Even crappier room. Should I even attempt trying to use it?

[ONEsnowRIDER]

I'm trying to decide if I should even attempt using this space as a recording studio? Really it would be more of a recording shed.

The shed is very well built, but very small. It has a concrete floor, cinder block sides and an unfinished ceiling (I can still see the roof). The dimensions are
14' long, 11' wide and 7.9 feet high (if I finish the ceiling. I'm going to use 8' for the recording booth, and the other 6' for the control room.

What do you think, is this usable or not.

When I frame up the walls, should I slant them, so I don't have a square room. Or should do straight framing and treat the walls will foam. I'm leaning toward both.

How about the ceiling ...should I sheet rock the lid, and have a flat ceiling, or should I sheet rock the V of the roof so the ceiling isn't flat?

ANY thoughts would help.

 

[foreverain4]

given the amount of space that you have, i would just make the walls parallel. it is not going to make that much of a difference in the space you have alotted. acoustic treatment can do wonders on rooms. make sure you get the right stuff though. dont settle for cheap stuff. there are numerous posts on this site about acoustic treatment. one recent is on auralex products. check it out!


lynn

 

[ONEsnowRIDER]

foreverain4, how much space do you think I should use between the cinder block walls and the new walls.

Also, do you have any suggestions on the ceiling?


By the way, I did read your post on "auralex products" yesterday, did a little research ...you were on the money on that one. The last thing I need is an expensive fire hazard.

 

[ONEsnowRIDER]

If I wasn't clear auralex products seam to be the way to go ...in my unprofessional opinion .

 

[frederic]

I'm trying to decide if I should even attempt using this space as a recording studio? Really it would be more of a recording shed.

Recording Shed, I like it. Maybe a good business name

The shed is very well built, but very small. It has a concrete floor, cinder block sides and an unfinished ceiling (I can still see the roof). The dimensions are
14' long, 11' wide and 7.9 feet high (if I finish the ceiling. I'm going to use 8' for the recording booth, and the other 6' for the control room.

Not a bad space... 14x11' is more than tolerable unless you have a ton of gear - if it all fits you're okay. I've recorded in smaller spaces. The smallest "studio" I saw was a "cove" off a hallway in a house - the cove was 6'x5' and had a sheet that hung down seperating the "studio" and the hallway.

Depending where you are, insulate the roof before you seal it up. Make it cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter.

Auralex foam or equivelent around the room - even though you have parallel walls theres little you can do about it, so you might need to use 3" foam instead of 2" foam, and have bass traps in the floor corners as well as the ceiling corners. Still, its not a bad space at all.

When I frame up the walls, should I slant them, so I don't have a square room. Or should do straight framing and treat the walls will foam. I'm leaning toward both.

If I picture this correctly, you'll be putting a wall across the width of the narrow dimension - if you want to make the wall at an angle, that would be better than not, but in a space that size it wouldn't a tremendous help. But, its just 2x4's so build the wall at a 5 degree angle rather than 0 and you should be okay.

How about the ceiling ...should I sheet rock the lid, and have a flat ceiling, or should I sheet rock the V of the roof so the ceiling isn't flat?/

I would increase the air volume in each off the rooms by sheet rocking the "V", because more air will sound better. If you have beams that go across, you can actually sheet rock over the beams, or just paint them a contrasting color. In a friend's barn (which is not a studio) we took out 2 beams for every 3, and relocated them on both sides of the beams we left. Triple beam Then, he sheet rocked around the beams, and painted the sheet rock to match what he painted the ceilings. Really created a nice open feeling, yet didn't jeopardize the integrety of the structure. This space became his wife's photography studio.

Finally, in a small space like that don't expect large monitors to sound good. JBL 4412's are definate overkill... look at nearfield monitors, something with an 8" woofer or smaller - Tannoy's, the MS-10's, etc. The reason is because the smaller speakers with a sub, closer to your ears, won't require that much volume of air to get the sound across accurately. Big speakers require a big room, or you get a lot of phase problems.

The analogy for this is as follows:

Its harder to breath through a paper sandwich bag than it is to breath through a 55 gallon hefty bag. The bag is your studio and your lungs are the woofer

 

[ONEsnowRIDER]

frederic, can I just say thanks alot ...you gave me lots of good tips, now my mind is in overtime again ...writers block is gone, err I mean builders block

One thing I was unclear on--

quote:
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If I picture this correctly, you'll be putting a wall across the width of the narrow dimension - if you want to make the wall at an angle, that would be better than not, but in a space that size it wouldn't a tremendous help. But, its just 2x4's so build the wall at a 5 degree angle rather than 0 and you should be okay.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Were you talking about a 5 degree slant from side wall to side wall, or from floor to ceiling?

Again, thanks for taking the time.

 

[frederic]

Were you talking about a 5 degree slant from side wall to side wall, or from floor to ceiling?

Again, thanks for taking the time. [/B]

No problem at all, happy to help.

Regarding the wall, I was picturing slanted left to right, so its still 90 degrees (perpendicular) to the floor.

 

[ONEsnowRIDER]

Ya, that what I thought you meant.

By the way your warehouse studio looks like a good project. I'm jealous

 

[frederic]

Ya, that what I thought you meant.

Okay, clarity is good

By the way your warehouse studio looks like a good project. I'm jealous

Yeah, its going to be fun. I just remodeled 1/2 my house. Now I get to do it again

At least its more fun building than a kitchen on an uneven floor heh-heh

 

[ONEsnowRIDER]

Keep us updated, with pics if poss..