kidkage
Bored of Canada
I'm hopefully getting a room added on to my house to use as a studio...
Sheetrock or Panels?
Is one better, or do they both suck?
Sheetrock or Panels?
Is one better, or do they both suck?
jhbrandt
Acoustic Design
Kid,
Sheet Rock. Please give more information about your questions. Panels vs sheet rock in what situation? and where?
post a drawing with dimensions.
Cheers,
John
Sheet Rock. Please give more information about your questions. Panels vs sheet rock in what situation? and where?
post a drawing with dimensions.
Cheers,
John
W
Weasel9992
New member
Are you *treating* the space or *isolating* the space?
kidkage
Bored of Canada
Hey, thanks for the help. 
I'm getting the room built on so im not looking into treatment options yet, I was planning on doing that later though, it's in the very early stages of being built- (still waiting on the quote) it's a open wall garage thats going to be gutted into a proper room, so I needed to know if I should get the quote based on sheetrock or panels.
I can get you a drawing with dimensions in a little while, a day or so. Though it wont be a perfect drawing, more of a sketch of the room shape with dimensions.
//
P.S- Sorry for the time I took to reply.
I'm getting the room built on so im not looking into treatment options yet, I was planning on doing that later though, it's in the very early stages of being built- (still waiting on the quote) it's a open wall garage thats going to be gutted into a proper room, so I needed to know if I should get the quote based on sheetrock or panels.
I can get you a drawing with dimensions in a little while, a day or so. Though it wont be a perfect drawing, more of a sketch of the room shape with dimensions.
//
P.S- Sorry for the time I took to reply.
RICK FITZPATRICK
New member
Ummm, sheetrock IS a PANEL. So is plywood. So is OSB. So is MDF. So is MDO. So is Styrene. So is Homosote. So is Celotex. So is Cardboard. So is Fiberglass. So is.......
well, I think you get my drift by now.
What kind of material are you calling a "panel". If its precast 8" thick
concrete..well go with the panel.
Otherwise, get a quote for TWO layers of 5/8" gypsum board "panels"(drywall is a brand...gyp board is generic). On walls AND ceiling. However, since we know virtually nothing about your project, or your isolation goal, this is like suggesting using a Lycoming engine for a plane...when in fact it should be a jet.
Same is true when getting a quote for materials when you don't have a clue to what your isolation target is. It could turn out that for a given transmission loss target...you might need Resiliant channel..or RSIC clips on hatchannel..or double wall construction ...or even 6 leaf construction with a room within a room floated on engineered springs ...ie ...30hz at 120db when a nasty mother-in-law is sleeping in an adjacent room. NOW do you get my drift?
Tell us more.
RICK FITZPATRICK
New member
OMG! oops....well, I think we need to talk. WHO is the owner of this building...and WHO is paying for it.Well John, with all due respect to the OP..I do believe you hit it on the nail head.
kidkage
Bored of Canada
Well John, with all due respect to the OP..I do believe you hit it on the nail head.
Yeah, that's not the first time I've got the "16
" thingWell, it's my house, and by "my house" I mean... my parents own it
. I've been saving since 2004, and have been working since 2006, I'm paying for it. I'd rather have my own space than a car, I spend most of my time at home anyway.The reality is I won't be living here forever, and my budget isn't ridiculous so I'm not going all out with an intense home studio with separate rooms, and built floating and all of the real pro stuff. It's going to be a typical home/project studio, the one room thing. It's about 400 sq.ft. We've decided to go with sheet-rock. The panels I was talking about are these really thin wood panels. Yeah, anyway, Im just going with sheetrock and buying some FOAM
I shouldn't have post this, it's been a waste of a thread.
Sorry.//Thanks
kidkage
Bored of Canada
Ummm, sheetrock IS a PANEL. So is plywood. So is OSB. So is MDF. So is MDO. So is Styrene. So is Homosote. So is Celotex. So is Cardboard. So is Fiberglass. So is.......
well, I think you get my drift by now.
What kind of material are you calling a "panel". If its precast 8" thick
concrete..well go with the panel.
