Newb basement studio questions and pics

  • Thread starter Thread starter LordHector
  • Start date Start date
L

LordHector

New member
Hi,

Total newb, here... I was referred by a bass playing friend. I'm getting ready to build a "studio" in my basement. I am using the term rather loosely here in the company of those who are obviously very experience in studio construction.

My original goal was to have a nice "jam room" in my basement. I may actually have to have full band practice in this room, but for right now the plan is for me to have a nice sounding, comforatble room where I can practice my bass and record my ideas on my primitive four track.

I'm starting at the very beginning here. I have a bare basement, with a recent 2 to 3 inch thick concrete floor, and three sandstone walls. The fourth wall will have a door to enter and exit the room, and the ceiling is currently exposed joists. there is space 10 inches deep from the bottom of the joist to the first-floor subfloor.

My original plan was to stud out the room with 2x4x, and screw drywall to everything. This was before coming here and doing other research on the net that showed some examples of the correct way to deal with soundproofing, isolation, etc.... But now that I've run into some of your guys' ideas and setups I realized that I could possibly have much more.

I'm unfamiliar with a lot of terms that are used here, such as gypsum board and mineral fibre... I'm looking and learning though...

Now with the raw details... The room is 140 inches by 132 inches. Right now, we have 73 inches of height if you count only to the bottom surface of the joist. There is room under the stairs (look at the pictures) to build a vocal booth, and I might just do that...

My sound concerns are mostly that the room sound nice. I'm not so worried about outside noise leaking in (though I would like to reduce that as much as possible, naturally.) My major concern is the twelve year olds bedroom which is right above the proposed studio. After doing some inital reading, it looks like I can construct "bass traps" possibly utilizing the existing joists...

I understand that this room is pretty short. I'm not a tall guy, but I understand that after I'm done with construction I may end up with a sit down only place. For taller people, it's alread a sit down only place... I don't know if that will have any impact on the way the room sounds though....

I'm pretty comfortable with construction techniques, it's really the planning, techniques and materials pertaining to sound and acoustics that I need assistance and advice with... My major goal is to not annoy my stepdaughter upstairs... hehe...

I'm attaching some pictures to show you what I have to start with...

Thanks everyone!

jon

PIC NOTES: The stains on the wall look wet, but the basement itself is dry... I had this done recently. the sewer pipe is going to be removed. Other visible ductwork and piping will be framed in and isolated using the best methods I can think of (or suggested)
 

Attachments

  • DSCN0388.webp
    DSCN0388.webp
    9.6 KB · Views: 234
  • DSCN0389.webp
    DSCN0389.webp
    11.2 KB · Views: 186
  • DSCN0390.webp
    DSCN0390.webp
    7.4 KB · Views: 178
  • DSCN0391.webp
    DSCN0391.webp
    6 KB · Views: 180
Finding lots of info... and formed probably an important question...

I know I can't build a floating anything in my space due to the height constrains... Is this a show stopper?

I guess maybe a better question to ask here is what could I possibly do with this space??? :(

jon
 
Have you read through the information that is commonly referred to as the "Recording Manual" on the SAE site, yet? If not, go to www.johnlsayers.com and click on the Recording Manual link. There is a ton of information on studio construction there and we usually ask everyone to read that first before moving forward with more assistance.

As far as your space goes, it seems kind of small for a band to jam in (about 12x11 feet). It will make a decent space for a small home studio and personal practice room, though. The biggest hurdle I see will be how to get isolation from the floor above within that limited ceiling height. Review the room-within-a-room concepts to see how isolation can be achieved and decide if it is worth it or not. For my basement studio I decided not to compromise the ceiling height and stayed with the max available. I can mix without any problems, and can work with headphones in the wee hours to not bother the family. For critical recording (vocals, guitars) I make sure the house is quiet and all is cool (takes a willing family to support you, though).

Good luck and don't give up on this dream. Keep posting and someone else will pop in, too, with more advice, I'm sure.

Darryl.....
 
