Home Depot Shed for recording and mixing

[jiagap]

I am looking to build a man-cave recording/mixing room. It will be primarily me on guitars and vocals. Of these two dimensions, which would be preferred for overall mixing at a desk in the center of one of the narrow walls? And why? 10X20 or 12x16?

Thanks for any thoughts

 

[Btyre2013]

definitely the 10 x 20, less problems with bass! and standing waves even before treating the room.

what are a ceiling dimensions?...that is just as important

 

[gecko zzed]

Check out this article. There is a whole mess of information about how to set yourself up acoustically.

RealTraps - Acoustic Basics

 

[jiagap]

definitely the 10 x 20, less problems with bass! and standing waves even before treating the room.

what are a ceiling dimensions?...that is just as important

THanks on the 10 x20

I think I will have an option of 7 foot ceilings or vaulted to the roof shape. Is there a preference?

 

[Tadpui]

THanks on the 10 x20

I think I will have an option of 7 foot ceilings or vaulted to the roof shape. Is there a preference?

The vaulted ceiling will provide fewer parallel surfaces, which is desirable in an acoustically-minded room. Having 2 dimensions of the room as multiples of each other will be a little problematic but not as bad as when more than one dimension is the same (10x10, or worse yet 10x10x10).

But I'm not sure that a shed will be a good idea. Are you going to try for sound isolation from the outside world? What about ventilation? Climate control to protect your instruments and gear?

 

[jiagap]

The vaulted ceiling will provide fewer parallel surfaces, which is desirable in an acoustically-minded room. Having 2 dimensions of the room as multiples of each other will be a little problematic but not as bad as when more than one dimension is the same (10x10, or worse yet 10x10x10).

But I'm not sure that a shed will be a good idea. Are you going to try for sound isolation from the outside world? What about ventilation? Climate control to protect your instruments and gear?

yes, I plan to wire, insulate, and sheet rock - I do not need sound isolation, as I am in the middle of nowhere, but I will give it climate control. Thx

On the vaulted ceiling, I do have the option of adding a loft to one side or the other. If I place the mixing desk center against one of the 10' walls, and have a 4 foot deep loft above the mixing desk with then the remaining length (16') of the room open and vaulted, how does that sound? Or any other preferable suggestions?

 

[BroKen_H]

TBH, if you get the 10x20 room try to lose a foot off the 20. 10x19 will give you a lot better acoustic area than 10x20. Just saying.

 

[dudernut]

TBH, if you get the 10x20 room try to lose a foot off the 20. 10x19 will give you a lot better acoustic area than 10x20. Just saying.

That's what I was thinking too...sacrifice one foot on the length, and you've eliminated the common denominator. It may even be possible to utilize that extra foot for a storage closet or similar.

 

[jiagap]

That's what I was thinking too...sacrifice one foot on the length, and you've eliminated the common denominator. It may even be possible to utilize that extra foot for a storage closet or similar.

Would 1 foot deep book cases work?

 

[witzendoz]

Would 1 foot deep book cases work?

Thats exactly what I was going to suggest, the books also act as a defuser to some degree.

Alan.

 

[jiagap]

Thats exactly what I was going to suggest, the books also act as a defuser to some degree.

Alan.

back on the vaulted ceiling, what about a 4' deep loft at the 8 foot level at either or both ends? On would be above my mixing desk, and the other would be above the book shelves. Leaving 12 ' of vaulted in the center. Pros or cons?

thanks, and have really been appreciating all responses

 

[mjbphotos]

Be careful of creating too many corners that would then all need more trapping.