Building basement studio - need advice

[fretnoise]

Forgive my newbieness at recording/mixing, but everyone has to start somewhere, right?

I currently play in a two piece band (two acoustic guitars, two vocals), that I record with my Zoom R16 onto 4 different tracks. I use Reaper for listening to it, though I'm not really sure what I'm doing yet as far as adding VST's and tuning the sound from the RAW wav files.

I want to build a studio that I can do this mastering in, but at the same time, be able to record vocals into a mic, or acoustic guitar into a mic or the Zoom as an audio interface (or buy something new for the interface). Currently have a PC, but have been looking at a Mac, as it seems the pro's always have mac's (not that I have to buy what the pros use, but there must be a reason why....).

My current basement plan is/was this, but I've been reading here that the cube shape would be bad for a studio. I'm limited on the one dimension to 8' because of the wall and HVAC, but I could stretch the other (from bar into unfinished) dimension probably another 6-8 feet. I could just use the 11x11 room as well, who wants to workout anyway, but again, cube shaped. No windows to contend with. Floor joists are 8' up, and floor to upstairs another foot or so after that. Exterior wall is insulated concrete (syrofoam-concrete-syrofoam). I also need to run electric, so if I need a subpanel 'just' for this room, I'd need to know that, and where I should place outlets, how to insulate them, etc...



I haven't started on any of this yet, so any suggestions on what to do?

Here's my current gear list (live audio/recording)
2x Yamaha Club S115V monitors
2x Peavey PR12 mains
Peavey 8300
2x Audix OM2
Pyle 1/4" Direct Box Dual
LR Baggs Para DI
Zoom G3
Crafter GXLE-3000/SK
PC, Logitech 2.1 (w/Sub) pc speakers, Sennheiser HD201 headphones, Reaper

I run my Crafter into the ParaDI with FX loop out/back to G3, balanced out to 'Y' connector - one side to PA, one side to Zoom R16.
Partner runs his Alvarez into Pyle DI, balanced out to 'Y' connector - one side to PA, one to Zoom R16
Mic's go into 'Y' connectors, one to PA, one to ZoomR16

This gets me 4 WAV tracks on the R16 which I can copy over to my computer and manipulate with Reaper.

Sorry, digressed into stuff that's probably not important in building the studio. I just want some place I can play/record in, so that I can lay tracks over what I have already, or record new tracks by myself, and have it not sound like poop. I want to be able to listen to tracks in headphones while I play/sing.

Thanks!

 

[mjbphotos]

Would you consider moving that pool table out and using that room? Or put it on wheels so you can slide it over to the bar or the fireplace and free up more of that room - setting up your mixing desk on the wall where the exercise room is, as close to centered as possible.
The bigger the space, the better. 8' cube is NOT going to be good for mixing. The 11'x11'x8' room could be used, but you'll need plenty of broadband absorbors (bass traps) regardless of where you end up.
Electric - an outlet for your computer, monitors, a light or two, your interface if its not USB-powered. You're not going to need any of your PA gear (except mics) for recording, but you need 'studio monitors' for mixing, not your PA wedges or computer speakers.
Since you are using Reaper, you don't need a Mac - the reason you see 'studios' using Macs is because they are using ProTools.

 

[Todzilla]

Yes, cube is the worst shape for a studio (well, a perfect sphere may be worse LOL).

 

[witzendoz]

Empty the main room of pool tables and bars, empty the workout room and knock down the wall, open the wall between the studio and the main room, join on the unfinished storage space, and finish it.

Now we are talking, lets get serious here, do you want a studio LOL?

Alan.