My Studio - Complete... for now!

[Todzilla]

After a year and a half of inhaling sawdust, OC703 fibers, polyurethane and the like, my studio (HUGE sound generation & capture facility) is complete. Well, as complete as any music gear money pit could be.

Check out the enclosed pix...

AirAbove.jpg - this is the view from the entryway/ISO area. It shows the big ceilings and gives you a sense of the basic space.

WallTreatments.jpg - this shows the absorptive treatments I have employed. The purple shrouded things are 2" OC703 held off the wall by 2"x2" strips, to lower the effective absorption frequency. The wooden boxes are slightly modified versions of Ethan Weiner's Build a Better Bass Trap. The corner traps (alternating purple shades) are 4" OC703 angled in the corner from floor to nearly the ceiling.

BasicHuge.jpg - My basic work area. Drum throne has worked out well for mobility and fewer cord snags. DAW input gear is in the upper left rack. Older ADAT, DAT, power amps, etc... gear is in lower left rack. MIDI devices are in lower right rack.

FloorSpace.jpg - the view of the work area from the spousal doghouse loft. Believe it or not, this is my studio when it is clean.

The space is 23' X 16' with a cathedral ceiling that vaults from 10' to 13' at truss peak. Construction is stucco'ed sand-filled cinder block, which provides plenty of isolation from main house and neighbors. I work largely solo, so the idea of a divided space (control, main) was neither cost-effective nor practical. There is a loft at the end opposite the main gear, for when I am sent to the spousal doghouse (not the briar patch!!!). The acoustic treatment was intended to generally control reverberation without losing the bigish room sound (approx 4000 cubic feet). It works really well in that regard.

I'll post more pics via my website, when I get the updates done.

Whaddya think?

 

[vestast]

Hey todzilla - Where are the pics ?

 

[Todzilla]

try again, I was editing cleaner versions.

Sorry.

 

[vestast]

Very cool. Looks like you have lots of space to work with and a comfortable room.

How does the room sound ?

 

[frederic]

Very nice... I love the open feeling you must enjoy mixing in your studio... that's the one thing I wish I had... more ceiling height.

Though I did manage to move mine from 6'3" to just about 8' in most places, its still too darn low.

Best of luck with the studio... but I have to ask.. what is a spousal doghouse?

 

[EdWonbass]

That's nice man! Where is the dart board going?
I pretty much am stuck out in my garage.

 

[Todzilla]

Vestast - I think the room sounds great, but my aching back and wallet may be influencing my ears to some extent. When it was just a stucco box it sounded absolutely horrible. Now it sounds like it has air, but everything is pretty well controlled. No rumbling bass, lots of clarity. Drums, amps, vocals and my rotating speaker sound great recorded in the middle (not exact middle) of the room.

fred - What's a spousal doghouse? Dude, you must be single. He: "what's wrong honey, you seem upset" She: "If you don't know, that just proves my point" He: "Okay, I don't know. We've established I'm an asshole. Now please enlighten me of my sins." She: "Grrrr" He: -> Doghouse. The problem for me is my wife has been on a totally sweet streak for the past year or so. Thus, I have to invent reasons for banishment, e.g., "damn, I forgot to get milk on my way home from milk."

Edwon - Dartboard is a gift from my daughter. I'm still looking for some space for it...

 

[EdWonbass]

He: "what's wrong honey, you seem upset" She: "If you don't know, that just proves my point"

Been there, done that, got the scars to prove it.

 

[Rod Gervais]

Todzilla,

That is a thing of beauty........... real nice job.

At my house - my area is called The Dungeon" - and I banish myself to it every evening.

Rod

 

[frederic]

fred - What's a spousal doghouse? Dude, you must be single. He: "what's wrong honey, you seem upset" She: "If you don't know, that just proves my point" He: "Okay, I don't know. We've established I'm an asshole. Now please enlighten me of my sins." She: "Grrrr" He: -> Doghouse. The problem for me is my wife has been on a totally sweet streak for the past year or so. Thus, I have to invent reasons for banishment, e.g., "damn, I forgot to get milk on my way home from milk."

Actually, I'm married, but have never suffered the need for a doghouse. My wife is very articulate with what she is happy with, and unhappy with, thus I never have to guess or make assumptions. She also states her (dis)pleasure immediately, at the time of an incident, so I don't have to backtrack and remember something from weeks ago.

So excuse me for not grasping the doghouse concept so quickly

 

[kragbax]

Actually, I'm married, but have never suffered the need for a doghouse. My wife is very articulate with what she is happy with, and unhappy with, thus I never have to guess or make assumptions. She also states her (dis)pleasure immediately, at the time of an incident, so I don't have to backtrack and remember something from weeks ago.

