Designing Studio..... Any masters of the trade?

[kclisby]

A production partner and i have the opportunity to lease a room in an old historic building in long beach, ca..... The Room measures 28'x20' with 9' celings.... I've attached a rough layout by hand of the room.... it is not true to scale at all... but gives you an idea.... The room already has an 8'x12' area built that sits at the back left of the room we were thinking of maybe using it for vocal both/ or pre production room... Lot's of options at this stage in the game... So let me start by outlining a few of our objectives....

1. A really AWESOMELY GREAT sounding control room
2. A great vocal both
3. An even greater live type of booth
4. A small preproduction area...

I realize the importance of not having a perfect square as a control room... so I guess i'm asking for suggestion from people who have an idea... I would like suggestions on the orientation of the walls. layout,.... I have ideas, but thought i would let you guys offer better ones hopefully.....

We both realize the importance of this step and are committed to putting the money behind it to make it the best.... So any suggestion would be appreciated...

Also... I've attached a very, very rough idea of how the room is... It was done by hand so it's not the best, none the less I was hoping you guys could submit your ideas in a similar manner to a fellow gearslut....

Make your own layout..... and lets see who has the best suggestions....

Thanks,
Dr. Clisby

[Anderson]

Originally Posted by kclisby

So let me start by outlining a few of our objectives....

1. A really AWESOMELY GREAT sounding control room
2. A great vocal both
3. An even greater live type of booth
4. A small preproduction area...

We both realize the importance of this step and are committed to putting the money behind it to make it the best...

Then hire an Acoustician/Studio Designer.

There are many of us here on GS, and pbly even one that is in your region.

Cheers

[MIKEHARRIS]

i suggest Vincent van Haaff.......******//www.waterland.com/

[jayfrigo]

Originally Posted by MIKEHARRIS

i suggest Vincent van Haff.......******//www.waterland.com/

I second the nomination for Vincent Van Haaf. George Augspurger is also in the area and worth considering. And Chris Pelonis would be the third CA person I'd check with. One of them should certainly be able to help you.

[jayfrigo]

Originally Posted by kclisby

1. A really AWESOMELY GREAT sounding control room
2. A great vocal both
3. An even greater live type of booth
4. A small preproduction area...

I was looking at your picture... That's a lot of stuff to try to fit into that small space. You are limited as to how good the rooms can sound simply by the small size required to fit everything in. You unfortunately aren't going to achieve any "awesomely great" rooms if you do it this way. I'd rip everythig out down to the shell and make the whole space into just a control room if you really wanted it to be great. That would allow enough trapping and isolation along the outer shell and an inner shell of reasonable dimensions (though the ceiling is unfortunately a little low) for a good sounding room. You could squeeze a little booth in as well; but adding pre-pro, another live room, and what about client areas? There just isn't space. You also don't mention budget or the intended client type you aim to serve. Those are important pieces of info for project planning.

[kclisby]

Jay,

Man your place is very nice....

I honestly don't want to spend more than 2000-3000 on fixing up this room.... Clients would mainly be a variety of Solo projects, not really live bands, but was hoping i could squeeze in this type of room....

My production partner is also a carpenter so labor will be FREE.... So that can be factored out of the 2-3k....

Thanks,

Dr. Clisby

[Ethan Winer]

Doc,

> I honestly don't want to spend more than 2000-3000 on fixing up this room. <

In that case you'll find a lot of advice on room shape and treatment goals in my Acoustics FAQ:

www.ethanwiner.com/acoustics.html

It's not the same as hiring a pro studio designer, but it will get you in the ballpark given your budget.

--Ethan

[kclisby]

Okay.... Guys my budget has changed due to realization of some of my personal expectations....

I've jumped from $2000 to about $7000....

I've pretty much gotta a rough idea... We're gonna have to build a room inside the room to isolate sound, raise floors, with several smaller rooms around the control room.... i'll try to free hand an post what ideas i've given to the carpenter.... but nothing is set in stone as of yet.... but soon it will be...

If anyone has got any other ideas I'm very much interested in hearing about them... I'm about to embark on an almost $10'000 investment is soundproofing and acoustic treatment for my room and would like to hear all options....

Thanks,
Dr. Clisby

[DirkB]

With that kinda space (20x28) a CR + LR and PERHAPS a vocal booth is pushing it already in terms of using the space and not feeling too cramped when everything is done.

To be honest: for $7000 you could do some DIY acoustic treatment,but if you need to isolate first, add another zero to that number and you might get somewhere.

I am planning on a space a little bigger and without the cost for the design, 100k is about what I am planning to spend for CR and LR...

I am not trying to kill your ethousiasm, but for $7000 there is only so much you can do.

Good luck,
Dirk

[djui5]

Originally Posted by kclisby

If anyone has got any other ideas I'm very much interested in hearing about them... I'm about to embark on an almost $10'000 investment is soundproofing and acoustic treatment for my room and would like to hear all options....

Thanks,
Dr. Clisby

Hire a professional....

I wish I had that much $$ to treat my room....if I did, I'd call a pro. DIY is for people who don't have money....

[BCains]

You might want to check out www.johnlsayers.com theres plenty of floorplans avaliable
for you to look at, and get an idea of how to layout your room(s).

With that kind of budget, i think it's going to be mostly a DIY project.
I read somewhere that it's roughly costs $150-200/per square foot (w/contractor)

Also check out Steve's thread he's in your location, you might be able to get some rough prices.