Thinking of build studio inside metal prefab - early research

[PapillonIrl]

So I feel like I'm growing out of my current room...I would like more space, better acoustics, and no hassle from bands rehearsing in the same complex.

I have inherited a country site where I plan to settle down one day, nut planning permission is an issue over here.

So I am in the early stages of seeing if I can get a metal prefab building...call it a 'barn' and build a studio inside it !!

Why ?

You don't need planning permission for a barn apparantly.

Slightly nuts concept, but I would like to hear from people who have created acoustically nice spacious studio spaces within metal structures.

Maybe some recommendations of acoustic consultants in Ireland or the UK would be good.

I'm quite willing to spend the money to get the room right.

It must be expandable - I have a 32ch ElanII at the moment, I want to leave enough room available so that (say) an SSL and all the relevant airconditioning and PS could be installed at a later date without too much hassle.

Anyone done anything like this ? Maybe in an industrial complex ?

I can have 30ft high ceilings and still call it a barn as far as I know !!!

Sick of low ceilings and treating acoustic problems rather than just working in a naturally nice acoustic envirnoment.

Also sick of trying to mix acoustic music with a 4 x 12 rattling the walls over here.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Nathan

[bobx]

i'm also interested in this as i have looked at the steel prefab homes. it looks promising.

[nathanvacha]

I have an uncle over in Europe (mainly greece area I think) who is investing in/cultivating a business of purely steel buildings... It seems the european market at least is much more open to that than we here in the states.

Don't know if that really pertains to what you were thinking though. I guess I'm interested to hear some responses on who thinks that would/wouldn't work well...

[PapillonIrl]

Originally Posted by bobxhopefield

i'm also interested in this as i have looked at the steel prefab homes. it looks promising.

Any info on prices or recommendations of companies ?

Where are you located ?

It seems like a viable enough option, wouldn't you think ?

Cheers,

Nathan

[TEMAS]

Go to John L Sayers recording studio design forum.

It sounds like your build will be quite easy. Doesn't matter how much noise escapes; no worries about about stopping sounds getting in.

[PapillonIrl]

Originally Posted by TEMAS

Go to John L Sayers recording studio design forum.

It sounds like your build will be quite easy. Doesn't matter how much noise escapes; no worries about about stopping sounds getting in.

Apart from possibly torrential rain banging on metal !!!! But I was thinkink of a building within a building thing so this shouldn't be an issue.

Will be checking out John Sayers site also on this.

Cheers,

Nathan

[orange]

a third recommendation for the john sayers site. They have a design there for a studio in a shipping container. It might be worth checking that out.

si

[drBill]

prw has a studio built inside a metal building. He just did the build out after the building was up. He's designed dozens of studios and although I haven't been to this one, he says it turned out great. As far as I know, there were no problems, and it was waaaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper than what something equivalent here in LA would have cost. Sounds like a good idea to me. A double walled building inside the building and you're good to go. Good luck! bp

[knightsy]

That should be fine, I'd imagine. It wouldn't be the steel frame that would matter so much (in fact it would probably transmit less sound than timber), but what you put around that steel frame that matters.

One studio I've been to in Sydney apparently had the internal walls like this:

2 layers ceilingboard (staggered joins)
2 layers chipboard flooring (staggered joins)
Metal stud frame stuffed with fiberglass insulation

Air gap

Metal stud frame stuffed with fiberglass insulation
2 layers chipboard flooring (staggered joins)
2 layers ceilingboard (staggered joins)

[TEMAS]

Originally Posted by PapillonIrl

Apart from possibly torrential rain banging on metal !!!!

Good point!! Impact sound travels through the thickest of walls, not matter how many layers of mass you put in each leaf. Mind you, I think not matter how hard the rain, it'll never be as hard as the impact of footsteps above.

Good luck and prepare yourself for a headache over at JohnLSayers - Here's one example of a metal container studio:

******//www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4168

[quincyg]

rain noise could be killed from the exterior with sheathing. if the roof is flat. you could put down a deck, which could be a cool place to hang out too. on the sides you could fasten some mounting strips of wood and hang sheathing. t-111 would be cheap, or you could even do vinyl siding. i am avery interested in this as well.

i really like the idea of cargo containers. you can get a 20' container for a couple of grand. i would think that sound leakage in general would be hard to manage. but, i am in an urban environment where soundproofing is critical.

you could easily make it modular. coould have a big one for your live room, a smaller control room, a smaller one for ac and computers. not sure if clients would like the cargo container vibe though. train yard studios?

[NathanEldred]

What's the wind rating on those metal buildings?

