Basement Studio Questions...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Velvet Elvis
  • Start date Start date
frederic,

The reasons for laying it out as I did is:

1) I can get rid of the HVAC by putting it in with the speaker soffits... If I turn the room the other way, I can't do that.

2) The drains and water feeds for the tub and shower would be in the two iso booths... I'd rather have them there (especially if they were to leak or burst) than have them in the same room as the console etc. (there is one at either end of the "back wall" )

3) I want to use the angled wall entering the studio area as an air lock/iso booth.

It is almost entirely for my own use (or my band).

I'm hoping to make one of the iso booths just large enough for a small (kick,snare, two toms) drums set.

Can I get you to mock up my idea as well as your idea on your CAD software? just to make it look pretty and get a better picture in my head?

Does that make sense?

Velvet Elvis
 
Sorry, had to break this up only because I couldn't see the pictures while typing my reply :)

Does the rack have to go into the center of the console room? If it fits to the upper left of your diagram that would allow traffic to the two iso booths on the right of the diagram. Just a thought, not sure how many knobs you need to twiddle in real time.

Looking at where the piping goes, all you can do is really encase it with framing and surface of your choice (sheet rock, plywood, etc). How quiet is the AC ducting? Is it irritating to you down there? Or just a little airflow noise? If its really noisey you might want to insulate the enclosure you build around it.

I was thinking about the access - obviously little doors around valves and elbows and stuff, for future repair. Rarely to pipes (metal or plastic) leak in the middle of the run, unless it vibrates on something and causes surface wear. Even thats a stretch. It may be required to tear the coverings down, so maybe you want to make the vertical piece rigid, and the bottom cover hinged along the wall, then have it flip up and down so you can get in there. 2 layers of plywood with fiberglass or other insulation on top is probably all you need. To force it to be a two person job to flip it down (for safety), use several latches. If you're in the fancy mood you can even tie the latches together, so that when you release one, they all unlatch. Well, worry about that later.

You want to cover it obviously, but also gain access, and its easier from the bottom because of how the different items are laid out. Maybe, 5' long doors, by 2' wide, with 2" stringers between the vertical and the wall the A/C ducting is against. Happy to draw it out for you if you wish. Let me know.

Looks like good space, and your design is maximizing every square inch, thats good! I really like the airlock idea. Unfortunately, my airlock is actually a bathroom. LOL.
 
frederic,

Yeah... I want to put the rack in the center, because I'm going to use the top of it as a producer's desk etc. I'm actually going to make a nice rack or buy one like this:

http://www.argosyconsole.com/spireimages/hs/9143HSmah.gif

The actual pipe runs are not really what I am worried about... I'm more worried about the point where the pipes MEET the shower and the tub. I've already had the shower drain have to be reseated once. The tub is at one of the room (above iso booth 2) and the shower is at the other (above iso booth 1). The bath tub is also a whirlpool (ahhhhhh.... yes!) and so I need access to the motor etc in case it needs servicing.

In general the HVAC is actually really pretty quiet in that area.

I'm also toying with using doubled up sliding doors for the two iso booths on the one end... to maximize visability and to not have doors that have to open out into the control room space.

Velvet Elvis
 
http://www.argosyconsole.com/spireimages/hs/9143HSmah.gif
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Nice piece of furniture. I debating doing something like that in my studio, but then I opted to design racks against the two side walls, so I had room for the electronic drumkit should I ever decide to set it up again.

While 20x13 (in my case) is a big space, it gets eaten up very quickly. I'm sure you'll experience the same :)

more worried about the point where the pipes MEET the shower and the tub. I've already had the shower drain have to
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Trap doors on the bottom of the "covers", with hinges. A double layer of plywood and some insulation of your choosing should be fine, I would think. And yes, you don't want to seal up the elbows near the shower/tubs, you want access. I do think a trap door is a good solution.

Also, I'd never put gear underneath the trapdoors. Juuuuuuust in case. Because you know the most expensive piece of gear you own, would get soaked immediately. Murphy's law.

access to the motor etc in case it needs servicing.
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I thought most tubs had motor access via a front panel. Maybe its just the tubs that I've seen. I have a jaccuzzi in the garage standing on its side and thats the way its serviced - through the side panel below the tub's rim. Its tight, but its the way it was designed I guess.

In general the HVAC is actually really pretty quiet in that area.
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Cool, that helps a lot. You can get away with minimal insulation in the cover then.

I'm also toying with using doubled up sliding doors for the two iso booths on the one end... to maximize visability and to not have doors that have to open out into the control room space.
Click to expand...

That makes sense... as John Sayers always designs, you might not want to have the doubled sliding doors parallel, but slightly off parallel.

Looking darn good!
 
Yeah... usually the whirlpools have motor access from the side... but ours is fully enclosed in tile :)

I wouldn't want to have to rip out tile any more than I want gallons and gallons of water dumping on to my equipment :)

Velvet Elvis
 
Yeah... usually the whirlpools have motor access from the side... but ours is fully enclosed in tile :)
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Poor planning :D Ours, when I eventually remodel the main upstairs bathroom, it will have tiles epoxied to the doors :)

See, I have a jacuzzi, and I have a bathroom upstairs (with a tub and shower) that the jacuzzi would fit in that space plus 2' on the side of the existing tub, which doesn't interfere with anything.

So, I was thinking simply replace the tub with the jacuzzi, so I don't have to make a new bathroom somewhere.

I wouldn't want to have to rip out tile any more than I want gallons and gallons of water dumping on to my equipment :)
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i hear that!
 
Actually its good planning :) The bathroom (our master bath) looks AWESOME... huge tile deck around the tub etc :) Speakers installed in the ceiling above it... cable tv...

now... if I could just get my kids to go to bed early enough that I can actually USE the tub every so often.

