John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum Archive

I hope I've done everything correctly with this post. The studio is being incorporated into the construction of our new house. The wife has okayed the floorplan, with her design input. Construction should begin this month. The inclued plan is the final, unless someone notices any major design flaws. PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

The house is being built on an acre lot, so the proximity of neighbors is not a real issue. The darker walls are going up after the construction of the house, in the event we make another move the rooms can be reconfigured to more traditional spaces.

The ceiling throughout is 9'. In the (2) Iso booths & the control room there will be some ceiling cloud treatments. I've called out the various wall treatments which consist of some custom fabric wrapped insulation panels, slot resonator walls and rock veneer. Any suggestions are welcomed.

The big question I have at this time is the flooring. As this build-out is including what would have been a garage, I was wondering if there would be a big difference in the acoustics of ISO "B" if I just stained the concrete slab, or lay down a wood laminate. I want to keep this room live as it will serve for the drums and other acoustic instruments primarily.

Also after going in to some other studios with my wife, she noticed some had sloped ceilings. Would this be beneficial for us in the cintrol with the dimensions outlined below. In sloping the ceiling would it be better to use the false ceiling with fabric wrapped insulation, or GYP. board. This will be over the existing ceiling.

Budget wise for the "Studio" build out is $5000. I love the look and idea of the stained concrete floor as well as the cost savings over wood for that room, just want to ensure of it's acoustics.

Oh, some room dimensions: LxWxH
Control room- 18'3"x11'10"x9'
ISO A- 10'x9'6"x9'
ISO B- 13'5"x10'x9'
Vocal booth- 7'x4'x9'

I'll verify my profile is up to date and I hope I've done this post correctly.

Thanks,
LRG

The big question I have at this time is the flooring. As this build-out is including what would have been a garage, I was wondering if there would be a big difference in the acoustics of ISO "B" if I just stained the concrete slab, or lay down a wood laminate

No.

Also after going in to some other studios with my wife, she noticed some had sloped ceilings. Would this be beneficial for us in the cintrol with the dimensions outlined below.

Your design is finished and you don't know how early ceiling reflections are controlled in the control room?

Andre

As far as layout, ideas are in place. If there are flaws acoustically where things need to change please help where I may be off. Acoustics design are still new to may in many ways. The archetectural side is what I do daily.

As far as my thoughts go for dealing with early reflections, and again correct me where I may be off, was to apply ceiling treatments above the mix position, and to the sides. The rear wall will have diffusion set in a wall of fabric wrapped insulation.

Thanks,
LRG

Thanks Leroy:

No you are not off, but the nature of your question shocked me. Do you have an appropriate of absorption for the control room? Would using an angled ceiling help you by letting you have less absorption, or be able to distribute it more evenly?

Andre

Okay to be honest, the angled ceiling is to make the misses feel apart of the project. She liked the look of the angled ceilings in some of the other studios we've visited. I believe acoustically it would help to direct reflections to the back wall where they will be either scattered by the diffusion or absorbed in the rear wall.

So if I'm trying to redirect the surface would need to be mored reflective right? In which case Gyp board over the insulation would work. Right?

Thanks for the response about the floor, that helps and makes me giddy. I really like the look of nice stained concrete.

LRG

So if I'm trying to redirect the surface would need to be mored reflective right? In which case Gyp board over the insulation would work. Right?

Right and right. Do ray traceing for the ceiling and recalculate your required absorption after that. It looks it will be a great sounding room when finished!

Andre

Thanks Dre, will look at the absorbtion needs. Yeah I can't wait, just want to make sure it's right ya know what I mean.