[Geoff_T]

Hi

I've seen it done in the UK where a farmer used one of his barns as a recording studio. It worked quite well for him except that his Amek Angela console kept going "woosh, woosh, woosh" every minute or so.

We worked out that the huge copper sheet he had hanging from the roof above the console at an angle was directing rf energy from the radar at a nearby RAF base. We replaced the ropes that supported the sheet with steel cables grounded to the steel frame of the building and the problem went away!

[PapillonIrl]

Originally Posted by NathanEldred

What's the wind rating on those metal buildings?

Wind rating ? Never thought of that. Thanks.

V. high gale force winds are rare in my part of the world, even though it's coastal, there isn't a vast body of water between us and the UK. Which in my limited knowlege, makes the site less susceptible to destructuve weather. Although it has been known to catch tail ends of hurricanes etc.

Thanks for giving me a potentially informative question to ask the pre-fab dudes though.

Nathan

[PapillonIrl]

Originally Posted by Geoff_T

Hi

I've seen it done in the UK where a farmer used one of his barns as a recording studio. It worked quite well for him except that his Amek Angela console kept going "woosh, woosh, woosh" every minute or so.

We worked out that the huge copper sheet he had hanging from the roof above the console at an angle was directing rf energy from the radar at a nearby RAF base. We replaced the ropes that supported the sheet with steel cables grounded to the steel frame of the building and the problem went away!

What a weird situation. And kudos for whoever solved the problem. You ?

[PapillonIrl]

Originally Posted by quincyg

rain noise could be killed from the exterior with sheathing. if the roof is flat. you could put down a deck, which could be a cool place to hang out too. on the sides you could fasten some mounting strips of wood and hang sheathing. t-111 would be cheap, or you could even do vinyl siding. i am avery interested in this as well.

i really like the idea of cargo containers. you can get a 20' container for a couple of grand. i would think that sound leakage in general would be hard to manage. but, i am in an urban environment where soundproofing is critical.

you could easily make it modular. coould have a big one for your live room, a smaller control room, a smaller one for ac and computers. not sure if clients would like the cargo container vibe though. train yard studios?

I was thinking more of a large barnyard type effort, with enough space to encompass CR, large live room, small deadish live room, a lounge, and a couple of booths.

Bear in mind that this is essentially to avoid weird building planning laws in the Irish countryside.

'Barn Studios'

Looks like a cattle shed, walk in and get the whole air conditioned wood panelled acoustic treated effort.

A metal frame, with a deading gap for outside noise, and within, a proper studio build.

Well maybe.

[PapillonIrl]

Originally Posted by TEMAS

Good point!! Impact sound travels through the thickest of walls, not matter how many layers of mass you put in each leaf. Mind you, I think not matter how hard the rain, it'll never be as hard as the impact of footsteps above.

Good luck and prepare yourself for a headache over at JohnLSayers - Here's one example of a metal container studio:

******//www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4168

I am really worried about the rain issue.

Read that thread, I am doing this more to avoid planning hassle than to have a mobile or cheap option. So my concerns are slightly different than those in the thread.

Irish planning laws, because everyone wants to preserve the integrity of our emerald isle, are a little constrictive.

You cannot build a domestic building anymore in the countryside unless you live within x miles (5 I think) of a blood relation !!!

[PapillonIrl]

Originally Posted by knightsy

That should be fine, I'd imagine. It wouldn't be the steel frame that would matter so much (in fact it would probably transmit less sound than timber), but what you put around that steel frame that matters.

One studio I've been to in Sydney apparently had the internal walls like this:

2 layers ceilingboard (staggered joins)
2 layers chipboard flooring (staggered joins)
Metal stud frame stuffed with fiberglass insulation

Air gap

Metal stud frame stuffed with fiberglass insulation
2 layers chipboard flooring (staggered joins)
2 layers ceilingboard (staggered joins)

Thanks mate, this interests me alot.

Any more info on this facility would be appreciated.

PM if you want, although if the owner concerned isn't cool with it I understand.

[PapillonIrl]

6:30 in the morning here.

This should show how serious I am about this project.

Got home an hour ago from one of those late night (cut-price) sessions with material that makes it all worthwhile.

If anyone has acoustic consultant recommandations from the UK or Ireland it would be much appreciated.

I like the idea of site visits. US - EU building plans = potential disastor in my book.

Gonna upload rough mix of session to MP3 clinic now if this Havana Club doesn't knock me out 1st. Dig the female singer if it get's there.

Thanks for replies.

G'night.

[PapillonIrl]

******//gearslutz.com/board/showthrea...767#post863767

Jesus that nearly killed me.

Fix the MP3 uploads !!!

Me sleep now.