Hi DDev,

Thank you for the encouragement. I don't plan on giving up just yet...

I did find johnlsayers.com through a link posted on here, and bookmarked the FAQ page (really a page showing the useful threads). There is a lot of info though, and I am patiently working my way through it, learning more and more as I go...

I will probably not compromise on the ceiling space either, and simply confine practice/recording/rehearsal to times when my stepdaughter is awake. Hopefully her interest in music can be an incentive... "I'll let you practice in my room, if you let me practice in my room." hehehe.... I have a very understanding family, so all should be well...

I will continue to post in this thread, and ask questions, and keep you all posted.

Thanks everyone...

jon
 
There is a lot of info though, and I am patiently working my way through it, learning more and more as I go...

You have no idea. :D To digest this stuff cost me a 10 yr delay. Worth it though. By the time I know how to build it correctly I'll be too old to use it! :p (just kiddin!) Good luck.
fitZ :)
 
I seem to be the bearer of bad news this week . . .

Your lack of ceiling height is a major problem. Check your local building code, but a habitable room usually has to be 7'6" or 7', and 6'8" at a bare minimum.

So if you finish off this space, you will potentially have to rip out the entire room if you plan on selling the house.
 
celing height aside, Me and my band rehearsed in a room that was about 9' by 8 ' for 3 years. and we're LOUD. It was cramped, but you just can't go crazy with your Angus Young moves, and you get to know the other guys smell REAL good!

:)

Good luck man
 
You're going to be pretty cramped at only 6ft of height... plus sonically, that's pretty hard to work with - you'll have a rough time trying to get reasonable acoustics.

It would likely be worthwhile for you to contact John Sayers and contract him for at least a phone consultation -- the height could very well be a showstopper.
 
mshilarious said:
I seem to be the bearer of bad news this week . . .

Your lack of ceiling height is a major problem. Check your local building code, but a habitable room usually has to be 7'6" or 7', and 6'8" at a bare minimum.

So if you finish off this space, you will potentially have to rip out the entire room if you plan on selling the house.

Hi mshilarius,

Thanks for bringing that up. Here in Pittsburgh, the building code allows for occupancy of basment rooms provided they:

* are not damp
* have one window that can open for ventilation and exit
* at least seven feet tall

So... as far as sleeping people in there it would be against the code. I'm not sure what they would say about having a recording studio, or band practice space in there... I suppose I could just refer to it as a "work area"... I guess I would bring it up with my real estate agent should the occasion ever arise....

thanks for bringing up that point...

jon
 
LordHector said:
I guess I would bring it up with my real estate agent should the occasion ever arise....

thanks for bringing up that point...

jon

I think you better check on what they mean by occupancy, that might refer to any habitable room (rooms other than storage).

Also it's not just a matter of when you sell your house, there are also potential insurance and mortgage loan ramifications if you finish a basement without a permit, especially if it is not to code.
 
Here in washington,we have the same building code rules about height requirements for habitable space (bedroom). I am a residential electrical contractor and see this all the time. If you finish off space your not supposed to call it a bedroom if you sell it, if it does not meet the requirements. People do it anyway, and the listings look something like this; 3 bed, + 1 N/L bed (not legal), etc....

Im no pro at studios, but I too have drums, bass, guitar, in one of our beds. 12x12. We practice and it is WAY too loud. No matter what you do, the amps blast right in our faces. We have standard New construction ceiling height (about 8"). but we have been making it due for the last 2 years and am now building a 30x32 outbuilding as a remedy.

One other thing that will be difficult- my sons are my band buddies, their stuff stays. If you have friends packing stuff to your basement, dont be surprised if they get tired of small rooms and low ceilings. Youll finish off the basement, and they may go play somewhere else. :mad:

But, if its all you have for now, FINISH IT AND ENJOY IT. I am making due in one of our bedrooms, and its way better than not jamming at all. Just really cramped and usually disorganized. My room is also my office for my business! :eek:

D
 
Back
Top