23rd July 2012
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#1 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1,964
Thread Starter  | Building Studio Maasland 2.0: another Northward Acoustics design
Finally the time has come!
After years of dreaming about it, figuring out a design, then meeting Thomas at a trip to Galaxy Studios and realising that the smart thing to do is hire a professional... now the time has come that I can start sharing my build here  .
So, some basic information to start with. Within the new house we are building, A basement with 12m x 7m x 4m (LXWXH) is build. Within that basement, two fully floated bunkers are build, floated using Regufoam, leading to a Control Room with inner dimensions of 5,4m x 5,6m x3m and a Live Room with inner dimensions of 5,7m x 5,6m x 3m. Do not worry about L and W dimensions being too close, there will be a complete inner structure to "shape" the acoustics along with lots of intelligent systems for absorption, reflection and diffusion.
This week marks the start of the inner framing, which I will do mostly myself with some help from family and friends. Super exited (if you couldn't tell already) to get started.
The two picture show the state of where we currently are (although top concrete floors have been added also, including cut outs for cable throughs) and a 3D sketch of the basic framing that I'm starting with this week.
__________________
-progress takes away what forever took to find- Dave Matthews
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23rd July 2012
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#2 | | www.circlestudios.co.uk
Joined: May 2007 Location: UK
Posts: 2,997
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Welcome to the Northward club! Looking forward to it!
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23rd July 2012
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#3 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1,964
Thread Starter |
Thanks Trev, following your build closely!
Some more info.
After some research I decided to test the following speakers: ATC 100's and Adam S4x-V's (being a long time S3a user). I tested both for a couple of weeks in my owh studio, mixing on them and we listened to both set of speakers in Thomas's room in Brussels.
Long story short: both are excellent speakers and I got similar results on both, but preferred the Adams just a little. I liked there front to back imaging a little more, perhaps because I have been listening to the S3a for quite some time.
Anyway, the modified speakers (Adam is building a separate version for me with so the amps are removed) will be build this week. The soffit design will be very interesting, somewhat similar to what is shown at Trev's Circle build.
Regards,
Dirk
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23rd July 2012
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#4 | | Gear nut
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 132
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Mooie ruimte! Veel plezier en succes met de bouw. Keep them pictures coming  | |
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23rd July 2012
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#5 | | Gear interested
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 25
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good luck with this project! I will subscribe right away!
looks like a nice bunker!
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23rd July 2012
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#6 | | Gear nut
Joined: Dec 2010 Location: Pittsburgh
Posts: 112
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subscribed, can't wait to see this!
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24th July 2012
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#7 | | Lives for gear
Joined: May 2012 Location: Austin
Posts: 1,315
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Congrats, Dirk.
Looking forward to the thread.
Paul
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24th July 2012
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#8 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1,964
Thread Starter |
So, I started framing today - all by myself...
I really took the time to find out a way to get some efficiency later on. I just received a new powersaw and am still waiting on a new power drill (the hammer type) to bolt the studs in the concrete floor and ceiling.
Friday I have a full day with at least the new saw, I hope the get most of the CR wall framing done by the end of Friday.
Here is a picture showing todays progress. Not a lot, but it is a start  .
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24th July 2012
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#9 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Nov 2004 Location: Stavenisse
Posts: 1,841
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Hoe groot is de ruimte? How big will the place be? In square meters?
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24th July 2012
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#10 | | Gear Head
Joined: May 2005 Location: Netherlands
Posts: 43
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I'd love to lend a hand or two.
Not sure where in NL you're located, but let me know and we'll work it out.
__________________ Mental Audio Deviations | |
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24th July 2012
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#11 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1,964
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by muziekschuur  Hoe groot is de ruimte? How big will the place be? In square meters? | The final inner available space after all the acoustic build-out will be ~20m2 for the CR and 25m2 for the LR with max ceiling height of 2,8m.
In the LR there will be 12 of the typical diffusors that Thomas uses, the room is going to sound great! I honestly believe that the CR is going to be extremely well balanced. Unfortunately I can not show all the great functionality that Thomas has designed into the acoustic system (it is one of his FTB designs) but since we had the luxury to start with a clean sheet, this room, although relatively small, is going to sound as good as the best out there!
Regards,
Dirk
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24th July 2012
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#12 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1,964
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by Mental Audio I'd love to lend a hand or two.
Not sure where in NL you're located, but let me know and we'll work it out. | Hey, I might take you up on that offer! I'm in the very south, near Sittard.
Greetings,
Dirk
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24th July 2012
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#13 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1,964
Thread Starter |
This baby is going to seriously speed up things .
Greetings,
Dirk
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25th July 2012
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#14 | | Gear nut
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 132
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Nice. I also bought one. You didn't go for the extended version?
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27th July 2012
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#15 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1,964
Thread Starter |
Today was a good day of progress. Most of the framing for the basic CR shape is done. I do need to bolt everything tighly to floor and ceiling, but I am awaiting a stonger power drill to drill into the concrete.
In the pictures below you see:
1: the left CR wall framing
2: a little detail of the framing of the right CR front corner. You can see that there are quite some angles involved. Wait untill I start building the soffits!
3: a view from the LR looking into the CR. The frame standing on the floor is part of what needs to be attached to the ceiling as part of the structure supporting the large ( ) glass.
It's clear that I am not a pro builder and probably once the sheetrock guys come in, they'll notice some onorthodox framing work, but I understand the design very well and everything will fit nicely together. I measured a lot today and I think I'm working pretty accurately.
More next week!
Greeetings,
Dirk
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27th July 2012
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#16 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Nov 2004 Location: Stavenisse
Posts: 1,841
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What will be the heigth?
