Tips on finding space for a studio

maddog · 19th March 2007

Hey Guys, Love the board. I would just like to know how you guys that own your own studios found space to put it in besides your house. I have been trying to look for proper studio space for over a year now without any luck. mostly all of the commercial retail and office space won't let me build my studio or there are people renting the upper level above me who would probably not like the small amout of room bleed. I have just been having trouble and if you have any tips or any suggestions let me know. by the way I live in ontario canada if that helps anything

Sigma · 19th March 2007

try a warehouse in the seedy, industrial part of your town..seriously

Makinithappen · 20th March 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIGMA

try a warehouse in the seedy, industrial part of your town..seriously

Seriously...This is good advice. It's cheap and you will have some cash left over to put in some alcatraz-style security. No neighbors and cool big industrial buildings. Also, if the part of town is seedy enough, there may be tax benefits available for starting new businesses in that area.

If you're in a big city, try downtown. It's pricier but after 5pm, it empties out pretty quickly. Plus you get that cool "im downtown" thing goin for ya.

Diablo · 20th March 2007

The quickest way to find a studio space is to find and rent a former studio. Sadly, most engineers and musicians are not business people and their newly built dream studio will quickly die, especially if they enter the business as a partnership with the money spread thin.

Look in the current phone book for studios and call them, if the numbers disconnected, go visit the location and call the leasing agent. Go back through older phone books until you get a hit.

Good luck!

TML · 20th March 2007

DONT DO IT!!

Unless you have hit records... dough to blow....buy a house.... attach it to it... put it inside it.... don't mess up the structure.... use alternative acoustic off the shelf products like Stork is doing with his sideline company....
my 2 cents....
tim

Sigma · 20th March 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diablo

The quickest way to find a studio space is to find and rent a former studio. Sadly, most engineers and musicians are not business people and their newly built dream studio will quickly die, especially if they enter the business as a partnership with the money spread thin.

Look in the current phone book for studios and call them, if the numbers disconnected, go visit the location and call the leasing agent. Go back through older phone books until you get a hit.

Good luck!

there are plus and minus signs attached to that avenue to that..

1. you inherit any deficiencies that the studio may have in its acoustical construction which i can tell your from experience can be much more of a headache than starting out fresh

2. no mattter what the name change you will have to deal with a period of time where yours and the past owners history are kinda taken as one

3. your statement about fast ramp up if #1 is no problem is a definite plus if time is a factor

Quote:

Originally Posted by TML

DONT DO IT!!

Unless you have hit records... dough to blow....buy a house.... attach it to it... put it inside it.... don't mess up the structure.... use alternative acoustic off the shelf products like Stork is doing with his sideline company....
my 2 cents....
tim

I agree 100 % , i answered his question as posed it , but dude..seeing the state of the industry coupled with all the logistical and monentary benifits of a studio attached to your home/property for me and my situation it was a no brainer...even with my row home ..i decided to build a small room and just rent out someone elses boat anchor for when i need to track drums or strings/horns

renting/leasing and dumping all that dough into construction is risky nowadays with sooo soo many studios vying for biz

to further my point isn't there some competition with state run facilities and private studios in canada ..i seem to remember giving a lecture in montreal a few years back at a recording school and then meeting some studio owners and ibelieved they voiced issues over somehing to that effect

Douchebag · 20th March 2007

How about going portable? Rather than blow money on a space, put your money into 8 germaniums, 4 MP2NVs, 2 3124s, 2 sytek mpx4s, 2 2-1176LNs, 4 distressors, and 2 fatso jrs. Another $10k in mics, $5k in cables, patchbays, and road racks and your phone will be ringing off the hook. Some rosettas and a macbook, sure... Build 10 2x4 foot owens 703 absorber panels and cover them in burlap. All of this could fit in a van. Now you have no overhead and can sell artists on bringing the studio to them. Camp out at their friend's mansion for 5 days and make $5k that goes directly into your pocket; no lease, no insurance, no theft, and it's a lot easier for you to leave then it is to kick them out, right? I would only suggest looking into a concealed weapon permit depending on where you live and who your clients are. Call your studio "Studio Wonderland" and your tagline can be "There's No Place Like Home." Brilliant...I'm drunk but that sounds brilliant right now.

