Circle Studios Birmingham - studio build/refurb

[sweetmojo]

Originally Posted by rimskidog

Bad news today. The aircon guys came down to do a site survey. For a number of reasons (a higher spec unit that we'd planned and some bespoke fabrication they are gonna have to do) the live room units will cost about 40% more than we'd budgeted for. It's also gonna take up some of the space that we were thinking about putting a small chamber into. Oh well...

Classic crap!!! I would talk to a couple more HVAC guys before I went forward with a 40% increase in budget though. Good luck and . . . keep positive!

[Cold Jazz]

Originally Posted by sweetmojo

Classic crap!!! I would talk to a couple more HVAC guys before I went forward with a 40% increase in budget though. Good luck and . . . keep positive!

Yeah, that was exactly my thought.
A 40% increase would be too much for me just to accept. Would at least make sure to get the increase verified by some other HVAC guys - just like you said.

[sonicdefault]

You may be right! That guy may think it's a good time to take advantage. As a matter of fact... the last major studio I built, the man in charge of some of the rennovation waited until I had all the equipment installed before he let me know of the extra expenses And then he threatened to have a lock put on the doors!

I agree it may be wise to get another opinion/estimate if possible. What do you think Trev?


-SD

[Trev@Circle]

Thanks for your support guys. Am having the hvac quote checked out. Meanwhile, back to regularly scheduled programming.

This week the first job was to finish off the concrete screed on top of the roof (no photos of this).

Then, the fire alarm guys arrived to do their first fix:



More plasterboard up:



And more:

[fabricaudio]

Whats the regulations in the UK for fire? Are you going to have only alarms or springlers too?

I bought some foam extinguishers

Nikolas

[Trev@Circle]

co2 suppression in the machine room only. Otherwise alarms throughout and all connected to the local fire station via redcare.

[Trev@Circle]

First layer of plasterboard/drywall on ceiling is 75% done:



and from a slightly different angle:

[Trev@Circle]

And batoning for walls has begun. Here's a shot toward the booth end:



Here's one of a side wall (if you look closely you will see the audio cable running along the bottom edge already in place):



And here's one of the other side (you can see another one of the wall boxes and audio cable rolled out ready to put in place):

[Tonio Ruiz]

wow, what a great job you're doing here mate.... it's a lovely space, woooow, I so envy you right now... in a good way of course

congrats, I'll follow this thread

cya l8er

[Trev@Circle]

Thanks Tony!

Bit more work on the live room ceiling today. First layer of plasterboard/drywall almost done now then it's just a layer of greenglue and the final layer of plasterboard.

Here's one looking back over the last third or so of the room toward the new control room - you can see there is really just the returns to be done now:



Here's a slightly closer shot:



This last one is looking back in the other direction. You can see there's a small section not yet done - that's above the booth, (we'll do that once the booth is up) which we can't do until the scaffolding has gone and we don't want that done until we've done the majority of the ceiling (so it's a bit of a vicious circle!):

[Trev@Circle]

Things really are moving fast now. Windows are due to arrive early next week. HVAC overrun is playing havoc with the budget so we are going to hold off on the wooden floor until the next phase begins. Plasterboard is going up fast here:



here:



and here:



but not here yet:



Edit. To give you some idea of scale, batons are roughly 450mm/18inch centres

[Trev@Circle]

Originally Posted by rimskidog

Thanks guys. Four weeks estimated for the structure of the live room to be finished then we can start treating it.

Ha! Just spotted this from back at the end of January! How stupidly over optimistic was I?!?

[tiny333]

keep on keeping on

very inspiring thread boy oh boy have you gone to town !!!

way to leave no stone unturned ..ceiling is insane ...


looking 4ward to seeing the results of all your hard work
thumbsupthumbsup

[Trev@Circle]

Originally Posted by tiny333

keep on keeping on

very inspiring thread boy oh boy have you gone to town !!!

way to leave no stone unturned ..ceiling is insane ...


looking 4ward to seeing the results of all your hard work
thumbsupthumbsup

Thanks man!

[Trev@Circle]

Green Glue!



And a close up:



Someone asked for a close-up on the attention to detail being paid to the plasterboarding. You can see here that every joint has been trimmed accurately and caulked:



And another:

[american]

This thread is really amusing. Thanks!!!

Are you putting anything else on top of the plasterboard?

Excuse my ignorance...What do you use Green Glue for?

[Trev@Circle]

Originally Posted by american

This thread is really amusing. Thanks!!!

