nuemes
Be Here Now
Just moved to Seattle and got the ok from my building management to finish the basement of my rental house where I'll be setting up a low budget recording environment. I'm going to have a licensed electrician install three grounded outlets to three conjoined areas this week.
The basement is concrete from floor up to the walls about 5ft high. Ceiling is just under 8ft, the rest of the walls are exposed wooden studs. The walls of all rooms face the street where car noise and occational pedestrian traffic can be heard. It hasn't rained yet since I've been here but I'm sure heavy rain will pose a noise issue as well. As far as I can tell the basement is perfectly dry and has never had water damage.
Area 1 / Mixing Space: this space is approx 7x13 and very funky because it shares the furnace and entrance door. I will drywall (1/2") the exposed studs here.
Area 2 / Dead Recording Space: this space is approx 9x8. I plan to drywall the exposed studs and carpet the entire room (walls, ceiling, floor). My goal with this room is to dampen the sound in here as much as possible and use it for recording vocal and acoustic guitar.
Area 3 / Live Recording space: this space is approx 8x7 and has the only window in the entire basement, which is 2x1. I plan to drywall the exposed studs and otherwise leave it alone to allow reflection.
My goal with this space is to keep street noise out as much as possible as well as to keep loud noise made inside the studio from bothering my neighbors, all while on a tight budget (about $500 - the drywall alone will run $300 of that). I'm hopeful that between all the cement & the drywall that the result will be satisfactory as I cannot budget to build a room within a room.
I'll post pics and update this tread as it evovles; I figure it'll take about a month to complete. If you have comments/advice please jump in.
The basement is concrete from floor up to the walls about 5ft high. Ceiling is just under 8ft, the rest of the walls are exposed wooden studs. The walls of all rooms face the street where car noise and occational pedestrian traffic can be heard. It hasn't rained yet since I've been here but I'm sure heavy rain will pose a noise issue as well. As far as I can tell the basement is perfectly dry and has never had water damage.
Area 1 / Mixing Space: this space is approx 7x13 and very funky because it shares the furnace and entrance door. I will drywall (1/2") the exposed studs here.
Area 2 / Dead Recording Space: this space is approx 9x8. I plan to drywall the exposed studs and carpet the entire room (walls, ceiling, floor). My goal with this room is to dampen the sound in here as much as possible and use it for recording vocal and acoustic guitar.
Area 3 / Live Recording space: this space is approx 8x7 and has the only window in the entire basement, which is 2x1. I plan to drywall the exposed studs and otherwise leave it alone to allow reflection.
My goal with this space is to keep street noise out as much as possible as well as to keep loud noise made inside the studio from bothering my neighbors, all while on a tight budget (about $500 - the drywall alone will run $300 of that). I'm hopeful that between all the cement & the drywall that the result will be satisfactory as I cannot budget to build a room within a room.
I'll post pics and update this tread as it evovles; I figure it'll take about a month to complete. If you have comments/advice please jump in.
I used to live on Whidbey Island. Long time ago though. I heard its a tourest trap now. I can't think where Marysville is. Must be close to Everett? Anyway, I'd like to make a trip up that way this summer and see Whidbey again. I always liked it when I was a kid. Interesting place.
Please feel free to advise on what you'd do considering the space/budget (about $300 left):