iangomes · 13th July 2009

thread revival! I'm also looking for a space in Toronto. Anywhere small where I can just work on my own stuff (just mix really, as I don't track instruments... electronic music has it's advantages

). Does anyone else have some tips? Calling up old studios seems like a pretty good idea.

Dan · 13th July 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by *********

I'm drunk but that sounds brilliant right now.

Great name, avatar, and tag line.

Anyhow, another idea is to look at what currently open studios have done locally. It's rare to find one in a proper "retail" space. I usually see them in industrial areas, if not homes. Homes, or residential areas seem to be more popular these days.

drundall · 13th July 2009

One thing that doesn't get talked about as much anymore but used to be in studio construction books is doing a noise survey. Go to the site and do a reading of ambient noise at different hours of the day. There might be a machine shop or something nearby that you didn't notice. Also you might want to have someone help you check out the power in an industrial place. Lots of times there are noise spikes in the lines from surrounding equipment or old transformers.

Took me a while too but commercial real estate isn't doing so well so you may be able to get someone to let you build a studio, you gotta keep looking.

The Beatsmith · 13th July 2009

Hi

I had the same problem for about a year. More than that really, a few years, but there was a year or so where i had an 'investor' that would pay the rent if i found a place. I looked at a few (Cardiff, UK), but nothing really suitable came up without spending silly money.

I just wanted a room to record vocallists, occasionally track guitars, but mainly to do my own production, and mix (soul/hiphop). I have a drumkit but i wasn't taking that into account, i would've sold it if i had to, i wasn't trying to be too greedy. I'm no drummer anyway. My point is that it wasn't to be a commercial space to record others - it was my own production studio, I just needed a little room.

Long story short, all the places that weren't in industrial warehouses had arsey neighbouring offices who, even though i said i'd work outside of office hours and wouldn't be tracking any bands or drums or anything, still complained to the landlord/estate agent before i'd even signed the contract. At first they said they didn't care, then as i got more interested etc and got to the point where i was about to go ahead, they complained.

The industrial places were always too noisy.

I gave up, moved the DAW and speakers and a few other things into the a space i don't really want to reveal, but it's essentially someone elses very cramped space where i have a minimal setup that enables me to record vox and mix. I jammed a keyboard in there too and have to take a guitar back and forth and use Guitar Rig 3. My friend/colleague is always in there, and it was fine for a bit (year or two). But i really am not happy going there now, i need my own space, but i don't have any other option to move it to - i live in a shared house and my room is not suitable to work in. In a year or two i'll hopefully get (rent) a house or something with my girlfriend where i can have it at home (something i originally didn't want). Finding a room big enough to house all my stuff comfortably where i can make noise without disturbing neighbouring houses and people (even if it's my girlfriend) is a challenge in itself...

Right now it's really killing my creativity and is a big issue for me. I don't have the outlay to put down to rent anything any more as the investor is gone, and the music isn't paying. There are loads of shitty 'studios' in the area and no one seems to want to pay for mixing and stuff, not in the genre i work in. No one is making any money and they don't appreciate what mixing is. My fault for working with hiphop artists.

The point is i'm really unhappy and it's not because of lack of gear, it's the (lack of) space that's killing me.

Get it in your house dude, unless you're making so much cash that you don't care, have paying jobs waiting, or have been told by the almighty that 'if you build it they will come'. Oh and don't forget the price of electricity, insurance, internet(?), additional security, council tax, etc on top of the rent.