We had a tub like you are describing in our old house. It worked nicely too.

I don't think it will be a huge deal putting access panels in the ceiling of the two iso booths...

I'm going to start building the smaller of the two booths before too long, so that I can get a good idea as to what needs to happen to sound proof the rooms. I figure building one whole room first and testing it will be easier than doing the whole thing and THEN discovering that I stink at building and sound proofing.

I have to finish our loft first though... part of my honey-do list.

Velvet Elvis
 
Actually its good planning :) The bathroom (our master bath) looks AWESOME... huge tile deck around the tub etc :) Speakers installed in the ceiling above it... cable tv...
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I was busting your chops :-D

We had a tub like you are describing in our old house. It worked nicely too.
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Except mine's in the garage :) I'm hoping to flush mount it against the wall so I can use it as a 'regular tub' as well, thus not having the requirement of a new bathroom altogether. The current tub is those ceramic coated iron tubs (floor mount) but most of the ceramic has worn off. Its been there probably since the early 50's maybe? I dunno, its darn old and because its so worn, it attracts soap scum too much.

Plus, the jaccuzi was free. Works for me in both regards. I just have to figure out how to get it up the stairs, turn 90 degrees to the right, then immediately 90 degrees to the left into the bathroom.

I don't think it will be a huge deal putting access panels in the ceiling of the two iso booths...
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Not at all. A little trick I learned if you use large plate hinges, is you can hammer out the pins, then slip on one of those fawcet grommets (you know, part of the valve?), then hammer the pin back in. This way nothing vibrates. lame trick, but it works!

room first and testing it will be easier than doing the whole thing and THEN discovering that I stink at building and sound proofing.
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Well, keep in mind how you will be doing your recording. I had one vocal booth, and when I'm done redoing the room, will still have one booth. If I record whatever is in there completely dry, then I can record using headphones. So absolute sound isolation isn't necessary, for my needs. Reasonably good is important, but perfect? Naaaah, too much money, work and effort.

Also to be fair, 99% of what I will be doing in my home studio is midi composing, or mastering outsourced projects, so the booth at that point would be nothing more than a big closet over the stairwell :D

I have to finish our loft first though... part of my honey-do list.
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Being a sneak, every so often I rummage through the "honey do jar" and toss a few of the more time consuming projects that interfere with hobbies.
 
bwahahahahaha....

I'll have to try the "jar trick"

I actually WILL be doing some big projects....

my last project is releasing nationally on September 24th.

And I've got another one coming out this winter.

Velvet Elvis
 
I'll have to try the "jar trick"
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It works sometimes.

I've also noticed my wife puts certain jobs in twice, or trice, in response to my thinking I'm clever. I need to learn some new slight of hand tricks.

my last project is releasing nationally on September 24th.
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Work project, or home recording project?
 
Its actually an album I recorded with/for my band... we got picked up for national distribution.

go to www.grassrootsmusic.com and search for "just william"

Velvet Elvis
 
Velvet Elvis said:
Its actually an album I recorded with/for my band... we got picked up for national distribution.
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Found it! And congrats. I'll have to give it a more serious listening when I'm not on my laptop.

The built in .75" speakers didn't do it any justice whatsoever. I'll punt my wife off her computer in a bit!
 
yeah... its not the best thing in the world by any means... but its not the worst either :)

I'm happy with most of it... still some things that I hear that bug me about it though.

Velvet Elvis
 
yeah... its not the best thing in the world by any means... but its not the worst either :)
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Well its not the monitoring system I had in my studio, thats for sure. I'd give a try with headphones if my headphone jack worked. my employer won't replace the laptop because they feel the headphone jack is unnecessary. I've been debating submerging it to get a new one :)

I'm happy with most of it... still some things that I hear that bug me about it though.
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Of course, its your music, thats why. Most people I've met are never truly 100% satisfied with their own work, and probably never will.

But thats okay, you can be "bugged" as long as people buy and enjoy the CD. I bet no one would notice what bugs you :)
 
BTW, I did reply to your email. I had to reboot my mail server immediately afterwards (unrelated to that email - power glitch) so I'm not sure it made it through.

Visio Pro 2002.
 
Yep I got the email... thanks...

btw - I've been trying to connect to your web site... and it won't go for some reason... is your DNS box down or something?

Velvet Elvis
 
I working on the same thing
For the ceiling I put ½ inch drywall in between the rafters and calked. Then insulation And then drywall.
I did not float the floors I thought about wood but decided to go with painted concrete
I then can just put down some carpet of I have 8 sections of old dance floor that connect together. I’m also
Putting in double doors one solid core and one wood and glass.
For the wall treatment for my drum room I have a lot of picks posted under drum room help if you’d like to see
Hope this helps
 
btw - I've been trying to connect to your web site... and it won't go for some reason... is your DNS box down or something?
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Yeah, I have all ports closed bu 25 for incoming mail, and 21 for secure shell (for my laptop's IP only of course :D), but I opened 80 so you can peek.

All thats there is an unfinished flash thing I was playing with one day.
 
Hummidity

I would also go to walmart or somewhere and pick up one of those electronic thermometers with the humidity reading built in.


Our basement is actually about 98% finished, but we had a big problem with equipment acting up and finally figured out it was the humidity. my partner was turning the air conditioner that cools the control room off everyday. Had a big rain and the digital console went on the blink for about a week or so until I opened it trying to check ribbins and such. Well after it sat open for about 3 hours it started back working and has been ever since.

Malcolm
 
frederic...

That looks like a pretty cool start to a site :)

I dig the dancing dog ;P (just kidding... I know its a monkey)



malcolm,

Yeah... that's a good idea. The basement is pretty cold
where my stuff is right now, so I imagine moisture might
be something to contend with.

Velvet Elvis
 
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