Author Topic: Technical advice needed on developing studio space (Read 260 times)

hammer · « **on:** April 15, 2015, 02:28:09 PM »

When my father passed away last July he left a fairly sizable estate, which although it was divided among 6 siblings, provided each of us with a sizeable amount of cash. I've already put two kids through college (to the tune of approximately $450,000...yes that's US dollars and not Russian rubles or Italian lira), have a nice retirement nestegg, and at least for the moment as many Alembics as I can conceivably play on a regular basis.

So I've been thinking... At the current time my music listening and recording facility is quite basic. Worst of all it sits directly above the master bedroom. Unfortunately my spouse is a 9:30 to bed person while I need a lot less sleep and rarely hit the sheets before 12:30. Given the location of the rooms that leaves me with headphones on both when I practice at home and listen to music. In fact the only time the PJB cabs are used is for band practices and when we play out and I can't remember the last time I've been able to listen to my Ohm speakers at anything louder than a whisper.

Just had someone out to check out the space above the garage which nicely sits at one end of the house with nothing above or below. Although it's massive and could make for a 25 x 30 foot room, the roof would need to come off and all the truss work replaced due to the original construction. My wife doesn't like the costs,of that since we will probably never get more than 30-50% back if we ever sell.

The altenative is to do over the basement. The problem with that is that: (a) it's not a lookout or walk out space and (b) the best location for a music room/studio is directly UNDER the master bedroom.

I've talked with a number of construction people most of whom have indicated that I could fully finish the entire basement including a sound proof studio room for $20-30,000 less than putting something in over the garage. My fear and subsequent question has to do with the sound proofing. The fear revolves around the anxiety I have that no matter what they do there will be sufficient audio leakage that I'll not be able to use it late at night and while my wife will have the finished basement she desires I'll still be restricted to headphones. My question to those of you in the know, is how soundproofed can a room be made? Can a knowledgeable contractor develop a studio for me that sits directly below where my wife will be sleeping that will be both sufficiently sound proofed to allow her to snooze but acoustically pleasing for me as a place in which to record and listen to music.

sonicus · « **Reply #1 on:** April 15, 2015, 03:13:33 PM »

Hello, Brian . The first thing that I would ask is what the SPL's will be ( sound pressure levels ) in dB within the live room. The second factor is what will be the highest ceiling height possible in your Live Room ( the higher the better). The third aspect is that low frequency Line transmission is not easy to prevent. In my opinion I would opt for your live room to be at the oposite side of resting & sleeping quarters. My statements are made without knowing or seeing the layout of your house. I should mention I was actively involved professionally in new construction and remolding to augment my income throughout my lifetime with some of my involvements including both commercial and residential sound proofing and control. I entered such ventures when playing music and audio engineering and the such were not as lucrative as I would have liked them to be.

tbrannon · « **Reply #2 on:** April 15, 2015, 03:17:21 PM »

I'll be interested in seeing the opinions from people on this. I know most soundproofing theories for situations like you have involve building a room within a room- so decoupling that space with the bedroom above. How high are the ceilings in the basement? I think they'd likely need to build and insulate a roof onto the studio room, with dead air or insulated space between the floor of the bedroom and the roof of the studio.

Other than that, I have nothing to offer of actual advice- I'm just gonna watch this and store up all the good info this group is likely to share with you.

Whatever you decide- take before, progress and after pictures and share here if you don't mind doing so. I'd love to see what you end up with.

keith_h · « **Reply #3 on:** April 15, 2015, 03:23:05 PM »

One thing you should try to do is decouple the studio from the house. The way to do this is build a free standing room in the room. Also make sure there are no air gaps or pipes where the sound can leak. It can be hard and expensive to do this with the floor but you should get a lot of mileage out of just doing the walls and ceiling.

You should also think about how you are going to get equipment in and out. If you have to use a staircase its design can make a big difference in how much a chore it is to get stuff moved.