Right now i personally don't think it's 'economically viable' to rent a place to start your own studio. However i'm coming at this from the point of view of a personal 'production' or mixing studio as i envisaged, not a big commercial studio, which wouldn't really work in your home.

Not that that makes much sense either

Good luck in whatever you decide or get in the end, i'll follow the thread with interest. Sorry for the rant!

Waltz Mastering · 14th July 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by drundall

commercial real estate isn't doing so well

This is very true. Now more than ever there are many vacant commercial and industrial spaces. A stand alone building is ideal because you don't need to worry about noise so much.

Also, if your building only a mix room. your build out won't be to crazy.

iangomes · 14th July 2009

my build would be extrememly minimal. It would pretty much be a regular room where i'd put up my sound treatment and set up my gear. It'd just be nice to have a safe haven away from tv, internet, etc. Then, when it's time to get to work, it's time to get to work. I just need one room, but it doesn't seem to be so easy!

13th July 2009	#8
iangomes Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,019	thread revival! I'm also looking for a space in Toronto. Anywhere small where I can just work on my own stuff (just mix really, as I don't track instruments... electronic music has it's advantages ). Does anyone else have some tips? Calling up old studios seems like a pretty good idea. __________________ Check out my adventures in repairing and restoring vintage gear: http://vintagetechbench.blogspot.com/ Latest post: The Bench: Studer 903A Restoration - Master Section Pt. 2 http://vintagetechbench.blogspot.com...ection_08.html

13th July 2009	#10
drundall Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 885	One thing that doesn't get talked about as much anymore but used to be in studio construction books is doing a noise survey. Go to the site and do a reading of ambient noise at different hours of the day. There might be a machine shop or something nearby that you didn't notice. Also you might want to have someone help you check out the power in an industrial place. Lots of times there are noise spikes in the lines from surrounding equipment or old transformers. Took me a while too but commercial real estate isn't doing so well so you may be able to get someone to let you build a studio, you gotta keep looking. __________________ "I know of several comparisons [right here on this board] where no one could tell the difference between a Martech pre-amp and a Behringer." - Fletcher Darian Rundall

13th July 2009	#11
The Beatsmith Lives for gear Joined: Feb 2005 Location: UK Posts: 3,514	Hi I had the same problem for about a year. More than that really, a few years, but there was a year or so where i had an 'investor' that would pay the rent if i found a place. I looked at a few (Cardiff, UK), but nothing really suitable came up without spending silly money. I just wanted a room to record vocallists, occasionally track guitars, but mainly to do my own production, and mix (soul/hiphop). I have a drumkit but i wasn't taking that into account, i would've sold it if i had to, i wasn't trying to be too greedy. I'm no drummer anyway. My point is that it wasn't to be a commercial space to record others - it was my own production studio, I just needed a little room. Long story short, all the places that weren't in industrial warehouses had arsey neighbouring offices who, even though i said i'd work outside of office hours and wouldn't be tracking any bands or drums or anything, still complained to the landlord/estate agent before i'd even signed the contract. At first they said they didn't care, then as i got more interested etc and got to the point where i was about to go ahead, they complained. The industrial places were always too noisy. I gave up, moved the DAW and speakers and a few other things into the a space i don't really want to reveal, but it's essentially someone elses very cramped space where i have a minimal setup that enables me to record vox and mix. I jammed a keyboard in there too and have to take a guitar back and forth and use Guitar Rig 3. My friend/colleague is always in there, and it was fine for a bit (year or two). But i really am not happy going there now, i need my own space, but i don't have any other option to move it to - i live in a shared house and my room is not suitable to work in. In a year or two i'll hopefully get (rent) a house or something with my girlfriend where i can have it at home (something i originally didn't want). Finding a room big enough to house all my stuff comfortably where i can make noise without disturbing neighbouring houses and people (even if it's my girlfriend) is a challenge in itself... Right now it's really killing my creativity and is a big issue for me. I don't have the outlay to put down to rent anything any more as the investor is gone, and the music isn't paying. There are loads of shitty 'studios' in the area and no one seems to want to pay for mixing and stuff, not in the genre i work in. No one is making any money and they don't appreciate what mixing is. My fault for working with hiphop artists. The point is i'm really unhappy and it's not because of lack of gear, it's the (lack of) space that's killing me. Get it in your house dude, unless you're making so much cash that you don't care, have paying jobs waiting, or have been told by the almighty that 'if you build it they will come'. Oh and don't forget the price of electricity, insurance, internet(?), additional security, council tax, etc on top of the rent. Right now i personally don't think it's 'economically viable' to rent a place to start your own studio. However i'm coming at this from the point of view of a personal 'production' or mixing studio as i envisaged, not a big commercial studio, which wouldn't really work in your home. Not that that makes much sense either Good luck in whatever you decide or get in the end, i'll follow the thread with interest. Sorry for the rant! __________________ Need your songs mixed or mastered by top engineers? Check out our credits at www.onlinemusicmixing.co.uk http://www.associatedminds.com http://www.twitter.com/P_Leezy

