advice on project studio

[ifyoumust]

Hello all. I stumbled across this page while researching what I'm about to tell you all about. I am a DJ/multi-instrumentalist in the Northeast (MA). My rock band has recently lost its rehearsal space. With no other options (we're broke), i asked my parents if I would be able to build a rehearsal/studio space in their house. I have recently gotten into recording and would like to have a space to work. Now, heres where i need some guidance. Theres a room above the garage, completely unfinished, with a vaulted ceiling. It has a regular standard window at one end and 2 skylight type windows on one side of the vaulted ceiling. The dimensions are 18'x 24', with an 8' foot ceiling at its peak. There is also a much bigger room in the basement, also unfinished with concrete walls and floor. That room is rectangular in shape approx 24' X 30'. The downside of this room is low headroom at about 7' where the beams are. Either room would need to be soundproofed, although the nearest neighbor is about 150 yards away (near the garage room). I would be going DIY, and have a budget of about 3 grand. SO, my question is.. which room would be best for a modest demo studio? I would like to have a separate room for controls/mixing, but understandably will compromise due to the space constraints. Would the room with the vaulted ceiling provide terrible acoustics? Should I not bother with either room? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[guitar zero]

First of all, if you're soundPROOFING because you're worried about disturbing your neighbors, then the basement is the place for you. If you're sound TREATING a room for better acoustics, the upstairs is going to be better IMO. I assume you're going to have drums, so the low cieling in the basement isn't good. Vaulted cieling is better. Concrete walls are tough to hang acoustic treatments on, although it can be done.

Google Ethan Winer and find his site about acoustic treatment. He's a regular poster here and it's chuck full of info. Hopefully he'll chime in before too long with some advice.

There's also a studio building forum on this site with lots of good info on cheap acoustic treatments, if you're interested.

[pandamonk]

Originally Posted by guitar zero

First of all, if you're soundPROOFING because you're worried about disturbing your neighbors, then the basement is the place for you. If you're sound TREATING a room for better acoustics, the upstairs is going to be better IMO. I assume you're going to have drums, so the low cieling in the basement isn't good. Vaulted cieling is better. Concrete walls are tough to hang acoustic treatments on, although it can be done.

Google Ethan Winer and find his site about acoustic treatment. He's a regular poster here and it's chuck full of info. Hopefully he'll chime in before too long with some advice.

There's also a studio building forum on this site with lots of good info on cheap acoustic treatments, if you're interested.

Vaulted ceiling probably isn't better.

Also, this is the studio building forum

[Ethan Winer]

Originally Posted by ifyoumust

which room would be best for a modest demo studio?

Either room will work, with compromises. Over the garage is nice, but will get hot in the summer. The basement won't get as hot but it has a low ceiling. Generally speaking, large rooms are better than small rooms. The downside of a large room is you need more total acoustic treatment.

--Ethan

[nickopotamus]

Originally Posted by ifyoumust

My rock band has recently lost its rehearsal space. With no other options (we're broke), i asked my parents if I would be able to build a rehearsal/studio space in their house.

your broke ...

Originally Posted by ifyoumust

I would be going DIY, and have a budget of about 3 grand.

but you have 3 grand, thats not broke

so which are you???