New build in the UK... Ideas Welcome!

[blivetaudio]

Hi folks,

Having completed the build and opening our first studio over a year ago now we thought we would expand and take out a lease on something new.

Our first studio is a vast mill-space out of the city. It's all blasted-brick walls, 6m high ceilings and rustic vibes. Very nice, very traditional, very live.

The new space couldn't be more different. It is a relatively small collection of rooms (3) in the basement of a refurbished brewery. All new-build, white walls, new fittings and ceilings of 2.9m all round.

We have drawn up a number of plans, layouts and ideas ourselves but as it's so different from our current space we are keen to get some third-party thoughts on how to go about it all.

So, with that in mind, I have attached a rough plan of what we are dealing with. We begin the build in May.

Anyone wanting to suggest any layouts, acoustics etc are invited to post away, Once we begin the build we will post up a diary of the build as we go.

Anyone offering up some stella advice, ideas or help will be more than welcome to some free time at the completed studio.

Studio is located in Central Manchester. UK

Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Additional info:

All existing walls have been built to a very high standard with leakage between room being very minimal.

The landlord (who runs other studios) is happy to pay for two 'control windows' to be installed in the two walls between rooms.

The smaller space, bottom left of the plan is suited to having a door fitted and used as a separate amp closet/VO booth.

Studio will house Protools, analog console and a host of vintage outboard, effects and mics.

[blivetaudio]

... The main decision that has us torn at present is whether to have the centre room as a control room, or the smaller, box room to the right of the plan.

The pro's of being in the central room is it gives us a larger, more comfortable control room space and puts us in a position where we can see all the musicians. We have a nice lay-out and it works well with all of the equipment to be installed.

The cons are mainly to do with having to separate the musicians and the fact that they would no longer have eye contact if performing in the two rooms to the sides. That and the fact that our control room would also have to be a lot smaller, something we were are keen to avoid if possible.

Come on folks, throw us a bone! thumbsup

[Arthur Stone]

How about a CCTV and flatscreens in the live rooms (to counter the line-of-sight issue?

Looks like a nice space...good luck

[alooker]

what's the console? Which room is the machine room? have you got a good HVAC system?

[blivetaudio]

The Console will be an Audient Zen so is only small, we're running PT9 with SSL Madi interface so it's all very compact, no real need for a machine room as such so those three rooms you see are to be two "live rooms" and a single control room.

HVAC system has already been installed and runs to all rooms, has baffles fitted and runs quiet.

We did consider CCTV cameras for sight-lines and are fine with that for ourselves as engineers. It's more band-band sight-lines.

We have been spoiled in our existing place as the live room is large enough to track everyone at once with reasonable separation, this 'small studio' situation is new to us, tracking separately or even in separate rooms is also a new deal.

Any of you guys run multiple smaller rooms to track at once or have studios with multiple rooms with no line of sight?

[alooker]

are you running all your HDDs etc in the control room then? Normally just work in the one live room with baffles if needed. Lots of things are overdubs now though. Amp closet can be useful though for sure, or for a plate if you're so inclined! There's quite a few parallel walls etc, are you getting an acoustician in to sound it out/treat it?