small, rectangular studio

[Shorty Edwards]

Hello group -
I'm new here so go easy on me.

I'm about to embark on building a small basement studio. The layout is not set in stone yet, and that's why I'm here. There is some flexibility in how 'rectangular' the layout will be.

My needs are small as this is a humble project studio. I record mainly alone, but have hopes of recording vocals, percussion and occasionally guitar.

I would like a small isolated 'area' away from the computer noise, not necessarily a booth as I don't know if space will allow.

I've read some posts here, but am sort of overwhelmed at the detail of some of them (afterall I am a newbie to this).

Any advice would be appreciated - sites, books, floor plans? Cheers!

Doug

 

[knightfly]

Doug, unfortunately the total success or failure of a recording/mixing area lies just where you don't want to go - in the DETAILS -

To start with, it would help to know what your maximum dimensions, including ceiling height, are - without those, any suggestions would just be like farting in the wind.

Details like, exactly what is the construction of the overhead - floor sheathing, joist dimensions, any bracing or insulation already there, actual height from the basement floor to the lowest point overhead, condition of the basement floor (smooth/rough, wet/dry, flooring/carpet/painted, (which?)

John has done some pretty amazing plans for just such a space, check out -

http://www.saecollege.de/reference_material/index.html

click on "studio plans" and scroll down a ways.

If you have the room to be able to give up about 10% of it to better acoustics, splayed walls/ceilings will make it much easier to get a good sounding mix area. If not, then more attention will have to be paid to absorption, diffusion, etc -

so, give us more specifics about your existing conditions and let's see where it goes... Steve

 

[Shorty Edwards]

knightfly -
Thanks... i'll get some actual measurements and post them here. Till then.

Doug