Tell us more.
As stupid as this will sound, Ill say it anyway- I'm not really sure what to tell you all as I'm not exactly sure what is relevant information for you.
Jeff_D
New member
Two things...
1. What are you doing with the foam? What kind of foam?
2. Go buy a car instead. You can rent a practice space for your music stuff, and with a car, you can drive to it.
1. What are you doing with the foam? What kind of foam?
2. Go buy a car instead. You can rent a practice space for your music stuff, and with a car, you can drive to it.
RICK FITZPATRICK
New member
Hi Kid and listen. Your questions are NOT stupid. And I'm sorry if I went overboard there. But the fact is, without enough information we're kind of spittin in the wind. Ok, here is the relevant info.
You need to understand that studios are designed to do various things. However, the most important is...
1. Keep environmental sound from entering the mic's, which simultaneously keeps sound in the studio from transmitting to the outside world...it works in both directions.
2. is to keep the direct sounds in the studio(live room) from transmitting into the Control Room.
3. Alter the reflective aspect of soundwaves in various ways to improve the acoustic characteristic of the space. The live room is designed for variable acoustics based on the type music, and the Control Room is designed so it will not smear the direct sound from the monitors.
Unfortunately, most home studios are one room affairs that must act as a chameleon, and usually must meet the typical "soundproofing" aspect as Pro studios...physics does not care if you are in a Home studio or a Pro studio.
Neither do the recipient of unwanted sound..such as other residents in the home, or adjacent neighbors.
So, the first thing you need to define is HOW LOUD the source of the sound will be in the studio, be it live instruments, vocals or the mixdown monitors.
Tell us the type music, instruments etc that will be the source of the live sound, and then tell us how loud you mix. For instance, do you intend on recording LIVE ROCK DRUMS
Or loud guitars/basses...ie..Marshall amps on 10? Or low level acoustic music?Second, tell us who you want to keep this sound from bothering, where and how far they are away in relationship to the studio....ie..your mother sleeping in an adjacent bedroom, or a neighbor 10' away from the proposed studio shell.
What kind of exterior material is on the house, and are you trying to match this material on the exterior of the studio? What is on the roof, and are you going to use the same thing on the studio?
What kind of floor do you plan on building...ie..a concrete slab or a wood membrane floor?
Who is going to build this? Are you hiring carpenters/electricians/roofers etc?
Are you getting Building permits?
From what room in the house will the door to the studio open?
Is the floor of the studio going to be level with the floor to the house?
How are you planning on heating/cooling this space?
Is this in the country or the city?
Any busy adjacent streets, airports, trains, bus lines, loud manufacturing business's or other noise producing elements?
What is your budget?
Can you draw and post a simple plan showing the dimensions of the studio and its relationship to other rooms in the house? How bout some pictures?
Bottom line ....we need all the info you can provide.
One other thing. Compromise is usually the name of the game in home studios. So don't worry. We'll try to help you get the most for your hard earned money. Just don't short change yourself by jumping the gun and starting this project without understanding the nature of "soundproofing"...IF that is indeed one of your goals when building this room. Otherwise..just build it as if it was an add on bedroom. However..thats what you will get...ie..One layer of drywall on each side of the wall that divides the studio from the house will NOT keep sound from transmitting to the house, nor will the exterior walls keep the sound from transmitting to the outside world with one layer of drywall on one side and an exterior sheithing on the other.
But thats the problem with no info. If your parents don't care about the sound entering the house...or the closest neighbor is a mile away...well then..who cares? Build it like a bedroom...ie...one layer of drywall. Word to the warning though...never sheith the interior space with wood panels. Fire loves it. Thats why drywall was invented.
Ok, that ought to be enough for now. Get back to us and we'll go from there.
fitZ
M1Fanatic
Digital whaaa?
16. Two years until graduating HS. Are you going to college? If attending college what will you do afterwards?
My advice would be to keep saving your money to spend on your own place unless you plan on living at home until you're 30.
You've been saving money for six years. Save for another six and build it the way you really want it.
