John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum Archive

Hello all!

I was recently placed in charge of designing and pricing a full on A/V recording and producion studio for a local youth center that will be built sometime in the near future. I can handle the video department just fine, but I am not the best when it comes to audio , and I am wondering if I can get any ideas, floorplans, or any kind of help possible. The budget is no issue, I can spend anywhere from $500 USD to $50,000 USD or more on this studio. The main building will be custom built, so that will make things somewhat easier... I hope.

What I am hoping to get is a recording studio for local garage bands, teen bands, DJs, rappers, and whoever else wants to lay down a CD.
I know almost nothing about studios except how to run a mixer, so I'll try to explain what I am hoping to get in the simplest manner.
For a project of this scale, what size of a studio will I need? I've heard that some studios are 1000 sq ft, and others are 500 sq ft. For something that will be used by so many different bands and artists, what is a good size that you recommend? And the control room... I am hoping to have a good sized control room with a Mackie Digital X Bus console in there with a G5 etc.
Like I said before, the building is going to be constom built, so materials are totally flexable.
Er.. I think that I might just be babbling here, as it's 3:00 AM... So... I think that I will just ask you for any ideal floorplans, or websites that have archives of floorplans, etc. Anything that you have that will help, I would love to hear it!

Again I apologize for any rambling or typos....

Thank you all,

TJ

i wouldn't worry so much about the equipment to be used quite yet... i'll concentrate on the building itself.

Just a thought here, but for a center like this, I would be aiming for 2 control rooms with access to 2 performance rooms, so that you can record artists in either of them, whilst the other control room is mixing down or "programming beats" (I hate that term).

A small video editing suit would be nice as well, which you could fit in a very small space. Think of a high end computer and a set of headphones for the audio - people could mix their video in premier etc.

I'm more than happy to share ideas with you if you're interested in more.

cheers

Rochey

Hiyo Rochey!

I would more more than happy to hear any ideas that you have for the recording studio. Having two studios and control room sounds like a good idea, as we will probably be having alot of teen bands and artists wanting to lay down a CD... I never thought of that

As for the video part, I've got that covered. I think G5s will do for computers, sony headphones, It's all good. I work at a local TV station anyways... so I'm pretty up to speed on whats good for video.
Also, We are going to have our own TV set in the building, and we will be doing projects in the local area, so that's the main reason for having the editing suite...

But yes, I think that having two studios and control rooms is an excellent idea.

Thanks again, gotta run.

Jai

just a quick thought... if it's to be used by the 'general public' (because you can't be all over the building all the time), I suggest you may want to make everything as robust as possible.

In my mind, this wouldn't be the type of project where you have birds eye maple finish on the walls
If I was in your shoes, assume the worst and make everything as hard wearing as possible, and also, to a certain extent, don't spend a fortune on equipment to start off with. I know we all love reading "sound on sound" and specking all the equipment if we had a blank cheque, but do you really think a teen band or a rapper is going to appreciate your U87's, Avalon Mic Pre's, your D8B desk etc? I seriously doubt it.

Spec your own room how you want it, as you (or other responsible people) will always be working in there. For the other control room, put some nice stuff in there, but not stuff that you'd cry about if it was broken.

And if you don't know much about the recording process itself etc (you'r initial post says you're not too hot on it) - hire a "studio manager", that is, someone who knows how the studio should be set up and run. This is more operational advice rather than structure advice tho.

Just food for thought.

That's a great idea! I never would of thought to make the two totally different... If we do two rooms that is exactly what I am going to do...
And I know about audio, I can run a board and set up a stage etc just fine, it's just the room that I'm abit timid about approching...

Just some more input - you might make the main room kinda live, and 2 smaller booths which are kinda dead.

In my mind, that allows a live room for some stuff, and then a 2 dead "vocal booth" for a singer or to put a guitar amp inside.

Maybe someone else can chime in here?

Great idea Rochey! This is turning out much better than I expected...
And yes, I would like to hear other opinions on this subject as well.
Also, do any of you know of a website or two that has good floorplans for me to draw ideas from?

Thanks
Jai

start here:

http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4206

the most important things are to keep the shape of the control rooms. Once you have an idea of the building you want - post some pictures and i'm wure we'll all chip in with some ideas.

cheers

Rochey

Ok heres what I just drew up. (My apologies for the quality, They were both done with haste and with a touchpad. )

Feel free to edit them or post your own, any comments on design etc are welcome. The first is what Rochey suggested, two studios. One control room for my use and one for the teens use.The second one is my idea of what I would want for a good studio, only if I am supervising it or have someone trained working there.

my gut feeling is that some dimentions would be handy

Ah good idea...only problem is that I have no idea what I should do about that...But lets see...hmm....I really suck at this type of thing so these estimations are most likely way off...but what I am aiming for is plenty of space....

so let me understand correctly...

At the moment, you don't have any building in mind, and you haven't decided on what facilities you want to offer there either.

it's a little difficult to advise

You can only decide on what building you want, once you've decided what facilities to offer. Get that sorted (and sanity checked with those paying the bills) and then go building hunting!

If I was you, I'd generate a list of the rooms required, and realistic (read: non fantasy) size for each one. E.g.

Video Edit Suite 1 - 4m x 3m
Video Edit Suite 2 - 4m x 3m
Live Room 1 - 6m x 8m
Iso Booth / Vocal Booth - 2m x 3m

etc etc etc.

Once you have that in mind, you can plan accordingly I think.

At this point, it's worth asking the pro's what they would do - John? Knightfly? whaddya think?

/R

Yes... my friend is most likely going to be purchasing 4 acres of land and then put a custom building there...so I have no idea about what dimensions will be available for this project... sorry..

well.. define your needs then

hmm..I need to know a good size for the studio. I just talked with my supervisor and he said that size doesn't matter. Wwe can go bigger than 1000 sq ft if we need to... What is a size that you recommend? Once I get that figured out I can draw up an accurate floorplan...I think....but we need room....alot of room...