My studio build, please take a look at my plan.

[mikeyrad]

So i'm about embark on building my studio in my basement and i have drawn up my first idea of how it will look(sorry not a sketchup user)

I have included dimensions of my space and a layout of where i think things should go.

I have at my disposal as acoustic treatment as of now:
8- 2" traps made with OC 703 and the stiff type of pink insulation(bought them secondhand already built like this )

4- 1" traps same as 2" traps

2- 4" bass traps made by me with rockwool taken from the "how to build a better bass trap" youtube video. I recommend that video its great!

2- 4" auralex foam crap

around 8-10 2" auralex foam crap as well

...So ill probably forget to mention a few things so please ask me "what about this?" and i'll say whoops i forgot to mention that, thanks for asking!

Anyway, my room is my tracking and mixing room so i want it to sound fairly good. I have recently ripped off all the old drywall and will be putting the fluffy stuff in the ceilings and on the walls, and drywalling over it to start.

My floors will be either hardwood or laminate? (haven't gotten around to search the differences, i am on a budget though so any help with that would be awesome!)

I will build any traps that i need.

My 2 clouds will be 4" from the ceiling, do you think i should make my drum cloud bigger say 8x8? Or is 4x6 sufficient?

I do not have a first reflection point to the right of my mix position because of the dimensions of my room, will this be a problem?

My gobos will be 4" thick and there will be 2 of them around the drum kit and i was thinking of making the side facing the drums into polys? Do you think i should or just keep both sides as traps/absorption?

My breaker panel is in a horrible spot and i'm thinking of just covering it with some of the 2" auralex, or putting one of my homemade bass traps in front of it to cover it up?

How does this setup look and where could i use improvement or more traps before its built and i start taking measurements?

I really try to explore all my options before committing to something because once it is done i feel like im stuck with it, so please any info or help with this would be awesome because i cannot wait to start building this!

...almost forgot my ceiling height is 7ft (ya it sucks i know)

I also will be recording and taking pics of this build for all to see!

[jhbrandt]

Mikey,

You're gonna have to loose the couch.

Center your mix position on the 9' wall (where you were going to put the drums. Centered.

The larger room end can be used for instrument tracking, drums, etc.

treat accordingly.

Make sure that the electrical panel is accessible. You can not cover it or block it according to code.

Cheers,
John

[mikeyrad]

Thanks for the reply John!

What do you guys think of my trap placement?

If I move my mixing desk to the spot where the drums are I can put the drums in a corner with one of the 2' superchunks. That would probably be better.

I might have one problem with moving my desk in that area. There is an overhang where the storage room is because it's underneath more steps.
Also how will the mix area be affected havin my moniors shooting into a larger area of the room? Will my stereo imaging or sweet spot be smaller? I'll work on the layout again tonight and see what you guys think.

...any more comments would be awesome!

[mikeyrad]

C'mon guys any advice???

I will be posting updates tomorrow...

[Glenn Kuras]

Also how will the mix area be affected havin my moniors shooting into a larger area of the room? Will my stereo imaging or sweet spot be smaller?

As long as you treat the early reflection points you are fine.

The reason John wants the drums in the larger area is it is always best to have the mic/instrument as far from walls (hard boundaries) as possible.

[mikeyrad]

So I have modified my design, thanks for the advice!

So here it is...my first problem is where my new mix position is(see pic). There is an overhang 62" high by 17.5' wide (out from my storage area). So im thinking about stuffing it with rockwool(maybe make-shift superchunk?), if i can fit it in there or the fluffy stuff, then drywall over. If i drywall it do you think i should drywall it on angle to deflect standing waves?

Also my breaker panel is almost right in the corner and im not sure how to treat that area with it being right there.

How does my drum area look now? Should i still make gobos or just leave it open?...Im still on the fence with polys on one side of the gobos. Or maybe i can just make free standing polys to go around the drum kit?

If you look at the pic you will see 3 traps behind my desk. They are 2 on the walls and one straddling the ceiling and wall to stop flutter echo.

So this it for now, please lemme know if I'm heading in the right direction!

I just got all the old drywall out today so i'm just about ready to start building!...(of course with your guys' approval

[mikeyrad]

bumpity!

[mikeyrad]

Would love to pull the trigger on this build, what do you guys think of my current design???

[ritelec]

Originally Posted by mikeyrad

Would love to pull the trigger on this build

Shoot alway!

[mikeyrad]

Originally Posted by mikeyrad

what do you guys think of my current design???

...would still like to hear what you guys think of my current design because my first design didn fly with the big guys. So that's why I'm here asking for advice on the design...

[ritelec]

Originally Posted by mikeyrad

asking for advice on the design...

Shoot away!

[ritelec]

One more thing. The stairs landing. It doesn't look like you removed a standard size wall underneath, but what you did remove may have been helping with support. You might want to put it back, or get creative somehow to re-support it.

Edit: actually it doesn't look like it was supporting it. but you still might want to look into how that landing and steps are supported and do something.
Edit Edit: actually, it does look like you removed something that was tied into the landing.
Edit Edit Edit: can you cut out that piece of landing under those top steps (the 2x6's), and reframe it back to under the lowest top steps,re-support (continue the lower steps wall through to the foundation).Sheetrock the
under the top steps down on an angle to new continued wall. Frame and cut access in wall for storage under steps

[mikeyrad]

i see what you mean.

if i could cut that off and drywall an angle like you suggest, that would def help out that mix area! Thanks!

...all it took was 3 posts from ya to get some help,(wheres the sarcastic emoticon?)

[ritelec]

And another actually.

