Basement Studio Advice Needed

[skythemusic]

I know there are some threads but here is my situation. I am in process of buying a home with a clean, dry, basement. I felt it was the cleanest basement I saw and its about the only house in Portland I can afford. I LOVE the house.

The drawback is that the ceiling 2x4's are only 6' 4" from the concrete slab floor. Excavating a couple feet lower could be an option but seems expensive and time consuming. The room itself is 400 sq ft and is fairly square. There is a washer/dryer down there against the back wall and a hot water heater and chimney deal (not active/no fireplace) towards the middle of the room that I will have to build around. The electric breaker box is newish and is in the basement. It is nearly completely underground and neighbors are far enough away (for Portland at least) so that external noise shouldn't be a problem.

Recommendations? I'm thinking one room for tracking and mixing. I do plan on recording acoustic drums and then triggering additional samples. I like the 70's dead drum sounds a la Fleetwood Mac and Pink Floyd so I don't need a lively drum sound (not that i could get it in a space like that anyway). It is a personal space for my music and the only commercial work I do is mixing. I may do an odd singer/songwriter indie folk deal so I am also interested in a small vocal/amp booth. Thanks......

[Ethan Winer]

A ceiling that's fully absorbent is the same as a ceiling that's infinitely high. So there's your answer. That's what my partner Doug did in his basement studio, as shown in this video:

The Ultimate Home Studio

Doug's ceiling is a little higher than yours, but the principle is the same.

--Ethan

________________
The Acoustic Treatment Experts

[skythemusic]

Thanks Ethan. Hopefully I will be calling you in a few months to oreder some products. Anyone have experience of digging a basement out to get some extra height?

[Ethan Winer]

^^^ I'm not a construction guy, but it sounds like an expensive proposition. Surely that's way more expensive than just buying more bass traps.

--Ethan

________________
The Acoustic Treatment Experts

[skythemusic]

Definitely an expensive proposition but I am trying to find out if I can build in a space and get legal permits with ceilings that low here in Portland, OR.

[jhbrandt]

Sky,

Digging out is one possibility but it's usually more involved than just a concrete slab. You will probably have plumbing to deal with. I recommend that you bring in a builder/contractor to give you a quote. Make sure that he/she is experienced & they will usually be able to give you all the gorey details of the process.

I know all about the height code for occupied spaces... here, where I live, we have no such codes as most people are not taller than about 5 feet.

Cheers,
John

[skythemusic]

Thanks John. I'm in a tough spot as I only have until Friday to make a decision if I need to back out. I have had no luck getting someone from city permitting on the phone or via email (shocking). I will have to go down there tomorrow. Today I was thinking that since the yard is pretty big maybe I need to consider building a studio as an outbuilding. I am trying to get ahold of my friend in Hollywood who did that. I know he did it fairly cheaply but that it took him almost a year to really dial it in. Right now I'm thinking I may need to hold out and find a house with higher ceilings.

[PaulP]

Originally Posted by skythemusic

Right now I'm thinking I may need to hold out and find a house with higher ceilings.

I think this is the best solution. Why buy yourself a whole bunch of trouble ?
I'm sure that you can find something better and will you ever be glad you waited.

[Glenn Kuras]

If you want to dig out a basement, I would hire not just a contractor but also a architect to make sure the house will not collapse.

[skythemusic]

Thanks guys. I decided to pass on this house and keep searching for one with a more readied basement. Building my own home studio has been my dream since I was three and that is the impetus for buying a house I think it is best to not settle. I plan on staying a while as I know its going to take a while to build right.

[jhbrandt]

Why not find the lot you want and build? Then you can have everything you want.

Cheers,
John

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by jhbrandt

Why not find the lot you want and build? Then you can have everything you want.

That's what I did. When I bought my current house 16 years ago, I knew there was no way I'd be able to get a large room for a studio in any house I could actually afford. So I worked with the builder to modify the "template" he used for other homes on the street. I kept the downstairs the same, but totally changed the upstairs to be two large rooms rather than four small rooms.

--Ethan

________________
The Acoustic Treatment Experts

[fitZ]

I would high not just a contractor but also a architect to make sure the house will not collapse.

Yes indeed. I'm certainly no expert, but it doesn't take a genius to imagine what would happen if you dug BELOW the foundation FOOTING. I would think this process is a very expensive undertaking...especially if the footings have to be somehow lowered as well if needed. In fact, it might not even be allowed under some circumstances, but only your local BID has the authority to make these decisions.

[audiobong]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

A ceiling that's fully absorbent is the same as a ceiling that's infinitely high. So there's your answer. That's what my partner Doug did in his basement studio, as shown in this video:

The Ultimate Home Studio

Doug's ceiling is a little higher than yours, but the principle is the same.

--Ethan

________________
The Acoustic Treatment Experts

how is the isolation between the live and control room? Does he have any issue with flanking over the partition between the two?

[skythemusic]

Originally Posted by jhbrandt

Why not find the lot you want and build? Then you can have everything you want.

Cheers,
John

That would be great but I don't know about getting a loan for that and I'm not sure where there are empty plots inside Portland. I'll research a bit though....

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by audiobong

how is the isolation between the live and control room?

Not like a truly pro studio, but perfectly adequate even with loud rock bands.

--Ethan

________________
The Acoustic Treatment Experts

[Glenn Kuras]

Originally Posted by Ethan Winer

Not like a truly pro studio, but perfectly adequate even with loud rock bands.

--Ethan

________________
The Acoustic Treatment Experts

I thought you had just a one room set up??

[Ethan Winer]

The video he asked about shows Doug's home studio.

--Ethan

________________
The Acoustic Treatment Experts