My advice would be to keep saving your money to spend on your own place unless you plan on living at home until you're 30.
You've been saving money for six years. Save for another six and build it the way you really want it.
W
Weasel9992
New member
Aaaawww Rick. You old softie.
RICK FITZPATRICK
New member
I disagree. You can NEVER re-coupe the time. Do it. That six years you could have been doing what you enjoy NOW. Believe me, once the time is gone...its gone forever. My .02
RICK FITZPATRICK
New member
Hey, you tryin to ruin me. I've got a crudgmudgeon reputation to uphold here buddy...so keep your opinions to yourself.(thanks frank..some people think I ain't got no soft spots..well..I was a kid once myself.......I think.
)
M1Fanatic
Digital whaaa?
While that's true, six years out of a young man's life is not an eternity. He can still record in his bedroom until he finishes his education.
Why spend that much money on something he's going to leave behind in six years or less? Unless he really is going to live at home until he's 30.
kidkage
Bored of Canada
@Jeff D- I was just going to get some Auralex stuff through Sweetwater once the thing is built... apparently I can get a free consultation
The car thing is taken care of in a way, there a few vehicles, and I'm not strung out on the idea of having MY car. Im cool with driving what we already have. Also, there are no practice spaces close enough and since I'm doing all of the writing and recording anyway the price of the space and gas money would get to me pretty quickly Also, the convenience of a studio a few feet away from me sounds nice.
Thanks you all for all the help, it means a lot
The car thing is taken care of in a way, there a few vehicles, and I'm not strung out on the idea of having MY car. Im cool with driving what we already have. Also, there are no practice spaces close enough and since I'm doing all of the writing and recording anyway the price of the space and gas money would get to me pretty quickly
Also, the convenience of a studio a few feet away from me sounds nice. Hi Kid and listen. Your questions are NOT stupid. And I'm sorry if I went overboard there. But the fact is, without enough information we're kind of spittin in the wind. Ok, here is the relevant info. It's perfectly fine, im not offended or anything, I just underestimated how in depth this really is
Tell us the type music, instruments etc that will be the source of the live sound, and then tell us how loud you mix. For instance, do you intend on recording LIVE ROCK DRUMS
Second, tell us who you want to keep this sound from bothering, where and how far they are away in relationship to the studio....ie..your mother sleeping in an adjacent bedroom, or a neighbor 10' away from the proposed studio shell. the closest neighbors are 10/20 feet away. the rest of the house would be pretty far away from the room and there would be plenty of rooms/walls between the studio area and the bedroom area
What kind of exterior material is on the house, and are you trying to match this material on the exterior of the studio? What is on the roof, and are you going to use the same thing on the studio? Bricks are the exterior, and those will be matched, is that a bad thing? The roof...im not really sure aboutI can get you more specs on that
What kind of floor do you plan on building...ie..a concrete slab or a wood membrane floor?Concrete slab topped on the interior with bamboo flooring
Who is going to build this? Are you hiring carpenters/electricians/roofers etc?
Hiring a carpenter/roofer/contractor guy (it might sound sketchy but he is legit) and my dad is an electrician
Are you getting Building permits?
Yes
From what room in the house will the door to the studio open?
The "office"/ "den"
Is the floor of the studio going to be level with the floor to the house?
It will be leveled up
How are you planning on heating/cooling this space?
Ceiling fan
Is this in the country or the city?
Suburb
Any busy adjacent streets, airports, trains, bus lines, loud manufacturing business's or other noise producing elements?
Nope
What is your budget?
$6000 for the actual building but I'll add on about $600 for foam
Can you draw and post a simple plan showing the dimensions of the studio and its relationship to other rooms in the house? How bout some pictures?
I'll do that. When I leave work I'll take some pics and sketch something up. Hopefully at the latest I'll have it up tomorrow by 5 pm
Bottom line ....we need all the info you can provide.