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19th March 2007	#1
maddog Gear Head Joined: Aug 2006 Location: T.O. One of a kind Posts: 39 Thread Starter	Tips on finding space for a studio Hey Guys, Love the board. I would just like to know how you guys that own your own studios found space to put it in besides your house. I have been trying to look for proper studio space for over a year now without any luck. mostly all of the commercial retail and office space won't let me build my studio or there are people renting the upper level above me who would probably not like the small amout of room bleed. I have just been having trouble and if you have any tips or any suggestions let me know. by the way I live in ontario canada if that helps anything

19th March 2007	#2
Sigma Lives for gear Joined: May 2006 Location: phallicdelphia Posts: 4,618	try a warehouse in the seedy, industrial part of your town..seriously

20th March 2007	#4
Diablo Gear maniac Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 229	The quickest way to find a studio space is to find and rent a former studio. Sadly, most engineers and musicians are not business people and their newly built dream studio will quickly die, especially if they enter the business as a partnership with the money spread thin. Look in the current phone book for studios and call them, if the numbers disconnected, go visit the location and call the leasing agent. Go back through older phone books until you get a hit. Good luck!

20th March 2007	#5
TML Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 1,029	DONT DO IT!! Unless you have hit records... dough to blow....buy a house.... attach it to it... put it inside it.... don't mess up the structure.... use alternative acoustic off the shelf products like Stork is doing with his sideline company.... my 2 cents.... tim

20th March 2007	#7
Douchebag Gear Head Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 45	How about going portable? Rather than blow money on a space, put your money into 8 germaniums, 4 MP2NVs, 2 3124s, 2 sytek mpx4s, 2 2-1176LNs, 4 distressors, and 2 fatso jrs. Another $10k in mics, $5k in cables, patchbays, and road racks and your phone will be ringing off the hook. Some rosettas and a macbook, sure... Build 10 2x4 foot owens 703 absorber panels and cover them in burlap. All of this could fit in a van. Now you have no overhead and can sell artists on bringing the studio to them. Camp out at their friend's mansion for 5 days and make $5k that goes directly into your pocket; no lease, no insurance, no theft, and it's a lot easier for you to leave then it is to kick them out, right? I would only suggest looking into a concealed weapon permit depending on where you live and who your clients are. Call your studio "Studio Wonderland" and your tagline can be "There's No Place Like Home." Brilliant...I'm drunk but that sounds brilliant right now.

14th July 2009	#13
iangomes Lives for gear Joined: Apr 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 1,019	my build would be extrememly minimal. It would pretty much be a regular room where i'd put up my sound treatment and set up my gear. It'd just be nice to have a safe haven away from tv, internet, etc. Then, when it's time to get to work, it's time to get to work. I just need one room, but it doesn't seem to be so easy!