with less mass than the rest of the walls?

Thanks,
Fred

Hi,

Just add more 2x4s there? As long as it’s sealed air tight then it’s not an issue.

However, wouldn’t it be cheaper and better just to build completely from scratch? You could design it exactly how you want it with the best dimensions you can achieve etc etc. Timber is fairly cheap and if you have a concrete slab already then the hard work is already done.

Paul

Hello Fred,
Plus one for designing your own building! For the reasons Paul has mentioned and so you can be certain that the structure will support the weight of all the extra mass you'll be adding to it. If you bought the prefab, you'd have to beef up the doors and rebuild the windows anyway. ATB John.

Great advice, thanks both! I was leaning towards a pre fab garage so it doesn't draw attention to itself and can be 'disguised' as a relatively normal looking building.

For some reason, I hadn't even considered building my own outer shell but now you've planted that seed, I'm extremely interested in it.

Back to the drawing board!

Back to the drawing board!

If I had a fiver . . . you'll get there Fred.