Are you putting anything else on top of the plasterboard?

Another layer of (different thickness) plasterboard.

Originally Posted by american

Excuse my ignorance...What do you use Green Glue for?

There are no ignorant questions feller. Just questions. It's the sandwich filling between the two layers of plasterboard. Essentially like rubber that never sets it reduces transmission between two layers because it absorbs vibration and therefore doesnt let thos vibrations transfer to the next layer (I'm sure someone much techier than me can pop up and tell you more about it but, in a nutshell, that's it).

[american]

Originally Posted by rimskidog

Another layer of (different thickness) plasterboard.



There are no ignorant questions feller. Just questions. It's the sandwich filling between the two layers of plasterboard. Essentially like rubber that never sets it reduces transmission between two layers because it absorbs vibration and therefore doesnt let thos vibrations transfer to the next layer (I'm sure someone much techier than me can pop up and tell you more about it but, in a nutshell, that's it).

And why two layers with different thickness? Is that for improving acoustics? I guess you don´t need anymore isolation with that concrete "bunker"...

[Trev@Circle]

Originally Posted by american

And why two layers with different thickness? Is that for improving acoustics? I guess you don´t need anymore isolation with that concrete "bunker"...

Different thicknesses = different resonant frequencies.

[Trev@Circle]

Some isobooth action:



and a bit of a close up:

[fabricaudio]

Nice bar!!!! Where are you going to put the cellar?

Just joking!!! I may try to pay you a visit sometime, Southampton is not that far


Nikolas

[Trev@Circle]

Originally Posted by fabricaudio

Nice bar!!!! Where are you going to put the cellar?

Not a bad thought. If I can't cover my outgoings recording music I can always use the booth as a bar and the live room as a dance floor and open a club!

Originally Posted by fabricaudio

Just joking!!! I may try to pay you a visit sometime, Southampton is not that far

Nikolas

No probs man! I always have a few cold ones in the fridge. Just let me know before you show!
T

[judah]

Don't wanna be the smartass, but I hope you're gonna put something up that curved wall (if it is in fact curved as I see from the picture). If you intend to leave it bare you're in for a (bad) surprise.

[Trev@Circle]

Originally Posted by judah

Don't wanna be the smartass, but I hope you're gonna put something up that curved wall (if it is in fact curved as I see from the picture). If you intend to leave it bare you're in for a (bad) surprise.

You mean inside or outside the booth or outside? What particular bad surprise do you envisage?

[Trev@Circle]

For the avoidance of doubt, the inside of the booth will be heavily bass trapped. The outside will be a very large poly-diffusor. I'm intrigued as to what "(bad) surprise" I might be in for.

[judah]

Originally Posted by rimskidog

You mean inside or outside the booth or outside? What particular bad surprise do you envisage?

Hi Trev,
I mean inside the booth. I do have a curved wall in my house, a bit bigger radius than yours (at least judging from the pics) and once you step right at the center of it and speak you almost feel dizzy because of the weird phasey stuff that happens. I can only fear what might happen if you try and sing or play in it. It is my understanding that curved shape (concave) are to be avoided like the plague because of the focusing effect they have on sound waves.

I'm sure your designer will have an explanation to my concers.

Keep up the good work, you're doin' a massive job.

[Trev@Circle]

Originally Posted by judah

Hi Trev,
I mean inside the booth. I do have a curved wall in my house, a bit bigger radius than yours (at least judging from the pics) and once you step right at the center of it and speak you almost feel dizzy because of the weird phasey stuff that happens. I can only fear what might happen if you try and sing or play in it. It is my understanding that curved shape (concave) are to be avoided like the plague because of the focusing effect they have on sound waves.

I'm sure your designer will have an explanation to my concers.

Keep up the good work, you're doin' a massive job.

Ah. Yes, there wont be any curve on the inside, it will be heavily trapped and plasterboarded.

[judah]

Originally Posted by rimskidog

Ah. Yes, there wont be any curve on the inside, it will be heavily trapped and plasterboarded.

Super. Keep up!

[Tonio Ruiz]

wow what a heavy work, I can't wait to see it finished, what kind of gear will u be using in that little piece of heaven of yours????

amazing job mate

[Trev@Circle]

Originally Posted by Tonio Ruiz

wow what a heavy work, I can't wait to see it finished, what kind of gear will u be using in that little piece of heaven of yours????

amazing job mate

I'm planning a 32 channel API when the new control room is done (in addition to my current gear). I might treat myself to a couple of nice mics and some sundry odds and sods too.