Starting to Build a Studio.... Need alot of HELP!!!

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DNA PRODUCTIONS

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Hi my names Wesley and im Just Getting Involved in starting a Recording studio.
Me n a Partner are doing this in a Office Building That My Dads Owns.
We are using to seperate rooms that are back to back toeachother.
We are going to Cut a Hole in the wall and use a Window To Seperate the Rooms.
What Kind of Glass Window Or Wiondows Should we Use?
Is there anything to Look Out for ?
The room is 11x9 and theres 2 rooms...

any info is appreciated!
 
basic things: a power source, something that records audio, reference monitors, 703 rigid fiberglass, microphones, mixer, and cables to hook all of those things up.
 
Shout It Out said:
basic things: a power source, something that records audio, reference monitors, 703 rigid fiberglass, microphones, mixer, and cables to hook all of those things up.
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ok i use nuendo3 to record onto my computer, im going to be purchasing monitors. also i have recently purchased alot of cables and jacks.
what is this 703 fiber glass used for?


My plan was to sound proof the enitre one room with the sound proof from guitar center where the vocals will be and the room where the mixing will be i planed on using more of the sound proof from guitar center. is there a certain type of glass i should use? for the window, i know it has to at a 12degree angle.
 
Im not the guy to ask about the windows glass, i'm pretty sure you will need to build a frame and have 2 plexiglass windows with an air gap in between both piece of glass will need to be angled. The rigid fiberglass will help tame the frequencies in the rooms for recording. you need 4 inch panels for bass traps in the corners (that is where bass build up the most). You need 2 inch panels for high frequency and mid frequencies on the side walls. In that small of a room you will also need 4 inch fiberglass on the back wall since the reflecetions will be very fast. Also, if you are having a studio in 2 prebuilt rooms, soundproofing will be impossible so there is no use in trying really, the best you could do is build rooms in side of the rooms which would give you 0 space. My control room is in a 9'x11' room, bass traps help a ton. Anything guitar center sells for "soundproofing" will probably not be as effective as rigid fiberglass.

Sounds like you need to do some reading. www.johnlsayers.com that site has building adivce and forums, check it out.

My post may sound like bad news, but you will survive if the studio isnt meant to be commercial.
 
My plan was to sound proof the enitre one room with the sound proof from guitar center where the vocals will be and the room where the mixing will be i planed on using more of the sound proof from guitar center. is there a certain type of glass i should use? for the window, i know it has to at a 12degree angle.
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Soundproof WHAT from Guitar Center? :confused: I know of NOTHING they sell that will "soundproof". Furthermore, if the idiots there insist that the "foam" products will "soundproof", tell them for me they are damn liars and have their head up their ass. Not only that, I believe its time for a rude awakening when it comes to "soundproofing"...there is NO such thing. Only degrees of TRANSMISSION LOSS. Better to learn it now than spend a fortune on crap that does nothing and STILL have to tear it out and install the REAL deal, in order to achieve...ahem...."soundproof" rooms.
I apologize if I come across like a dick, but I've grown sick and tired of people BELIEVING that they can simply go to Guitar Center and buy "soundproofing" in a box. But just to show you I want to help, let me "enlighten" you.

First off, since your "proposed" studio will be in an office building, you're in for ANOTHER rude awakening. Its called COMMERCIAL CODES. Understand this, ANYTIME you start altering a commercial space, you will be required to submit an application for a permit, even cutting a hole in a wall for a window may require it in some juristictions. And believe me, if your goal is to "soundproof" these spaces, and I believe you WILL HAVE TO, in order to keep sound from trasmitting to other occupied spaces, will require MAJOR construction. And if this is a modern office with T-grid cielings, you are up against a very difficult situation. Partition walls in these type of spaces usually do not extend to the structural cieling. Unless it is a fire wall. T-grid ceilings do NOTHING for soundproofing. Sound simply flanks up through the tiles and over the walls. Terrible situation to build a studio in. Usually, to modify these spaces, HVAC, fire sprinkling, egress, and many other CODE COMPLIANCE issues will have to be addressed. NOT TO MENTION, modifying existing construction or building assemblies which are RATED for fire, as well as transmission loss. Belive me, commercial building space modification is NOT an intuitive process, let alone easy, nor cheap. Even putting up a simple partition wall can alter fire sprinkling, HVAC supply and return paths, block approved paths for fire escape and many other things.

And since you will be operating a business where the public will be using the space, you will no doubt have to get an occupancy permit, which means inspections, amongst other things. I suggest you talk to your local Building Inspection Department PRIOR to doing ANYTHING. If and when you are then ready to lay a pencil to paper for submitting your plan to the B.I.D., come on back and we can try to help. However, NO ONE, in their right mind can offer CODE COMPIANCE design help over the internet. Especially, a bbs such as a HOME RECORDING bbs. We can help with soundproofing and treatment concepts. But even then, some issues must be delt directly with your local BID.
In the meantime, if you insist on other avenues of procedure, here is REAL information regarding "soundproofing" and treatment issues. Let me warn you though. This stuff is NOT intuitive, is based on science and building codes, and may take you into a unfamiliar territory for the uninitiated. For the average home recording enthusiast, there are simple remidies and solutions. For commercial projects however, you may set yourself AND your dad for unwanted and legal situations should you ignor basic advice such as I have given you.
http://forum.studiotips.com/index.php
http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=f8f186822f24bb012e5d73978154c7ca
http://www.saecollege.de/reference_material/index.html
http://www.realtraps.com/art_studio.htm
Good luck.
fitZ
 