So excuse me for not grasping the doghouse concept so quickly

hehe ... sounds like you're married to a man just kidding! No need to bite my head off!

It seems like I'm constantly in the doghouse. Half the time I've no idea why, the other half it actually is my fault. She can't believe that after 13 years I just don't 'know' what the 'problem' is anytime there is one. I can't believe that after 13 years she still expects me to be so intuitive! I'm a man!

-Krag

 

[frederic]

hehe ... sounds like you're married to a man just kidding! No need to bite my head off!

Ha ha, actually, in a lot of ways, my wife does think in a way that's typically associated with men. Logical, not overly emotional, etc. But I can assure you she is a woman

It seems like I'm constantly in the doghouse. Half the time I've no idea why, the other half it actually is my fault. She can't believe that after 13 years I just don't 'know' what the 'problem' is anytime there is one. I can't believe that after 13 years she still expects me to be so intuitive! I'm a man! -Krag

On the rare occasions I earn myself the equivilent of "doghouse", I merely fix something. Typically, something that annoys her more than it annoys me, thus demonstrating my worthyness.

A few years back I swapped an engine into her car. Yes, I was that bad

 

[cellardweller]

Very nice. I remember looking at this room some months ago...
Beautiful. I hope to be there (or near) someday!

frederic - Your wife must be an anomaly... I thought everyone knew where the doghouse was! What exactly did you do to have to redeem yourself with the swapping of an engine....!

 

[Todzilla]

I have to clarify that my sweety is pretty darn reasonable, actually. She even remarks from time to time, "you've had a stressful week. Why don't you spend some time in your studio!" My first two attempts at nuptial bliss were not so smooth and a doghouse would have been such salvation. FWIW, wifey's got a nice office with big windows overlooking the river and a private porch with exit.

But lemme tell ya', even when you're not in a heap of inarticulated trouble, having your own space where you can crank it way the hell up 24/7 is oh so sweet.

Cellardwellar, come on over. Just bring some beer. I've got a house bass and amp, my brother's drums set, a handful of guitars, keys and other noisemakers.

 

[cellardweller]

Too kind of you Todzilla, however NC is a pretty good stroll from here. Don't think the wife would go for it.
Sounds like you have all of the tools necessary for sweet bliss!

 

[KevinDrummer]

That's a sweet setup Todzilla. I really like the vertical interest. I'm sure those lights are just for the holidays - right?

What is the floor made of? Is that just painted concrete?

Where did you get your 703? I'm in Apex, and I have found some places in Raleigh (I can't remember the name - it's a national outfit with a 3 letter acronym). I wasn't too happy with the quoted price, though (I think it was $1.40 or so an s.f.)

 

[KevinDrummer]

Hey Todd,

I checked out your website. We might have met or at least know some of the same people (although my memory lasts about 3 days).

I saw that you worked at Nortel for several years. Do you know Chuck Swepston, Eric Heile, Chris Wilkinson, or Ken Feldman?

 

[frederic]

frederic - Your wife must be an anomaly... I thought everyone knew where the doghouse was! What exactly did you do to have to redeem yourself with the swapping of an engine....!

She is. There aren't that many brilliant, 5'10" black belts around. At least that like *me*

I dragged her away for a weekend for her birthday... to play paintball. I guess she expected something else

And on the way back, her car's engine siezed, just to make the trip that much more unpleasant. We would have taken my truck, however I had a 30ish foot trailer hitched to it and the hitch refused to release that morning, so we just took her car - path of least resistance.

So, my advice is... never take your girlfriend, wife for a weekend of paintball as a birthday present

 

[Michael Jones]

Very cool Tod!
I'm inching ever closer to tunage myself.

 

[Todzilla]

I just posted much more info and imagery on my website. Check it out:

http://www.toddejones.com/huge.html

Kevin, I got my stuff from North Brothers in Raleigh. I had to sweet talk the guy and play the weekend warrior card. I ended up buying 60 sheets of it, for about $400, if I recall. I also live real close to the convergence of I-85 and I-40, so I just had a deal with them that when they had a shipment going to Greensboro, Winston Salem or Charlotte, they'd dump it in my front yard. Took about two weeks. I forget the guys name, but he was an older gent and related more to me as a guy with a hammer and saw than a hippie musician, if you catch my drift.

I don't know those Nortellers whose names you gave. Hmmm... As for meeting previously, I have played a lot at the Brewery in Raleigh and the Cats Cradle in Carrboro.