Actually, it looks like that whole basement stair wall is piecemealed together.

What if you remove it. And build a new wall right under that stringer. It would go right behind that lally column. Double up some 2x4's right there to support that part of the landing, building across and supporting the other side.(might get you alittle more room by that stair area also).

(note: check at the top of the stairs where you walk into the house....I'm guessing it may be the kitchen. Right to the left at the top, Does that wall going up there look sound, is that point holding alot of weight, is the refrigerator sitting there??.... if so, you might want to build down and leave that section of landing, if not..........get out the saw!!!)

How many circuits in that electrical panel?


You know how I like to spend your money and make work for you, but you might want to relocate it. Or not. Large corner saddle trap could work (leave some air for the panel to breath and construct trap so it's removable and the panel is readily accessible, superchunk or fluffy corner couldn't happen.

[ritelec]

Your ceiling.
Have you thought about using the area inside the joists for treatment, so your finished ceiling is more around the bottom of the joist and you get some headroom back?

[ritelec]

That door and wall at the bottom of the stairs.
Have you thought about not putting a wall and door and leaving the stairs open as it is?

[ritelec]

Leaving the stairs open....., the opposite wall (where I think you first showed the console) might work as your front wall (no panel move, more centered in room).

[mikeyrad]

Originally Posted by ritelec

That door and wall at the bottom of the stairs.
Have you thought about not putting a wall and door and leaving the stairs open as it is?

Quick reply before I go to bed. At the bottom of the steps their is an opening to go to the other half of my basement. One half is a finished side and the other is where the washer, dryer, hot water tank, etc. I want my studio to be closed off from the rest of my basement, that's why I want to put a door their

[ritelec]

Originally Posted by mikeyrad

Quick reply before I go to bed. At the bottom of the steps their is an opening to go to the other half of my basement. One half is a finished side and the other is where the washer, dryer, hot water tank, etc. I want my studio to be closed off from the rest of my basement, that's why I want to put a door their

Take a picture.

Maybe just install the door where it go's thru.

[mikeyrad]

I tried uploading a pic of the opening to the other side of my basement from my phone but I would not work. I'll try and do it from home tonight when I get home from work

[mikeyrad]

Here it is...

[ritelec]

YUP.

What is that "greenish" type of wall next to the opening made of?

I would think to put a door (or two) at that opening where the moving blanket is hanging.

Hinged on the right, one door opens in to the studio (door knob on left), one door opens into utility area (door knob on left) (or that utility side door hinged on left, door knob on right).

You can use a couple cheap luan doors. Neatly screw some rug to them (yes I said rug). Close gaps around frame. (You might also consider a "real" wood door for the studio side door. I'm using the two launs with rug and it works well). Will keep sound out of your room. Not isolated like a "real" studio, but it will be workable. For important (critical) listening or recording, turn appliances off if need be .

You also may have considered building that wall so people can go up and down the stairs while your working, and your studio area was "your" area, the other side was theirs.

I would think to keep the stairs open. More room for you, more symmetrical. Lay the law down with the others in the house about keeping it neat to the utility room (politely), and utilize one larger room.

2 cents,


-rich

[mikeyrad]

the wall next to the opening is cinder block, which is part of the foundation of the house.

The opening that goes to the other side of my basement is not where the studio is. At the bottom of my steps to the left is the opening(see pic), and to the right is where the studio will be.(see pic)

i plan on ripping down the rail and drywalling down the right side of steps(the wall that the console is on in current layout)

where the 1" superchunk is, is where the opening is goin to the other side of my basement *not in the studio*(see pic)

ill try and get a new pic posted

ok sorry crappy pic and penmanship...hope this helps

[ritelec]

Personally, I would leave the stairs open and have them part of the room.

Stick two doors in the opening to the other side of the basement.


Note: if you decide to continue with the walls, make sure you give yourself enough room to get the appliances (wash,dryer,boiler etc..) out and new ones in.

[mikeyrad]

As much as it would be easier and cheaper to just leave the stairs as part ofthe studio I would like to have a little isolation and less noise coming from my basement to not disturb the neighbors.

I would like to know what the big guys think of using the stairs as part of my studio or just stick with my recent design

[ritelec]

cricket.cricket..............................cricket.cricket.....................................

[mikeyrad]

I'm starting to hate the sound of crickets!

...now I'm thinking about ditching the gobos and making tube traps to go around my drums and to use for the vocal booth area. My both now is homemade and not a booth, kinda a surrounding with one of those chineise 3-panel enclosure thingies. It definatley works, just looking for something better if possible.

...whaddya think?

[ritelec]

You don't care what I think.

I'm not a "big guy".





So the way I see it is.
The "big guys" don't care.
Or there may have been some sense in what I mentioned.


Put the room back together.
Throw some absorbers in, and start making some music.

[mikeyrad]

Originally Posted by ritelec

You don't care what I think.

I'm not a "big guy".





So the way I see it is.
The "big guys" don't care.
Or there may have been some sense in what I mentioned.


Put the room back together.
Throw some absorbers in, and start making some music.

I didn't mean it like that, I really really do appreciate your input! I just don't know your credentials, and their is nothing in your signature that tells me anything either.

I know you know what you are talking about or else I would never had continued to ask you questions. But I do wanna make the best decisions with my resources and spot, so that's why I would like to hear what others and you think. I just want to make sure I'm headed in the right direction so I don't blow alot of money I shouldn't be spending.

FWIW I didn't mean to insult you in any way...thanks for your help!

...I got a cousin in jersey and if I go visit him we will meet up and I'll buy you a beer!