Although your idea to use the space may seem like a good one, like Rick pointed out you are very likely to run into a lot of problems with codes and zoning and who knows what other restrictions.
Someone needs to slap a few of the sales people down at GC, they simply don't have a clue most of the time.
Lets disspell the myth once and for all, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS SOUNDPROOFING FOAM, plain and simple.
 
ok, heres the deal
my Parents Own a Nice Office Buidling with 15 offices and our mortgage company upstairs. The Office closes at 5 so thats when we will be able to do what we do.
as for permits , its a privatly owned property and my pops is the Owner
and he have me 2 offices that are back to back. so i figured i could cut a hole in the wall use some plexi glass and use one room for the Mix room , then i was going to use all of the foam from Guitar Center to Muff the Room .
i plan on using the other room for the mixers, pianos, computers, etc. couches
there is carpet on the floor in both rooms, i dont know if that Matters or not. Im using this room for Mostly Recording Vocals Only! We do alot of Hip Hop stuff and i make alot of beats ... will i be ok?
 
i guess for hip hop its ok, for anything else not really. trust me once u put a couch in a 11 x 9 studio, you will not have any space.

edit...
second thought, if your allowed to cut a hole in the wall, why dont you just knock it down and have a 11 x 18 room, this would be much better.
 
Thanks for all the Input, Does anyone Know a Forum on How to USe Reason and How to Midi Threw it?
 
I am starting to think so too. Somebody with a 15K budget usually is doing some more research so as they are not going to waste it.

But just in case not...A studio is a very specialized piece of construction. It is not throwing plexiblass in a window between two rooms.

Go to the John L Sayers site and spend a day or so reading. Learn about the difference between isolation and absorbtion and what it is you want to do.
 
So your pop owns the building and you can do whatever you want with it? Chances are that some people at the zoning board may dissagree on that, or the fire marshal, or even his insurance company. Cutting holes in walls in a commercial building requires permits, inspections and other red tape nonsense. Most towns require permits when a modification exceeds $1000 and with today's construction cost that means you don't have to do much to excede that limit. Combining two spaces into one (even with just a window) may count as a major renovation depending on the ordinances in your town. I don't mean to sound arguementative, I'm just trying to save you a few legal hassels. It's allways better to check first before you begin any construction or renovation projects, especialy in a commercial building.
 
Guys, its clear now that his "pops" is a big shot and runs the town. So mr. wannabe studio owner thinks he can do what he wants when he wants how he wants and everybody better shutup cause he's used to getting his way and doesn't have to be like everyone else. That includes bad ole Mr. Physics. :rolleyes: give me a.....fuck it, I'm outta here.
 
Why would u think im lying? Its not gonna be open to the Public only for a few of my buddys. n yes i do have a 15k budget, is it that hard to belive that a kid that Works His ass Off for a Mortgage Company couldnt get some $$$ together??? Comeon, I Came to this site for help, not to be thrashed on, thanks for nothing, and for those who helped ur truely welcome
 
don't let it get to you DNA; there are a lot of people that come here and
ask a bunch of questions, have an attitude, don't want to do any research
and don;t like the advice they are given.
there some guys here with massive knowledge, and experience to back it up -
if you are smart, you'll take heed.

my two cents; If you have $15K to put into a studio, I'd say that is
easily worth four months of pretty heavy research, followed by four - six
months of construction.

1) don't do anything that could get someone hurt (fire, structural collapse, electrocution).

2) don't do anything that could get someone sued (see above + building code violations, noise ordinances etc).

3) take your time - I know it's exciting and you want to jump on it, but if
you are going to invest that kind of money, you should get it done correctly
so that it is useable, comfortable & pleasant to be in.

good luck,
C>
 
DNA PRODUCTIONS said:
Why would u think im lying? Its not gonna be open to the Public only for a few of my buddys. n yes i do have a 15k budget, is it that hard to belive that a kid that Works His ass Off for a Mortgage Company couldnt get some $$$ together??? Comeon, I Came to this site for help, not to be thrashed on, thanks for nothing, and for those who helped ur truely welcome
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DNA,

Listen - it has nothing to do with whether or not it is open to the public.

It has to do with the fact that it's a commercial building - and is classified as a business use group.

The building and life safety codes even tell you exactly how you have to build electrical and storage rooms in that building -

I don't know about where you live - but once a year in the eastern states - the fire marshall generally makes a swing through commercial buildings to verify that all of the required life safety devices (smoke detectors - heat detectors - duct detectors - sprinkler systems - emergency lighting, etc. etc,) are still in place and in good working order.

In order to legally make any modifications inside of this space ytou are supposed to get a building permit - or at least meet with the building department to go over the mods - so they can determine whether or not a permit is required.

That's what everyone is saying to you.

Rod
 
Thanks for all the Info...

And for the Fellas that Think Im Bullshittin, Ill Post up some Pics When its Done!
 
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