One other thing. Compromise is usually the name of the game in home studios. So don't worry. We'll try to help you get the most for your hard earned money. Just don't short change yourself by jumping the gun and starting this project without understanding the nature of "soundproofing"...IF that is indeed one of your goals when building this room. Otherwise..just build it as if it was an add on bedroom. However..thats what you will get...ie..One layer of drywall on each side of the wall that divides the studio from the house will NOT keep sound from transmitting to the house, nor will the exterior walls keep the sound from transmitting to the outside world with one layer of drywall on one side and an exterior sheithing on the other.
But thats the problem with no info. If your parents don't care about the sound entering the house...or the closest neighbor is a mile away...well then..who cares? Build it like a bedroom...ie...one layer of drywall. Word to the warning though...never sheith the interior space with wood panels. Fire loves it. Thats why drywall was invented.
Ok, that ought to be enough for now. Get back to us and we'll go from there.
fitZ
Thanks you all for all the help, it means a lot
kidkage
Bored of Canada
@M1Fanatic
Thanks for reading and replying.
I'm actually graduating this upcoming May, and I will be going to college. I'll be able to live @home during that time, so I'll be here for the next 4 years. (I'll be a little younger than 30)
See, one thing that I should probably mention is that my parents have been considering adding this room for the past 3 or so years. My mom brought it up to me and told me that "I checked with [x] and it'll be about [$X]. So then you can make it into your studio if you want" so it's not like I threw a fit and made them agree to this and I have no clue what I'm stepping into they offered me the space for that. Otherwise it would be a big empty space, or another living room or entertainment room or something. The room will be built regardless, Im just trying to figure out what I can do to make "my studio" a moderately legit studio.
Either way it'll be better the the 12x8ft space I've been using to record in the spare bedroom
Again, Thank you all for the help
Thanks for reading and replying.
I'm actually graduating this upcoming May, and I will be going to college. I'll be able to live @home during that time, so I'll be here for the next 4 years. (I'll be a little younger than 30
)See, one thing that I should probably mention is that my parents have been considering adding this room for the past 3 or so years. My mom brought it up to me and told me that "I checked with [x] and it'll be about [$X]. So then you can make it into your studio if you want" so it's not like I threw a fit and made them agree to this and I have no clue what I'm stepping into they offered me the space for that. Otherwise it would be a big empty space, or another living room or entertainment room or something
. The room will be built regardless, Im just trying to figure out what I can do to make "my studio" a moderately legit studio.Either way it'll be better the the 12x8ft space I've been using to record in the spare bedroom
Again, Thank you all for the help
kidkage
Bored of Canada
RICK FITZPATRICK
New member
Yes. Forget it. At MINIMUM..go with 2 layers standard 5/8" gyp board, and if you have enough budget, 2 tubes of Green Glue per panel between them. Much more details to cover later.
Ok, its time for a caveat here. Seeing as how the ultimate home recording transmission loss nightmare is about to unfold
..ie..rock drums, bass, guitars etc...I must warn you now. Consider this FACT.A rock drummer can easily produce 110dba. A very well known world class acoustician had to design a studio in Belguim a few years back with a Transmission Loss criteria of 100db at 30 hz between every room.(Transmission Loss =how much sound will be lost from one side of a boundary to the other). In reality, this goal is so difficult, so expensive and so calculation intensive, only TWO acousticians in the world would tackle the problem and guarantee success. If you understood what it took, you would be amazed how difficult it is to COMPLETELY isolate rock drums from an adjacent room. So..........in that regard.
Don't get upset when all your hard earned money and diligent iso construction technique FAILS to completely isolate your rock drummer.
You won't be the first to discover this fact.Kid, you are now entering the coup de grâce of Studio building. Isolating high SPL low frequencies. This is what seperates the home studio wannabe builders from those who do it to the best their money and time can afford. And it aint easy. Ok, I'm outta time tonight. Are you still standing up?
Let me know if you want to continue.fitZ
RICK FITZPATRICK
New member
Hey John...
Yea, where were they when I had $2 in my pocket and needed a new alternator on my Dautsun 1200 but had the backside of a Dodge alternator with good diodes. Bet they wouldn't bolt it to the firewall and wire the good diodes to the bad alternator....like my Snap on toolLESS ass did..in the middle of the desert.