Budget project studio advice needed...

AdamWathan · 6th April 2008, 07:25 PM

So this summer I am planning on turning the garage of the new home that my drummer and I are moving into into a project studio of sorts. The garage itself is approximately 16' x 22', perhaps smaller. The problem is deciding between a one room studio or having a separate control room and live room. We need the space to double as a rehearsal space for the band, so doing the one room thing makes the most sense to maximize space, however I really don't like the idea of not being isolated from the source sound when I'm in the mix position. I want to be able to hear what's coming through my monitors during tracking, at least more prominently than the background noise. Originally I thought of gobos but I didn't think it would make much difference with a drum kit, and then I thought of maybe splitting the room with a heavy curtain but I doubt that will work either. Then I thought of building 2 french door style panels on hinges that can close and split the room, and filling them with mineral wool to try and maximize isolation... This is my idea...

I know it's a crude image, and the idea isn't going to be perfect of course, but so far it seems like the best compromise that will allow full use of the room as a control room when mixing or as a big rehearsal room, and still having a decent sized control room while tracking and (hopefully) isolating some of the drum sound, enough that I can make decent judgments based on the sound I can hear through my monitors.

Do you guys think this will work at all? Is the difference in volume going to be at least as good as it would be if I was doing this in the same room while wearing isolation headphones?

The other thing I was wondering is if it's even safe to have 6' x 8' wooden framed panels on hinges hanging off of the walls... I'm no construction expert so any input would be appreciated!

bpape · 7th April 2008, 03:32 PM

Well, you'll definitely have to beef up the walls to hang that kind of weight 6' out. They'll need to be relatively massive to do much at all in the way of isolation and you'll have a hard time sealing them top and bottom.

Bryan

BadJones · 7th April 2008, 09:12 PM

You would be better off building the walls out and frame for some glass patio french doors. Construction wise I would think it would be much better than hanging 6x8 foot swinging doors. But then it may not work out to good for the whole band to rehearse in there.

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6th April 2008, 07:25 PM	#1
AdamWathan Gear Head Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cambridge, On, Canada Posts: 39	Budget project studio advice needed... So this summer I am planning on turning the garage of the new home that my drummer and I are moving into into a project studio of sorts. The garage itself is approximately 16' x 22', perhaps smaller. The problem is deciding between a one room studio or having a separate control room and live room. We need the space to double as a rehearsal space for the band, so doing the one room thing makes the most sense to maximize space, however I really don't like the idea of not being isolated from the source sound when I'm in the mix position. I want to be able to hear what's coming through my monitors during tracking, at least more prominently than the background noise. Originally I thought of gobos but I didn't think it would make much difference with a drum kit, and then I thought of maybe splitting the room with a heavy curtain but I doubt that will work either. Then I thought of building 2 french door style panels on hinges that can close and split the room, and filling them with mineral wool to try and maximize isolation... This is my idea... I know it's a crude image, and the idea isn't going to be perfect of course, but so far it seems like the best compromise that will allow full use of the room as a control room when mixing or as a big rehearsal room, and still having a decent sized control room while tracking and (hopefully) isolating some of the drum sound, enough that I can make decent judgments based on the sound I can hear through my monitors. Do you guys think this will work at all? Is the difference in volume going to be at least as good as it would be if I was doing this in the same room while wearing isolation headphones? The other thing I was wondering is if it's even safe to have 6' x 8' wooden framed panels on hinges hanging off of the walls... I'm no construction expert so any input would be appreciated!

7th April 2008, 03:32 PM	#2
bpape Gear addict Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: St. Louis(Wildwood), MO Posts: 438	Well, you'll definitely have to beef up the walls to hang that kind of weight 6' out. They'll need to be relatively massive to do much at all in the way of isolation and you'll have a hard time sealing them top and bottom. Bryan __________________ I am serious, and don't call me Shirley Bryan Pape Lead Acoustical Designer GIK Acoustics

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7th April 2008, 09:12 PM	#3
BadJones Gear nut Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 129	You would be better off building the walls out and frame for some glass patio french doors. Construction wise I would think it would be much better than hanging 6x8 foot swinging doors. But then it may not work out to good for the whole band to rehearse in there.