Keith

keith_h · « **Reply #4 on:** April 15, 2015, 03:25:19 PM »

Toby beat me to it.

sonicus · « **Reply #5 on:** April 15, 2015, 04:04:43 PM »

Dedicating and rebuilding a garage to studio use is always Kool . On the ground level you can design the Live Room with no windows with a high security steel framed steel door and easy access for equipment. A second story with a wide stair case or elevator will take you to the control room equipped with your recording and playback equipment. A system with video cameras for communications between the live room and the control room can easily be installed with extra high definition video cameras in the live room for live internet streams are possible as well . All of this can be built with maximum sound and fire proofing materials. A dream Studio for you ! . The good part is your wife will sleep well while you rock out brother ! I used to work with a fellow who's famous line was Nothing is impossible, It just costs more !

Sonic Regards,

Wolf

sonicus · « **Reply #6 on:** April 15, 2015, 04:19:31 PM »

Another option would be what a family member of mine in Missouri did on the family farm . They built an underground storm cellar /music room encased in 24 inches of steel reinforced concrete . It is actually 12 feet underground. They built it after a tornado blew away the beautiful 200 year old farm house. They even have a pool table and wide screen video screen along with extended provisions with water and sanitary facilities.

stout71 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 16, 2015, 08:07:04 AM »

You can also de-couple all the speakers from the floor unless they're integrated into the environment in a way that would preclude that. And there's always earplugs for your wife!

gtrguy · « **Reply #8 on:** April 16, 2015, 11:38:11 AM »

Uh, not to be the devil's advocate, but studios have been going out of business left and right.

I doubt that you will get any resale value out of the space, should you sell it later.

I have had homes with darkrooms and recording rooms in them, which did not really add to the selling value of the home later on.

Can you use the potential space for other things, like a band practice room or an exercise room, as well?

A vocal space and a drum space, if you are going to record real drums, will be needed. The online publication soundonsound.com has so much good info. There are also very realistic sounding drums that are computer based now, same with piano. A POD XT pro or better POD gear can actually create great guitar sounds, if you download patches from users instead of using the ones it shipped with. All of these can be used with headphones.

I know because I have great amps and a POD, and record with both. Same for drums.

Having said that, a good neutral recording room with good foam and a nice recording desk and some good headphones and monitors will do wonders for creating tunes for digital computer based recording. ?if you can?t have a great sounding live room, then at least have a good neutral room?. You can create virtual rooms in the computer that can add the ambience needed for great recording (check soundonsound to see how).

I would have to say that it is more about having gear that works well together and the knowledge to use it, that is most important. Getting good tones initially into the setup is vital. A good range of mics and pres that work with them is great, but does not need to be too expensive, starting with good older Shure 58s and 57s.

Not knowing your situation, I hope my 2 cents worth is useful.

hammer · « **Reply #9 on:** April 16, 2015, 01:59:05 PM »

Thanks for all the advice.

After getting several estimates this week to just construct a room that will be suitable in which to play & record (without disturbing my wife), it looks like David's recommendation of a good, neutral recording room with sufficient space for the band to practice is the way I'm going to need to go rather than a studio.

The garage option, which will need to be constructed above the garage as opposed to in it, is going to need to include full garage roof removal and replacement just to get the necessary truss work in to place. In my neck of the woods that's going to set me back at least $25,000 and suck up a lot of the cash that could have gone for what one needs to have in a real studio.

The approach described by David is also going to allow me to use the room for other purposes and experience less loss (I realize I'll experience some) if and when I sell. It will have external entry/exit and since it will be used as practice space as well, I've spoken with contractors about installing a lift system for hauling equipment in and out.

I love Wolf's idea about digging a tornado shelter and using that for my space but I live on 5.5 acres that's all wooded and I couldn't bear to be taking down 100 plus year old black walnut, maple, and oak trees to dig a big hole in my yard.