Custom studio design plans

[Duncanjp]

I'm selling my house, and with the sale proceeds, I intend to design and build myself a decent home studio at my new place. I've been writing and recording over the last ten years in a square bedroom that I treated successfully with MiniTraps. But in building my own room, I want to address the acoustic issues right from the start. Can anybody get me started as to the minimum ideal size and shape for a home recording studio, and are there any sample studio design plans available on the internet?

I'm moving to 10 remote acres in the forest, so I don't expect to require 100% sound isolation, although 80-90% would be in order. I'm more concerned with getting an optimum mixing environment that doesn't require a lot of corrective acoustic treatment. So my questions are as basic as how high should the ceiling be? And, what materials do professional studios use?

Fortunately, I'm not in a rush. Just getting started. Any comments are welcome and appreciated!

[Ethan Winer]

Duncan,

> I intend to design and build myself a decent home studio at my new place ... I'm not in a rush <

If you can wait about a month and a half, Wes Lachot and I are nearly done writing an article for the September issue of EQ magazine. It details the design of a purpose built one-room studio with proper ratios, angled walls, and so forth. Surround capability is also built into the design in case that's important to you.

--Ethan

[Kurt Foster]

I look forward to that Ethan ... That being said there are a few rule of things that may be offered ..

At least 9' ceilings if at all possible ... a room volume of at least 1500 cubic feet .. (height by width by length..) and Everest says 2500 cubic feet ... All room dimensions at least 14 feet (like 14 foot high by 20 wide by 25 long ... with 14' being the smallest. Good things can be done with less (like a 9 foot ceiling) but these are the minimum criteria that most professional acoustic designers look for.

[Ethan Winer]

Kurt,

> I look forward to that Ethan <

Yes, Wes and I are both quite excited about it too.

> there are a few rule of things that may be offered <

Wes designed the space and calculated the ideal dimensions, so you'll have to bring that up with him. For this article I'm just the reporter. :D

--Ethan

[lovecow]

Duncanjp,

If you are serious about doing it all correct, you should consider hiring an expert. Depends on your budget, of course. However, the right paid pro is always worth the money.

Of course, if that's way out of your budget, SAE's Reference site has some plans that could be tweaked to fit your space, perhaps.

[Kurt Foster]

Kurt,


> there are a few rule of things that may be offered <

Wes designed the space and calculated the ideal dimensions, so you'll have to bring that up with him. For this article I'm just the reporter. :D

--Ethan

Ethan,
I intended those comments to the original poster of the topic ... but thanks anyhow ...

[Ethan Winer]

Kurt,

> I intended those comments to the original poster of the topic ... but thanks anyhow <

I'm just tweakin' ya buddy! :twisted:

And I agree with Jeff too. Anyone who's serious about building a real room, and who has the budget, should definitely get a pro involved early in the process.

--Ethan

[Duncanjp]

Thank you for responding, Ethan, Kurt and Jeff. I've been a drop-out on writing and music forums for several months, so I'm a bit out of touch.

Jeff, that link was great! The visuals help innumerably. Exactly where I wanted to start. Thank you very much.

Hi Kurt. I've never heard of the 14-foot rule, but I like it. I'll have to think about the 14-foot ceiling. It's not the budget as much as whether my dear wife would consider it ostentatious. Hmmm. Well, now I was planning on no less than 10 feet, but you've just planted a lust in me. Janet's gonna love you. Ha ha! :D

[Duncanjp]

Ethan, I just allowed my EQ subscription to expire! I've been moving and cutting such ties. I do want to read that article, though! I'll have to renew pretty quick, I guess.

Jeff and Ethan, As far as employing professionals to build it, the answer is, of course. I am not a do-it-yourselfer. I probably don't have the budget to bring in some San Francisco studio-building company. But if I can purchase predesigned plans somewhere to give to a local reputable building contractor, which plans construct a studio, not a garage, then I think my needs are met.

BTW, Ethan, since I'm moving, I'm really glad that I went with Minitraps. I cannot say whether they're the "best" product on the market for absorption, given all the different products and opinions, but they've worked great for me. And they're awfully easy to take down and transport. My back says thank you!

[Todzilla]

Regarding ceiling height... Don't scrimp. Height of a building is the cheapest way to get volume. Width or length will cost a lot more, because it involves fighting gravity more (more load bearing on ceiling trusses and floor joists) and flooring is more expensive than sheetrock.

Look at cathedral ceiling designs as well. It gives symmetry while interrupting parallel surfaces between floor and ceiling.

I've got a one - room space, which even the famous Wes Lachot himself has toured. He would agree that my space, while nicely appointed with nearly 4000 cubic feet of space, involves lots and lots of compromises to make it an affordable recording/rehearsing/mixing/tracking/spousal-doghouse space.

http://www.toddejones.com/hugebuilding.html - check it out...