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27th July 2012
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#17 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1,964
Thread Starter |
Height varies between 2,6m and 2,9m with combinations of (heavy) absorption and diffusion. I expect to be working on the ceiling structure within a couple of weeks. The ceiling structure is fairly complex, will be intresting!
Greetings,
Dirk
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30th July 2012
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#18 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1,964
Thread Starter |
Framing progress!
Today I started with some framing of the live room - more on that later this week. But more importantly, I got help from my very good friend Morris (btw if you ever need some guitar or keyboard tracks - he is your man ). We fixed the front wall part above the CR window. In terms of shape of the CR, this is a very important part and we made sure that all angles were very precize.
It looks pretty straight forward now, but wait until we start building the soffits into the opening you see now in the pics below.
One shows my buddy Morris and the other shows a little of all the angles involved in the design. And this only is the start .
Greetings,
Dirk
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31st July 2012
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#19 | | Lives for gear
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,365
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Looking great, Dirk!
A good chop saw is worth it's weight in gold.
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2nd August 2012
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#20 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1,964
Thread Starter |
Today I had a full day again today. Finished the framing for the LR rear wall with the 8 type 874 diffusors. In the pictures below you see first a view from the CR to the LR.
First picture: view from the CR into the LR. As you can see from the mix position you have a full view on the rear diffusion wall, which will look excellent. The speaker soffits still need to be built; they will be inserted into the opening as you see it now.
Second picture: view from the back of the LR into the CR.
Hopefully I can finish the framing within the next week and move on with electrical and ventilation ductwork.
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13th August 2012
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#21 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1,964
Thread Starter |
Some good news and some bad...
Good: I found a great deal on 13 diffusors of which I need 16 - major time saver and solid budget reduction
Good: I have a great lead on what looks to be a D&R Orion 32mono inlinem, 16 stereo channels in good shape about an hours drive away. I'm going to have a look at it in September.
Good: got the rest of the wood studs to finish the basic studwork in.
Bad: I injured my ancle (is that the right spelling?) I tore one of the bands of my ancle joint in what should have been a relaxed tennis match this Saturday. Spent the afternoon at the emergency room at the hospital. Now I have to wait until Friday before I get some tape that should allow me to walk again. After two days of rest, not much progress...
So, building has stopped and will continue only in a week or 3, if all goes well...
Greetings,
Dirk
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13th August 2012
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#22 | | Lives for gear
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,365
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Bummer about the ankle. Heal well!
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14th August 2012
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#23 | | Gear interested
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 25
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damn, good luck with your foot! that's not a welcome injury, as if there are any welcome ones... 
you found some great diffusors!! any left for our studio?  (re-amp)
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14th August 2012
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#24 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1,964
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by billysate damn, good luck with your foot! that's not a welcome injury, as if there are any welcome ones...
you found some great diffusors!! any left for our studio? (re-amp) | Thanks.
I guess I bought the whole lot, still quite expensive...
Greetings,
Dirk
PS I see you are making great progress too!
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17th August 2012
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#25 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1,964
Thread Starter |
Here's (part of) the - simplified! (for confidentiality reasons) - design of the studio.
As you can see - getting the frequency response right - a lot of treatment! Not all secrets (un)fortunately can be reveiled. All I can say is: Thomas is the guy to design your studio. He already has an impressive portfolio to prove it and actually has the related masters degree in physics. No way you can design something like this if you can't do the physical modelling and complex calculations.
Can't wait to continue building!
Greetings,
Dirk
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17th August 2012
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#26 | | www.circlestudios.co.uk
Joined: May 2007 Location: UK
Posts: 2,997
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Looking good!
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18th August 2012
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#27 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1,964
Thread Starter |
I got some questions on how the floor is floated. So I dug up some pictures from last year.
First you see the outer shell which is the basement floor, with a 20cm wide perimeter of Regufoam, 5cm thick. The Regufoam used is calculated based on all the weight of the two bunkers that will push on it so you get a certain pressure and it acts as the spring in a mass-spring-mass system.
If I understood it correctly (Thomas, please correct me if I am talking rubbish here ) the resonance frequency of the final system (when all the weight is in) lies around 7-8Hz. This too make sure we're well enough below the lowest bass frequencies.
The second picture shows the concrete slabs put on top of it. The PVC pipes you see are to vent the locked-up air between the Regufoam. If we wouldn't do this, the air would act as a spring too, messing up the system...
Greetings,
Dirk
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18th August 2012
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#28 | | Lives for gear
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,365
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Your place is looking great. In the States, it's rare to see such a deep basement. The height you'll have to work with is excellent. I'm assuming you have a sump to protect against flooding?
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18th August 2012
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#29 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1,964
Thread Starter | Quote:
Originally Posted by Syncamorea Your place is looking great. In the States, it's rare to see such a deep basement. The height you'll have to work with is excellent. I'm assuming you have a sump to protect against flooding? | Thanks. In the Netherlands, basements are also not so deep - but this one ofcourse is purpose-built to house the studio.
Ground water level is about 2-3m below the lowest part of the basement. However, the concrete is thick enough and treated so it is waterproof.
Greetings,
Dirk
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18th August 2012
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#30 | | Lives for gear
Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Netherlands
Posts: 1,964
Thread Starter |
Here's a picture that shows the building of the basement. This basically, together with the 40cm thick concrete floor (or ceiling depending how you look at it  ) on top is basically the outer shell of the studio. The floated bunkers, with 20cm thick walls and 20cm thick concrete ceiling are the inner shell.
Greetings,
Dirk
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