To build a "The Mixing Room"

[Fuge]

To the experienced and whoever else knows what they're doing....

Now that the home addition is complete (and my wife got what she wanted) its time to build the studio (my part of the deal )

I'm about to construct a project studio for mixing. My goal is to build a room with the number one goal of "what I hear is what I get" (I guess were all chasing that one). Most of my work will be direct and if I need to mic or isolate something plans are to do that in another room or elsewhere- or over there at "Yetti's" studio.

This room is yet to be built and will be in a basement. I will be mixing with a Protools HD rig, Event 8 monitors etc... and doing mainly rock music. I just want the most accurate room within a reasonable budget.

I've looked at acoustics101.com for some construction technics, but it seems you get different opinions about how the room should be put together in talking to different people. I have basic knownledge about what to do and what not to do.. Like building a room that's square! Some considerations might be what flooring... hardwood or carpet, can lights or track lighting... ventilation how to handle that, etc...

Attached are some drawings for reference, even one with auralex suggestions after a room analysis. I like auralex products alot, but I'm curious if that's the best way to go and if other manufactures provide room suggests.

Any suggests or insight would be appreciated.
Thanks...

[Stick]

The best source of studio design and construction info for DIYers is:

http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/index.php

I'm about start construction on my studio in the garage based almost solely on what I learned. Great guys and great info. Prepare to be overwhelmed by a TON of info.

[Fuge]

WOW! I've got a lot of reading to do... . The site looks like a great resource.

Thanks so much

Dave

[not_so_new]

Originally Posted by Fuge

I've looked at acoustics101.com for some construction technics, but it seems you get different opinions about how the room should be put together in talking to different people. I have basic knownledge about what to do and what not to do.. Like building a room that's square! Some considerations might be what flooring... hardwood or carpet, can lights or track lighting... ventilation how to handle that, etc...

I would really encourage you to check this out.... I just got a copy and I can't put it down. The author posts at the John Sayers site.

Attached are some drawings for reference, even one with auralex suggestions after a room analysis. I like auralex products alot, but I'm curious if that's the best way to go and if other manufactures provide room suggests.

It is probably not.. check out the book and read allot of stuff at John's site and at Studio Tips.

Good luck.

[Stick]

Originally Posted by Fuge

WOW! I've got a lot of reading to do... . The site looks like a great resource.

Thanks so much

Dave

Not a prob... it's a huge can of worms! Good luck, keep us posted!

[TEMAS]

Yup, John Sayers is the place to be.

I think it would ashame not to have a live room with the space you've got there. You guys with large basements are so lucky; I've only got a spare 200 square foot in my London apartment to build mine.

Good luck with it.

[Fletcher]

Originally Posted by Fuge

My goal is to build a room with the number one goal of "what I hear is what I get" (I guess were all chasing that one).

Wow... no ceiling height. Bummer. It's not that you're totally screwed it's just that you have a pretty large problem to try to work around. I would highly recommend you consult a professional acoustician... depending on where you're located I'm sure there is someone within reasonable proximity with whom you could consult.

Off the top of my head I'd say that the "Auralex solution" you seem to have proposed should look pretty bitchin' but be somewhere in the semi-useless to totally useless range in terms of getting the bass response under control.

On the bright side, it looks like you can manage the reflection patterns pretty easily but I would definitely recommend you examine a series of 'random diffusion' objects attached to the ceiling [parallel floor/ceilings are a drag upon drags].

The couple thousand it'll cost you to consult a professional will most likely save you several thousand in time and agita as you try to get your mixes to reference out of the room... you nearfield monitor choise will also be pretty critical [and fortunately it doesn't look like you're trying to build a "in the wall" kind of system [because if you are, you might want to start a Prozac® regimine before using/tweezing the room].

Best of luck with it!!

[Yetti]

Originally Posted by Fuge

Most of my work will be direct and if I need to mic or isolate something plans are to do that in another room or elsewhere- or over there at "Yetti's" studio.

...

You are always welcome at The Jamm Room Fuge!
And I will give you back your NTK as soon as you return my Dewalt 12" miter saw.
Seriously, I would be happy to help you out with building diffusers or whatever you want to make this an ultimate room!
Welcome to Gearslutz Brotha!

[Hagen Daaz]

Originally Posted by Fuge

To the experienced and whoever else knows what they're doing....

I'm about to construct a project studio for mixing.

This room is yet to be built and will be in a basement.

Attached are some drawings for reference,...

Any suggests or insight would be appreciated.
Thanks...

I speak in Spanish, so I''ll do my best in English.
Regarding the height...2 meters is so difficult. I'll tell you why.
Let's suppose you put a hard ceiling (triple gypsum board). So the sound will bounce between the floor and the ceiling crating a standing wave.
For your 82.5" (2.095 m) you'll have a big deep at 82.7 Hz, seated.
And you can't get rid of it easily. You'll also have a big boost at 165 Hz.
The main "tool" to solve that kind of problems is good proportions and bass traps.
The most used solution is to build a "window" in the ceiling (I mean, putting a lot of absorption- 8") so the creation of the standing wave will be affected by the energy transforming action of the fibreglass or mineral wool.
I think you'll need more space for a good Helmholz resonator. But it will work only in the frequency you design. The window is broadband.
If you put the woofers in the peaks of your standing wave, you will end with a big boost in the frequency response (related to the modal freq).
You have to avoid those points.
See picture to visualize problematic points in the height side.
The best position is a compromise of every point (usually at 43% of the total length)

Find a chair that put your ear at the suggested height in the .jpg and then, align your woofers and tweeters (look at the manual if you can put your monitors in horizontal mode) with your ear.
That should bring you the flattest response of the speakers in the room (and you will be in the most neutral position).
Of course you still have to analyze the interference between the front wall and the monitors (will you soffit mount the Events?) and other room modes.
Bye.

PS: maybe you can dig a few inches to obtain more height...

[Fuge]

Hey Guys...

Thanks for all the input. I spent 3 hours last night digging through the John Sayers site. All I can tell you is this is overwhelming... So many considerations and choices or approaches... Upon reading and seeing comments made. A different shaped room may be the best way to go to deal with the issues. Looks like I'll be busting out the CAD software this weekend and reworking things. Looks like the ceiling height is my biggest challenge however! More to come...

dave

[Jay Kahrs]

How important is it to contain sound that might otherwise travel right through the ceiling to the upstairs & rest of the house?

[Fuge]

Hey Jay,

Containing the sound from traveling upstairs isn't that big of a deal, but it would be nice so I'm not annoying the crap out of someone at 3:00 am... It would also lessen the chance of the old lady running down and clocking me one in the middle of one of her favorite TV shows!

Dave

Originally Posted by Stick

The best source of studio design and construction info for DIYers is:

http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/index.php

I'm about start construction on my studio in the garage based almost solely on what I learned. Great guys and great info. Prepare to be overwhelmed by a TON of info.

Don't forget www.studiotips.com