Studio in Garage

Treeline said:
I have an idea for the A/C. Build a vented box outside and mount the unit inside the box. Build a small chase up the outside wall to the A/C window, run flexible 4" pipe through it (cheap drainage pipe or even clothes dryer exhaust ducting should be fine) and turn the window space into an intake vent. Just try it to see how it works, whether you can get a remote to work with it, and what the sound is like. If you like the result then you can worry about making it pretty. Most of the A/C I've seen in studios involved remote units of some sort because of the noise.
Click to expand...

That's not a bad idea. Eventually, I want to build a shed in the area behind the studio somewhere. Maybe I can incorporate the a/c in there somehow.

RAMI said:
You've got to throw away the used Kleenex and rock-hard socks. :eek:
Click to expand...

I knew I was leaving myself vulnerable with that comment. :D
 
A/C is a way of life in TX...you could install 220 line and get a huge window unit...you can get a 10,000 or so btu unit to run off 110v.

also
One of my next projects will be some bass traps and some panels...I just put up a makeshift mixing table (making room was the hard part). I like the triangle corner traps I've read about and might try building a few.

I kinda have a built in bass trap with the inner wall/doors I installed. It keeps heat and sound from penetrating thru the flimsy aluminum garage door...plus I can still drive my pickup truck into the garage and change out that starter on a hot summer day in A/C!
 
I usually just turn the A/C off for recording a track...then it goes back on when I am done in 3-4 minutes.
Buy a unit with a remote control and a shut-off timer.
 
Manor Music said:
I usually just turn the A/C off for recording a track....
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's what I've been doing. Although sometimes I have forgotten and haven't really noticed it in the completed song.

you could install 220 line and get a huge window unit...
Click to expand...

No way. The unit I have in there now is a semi-permanent installation. I ain't going through the hassles of taking it out unless I absolutely have to.

Bass traps are the best bang for the buck to getting a good mix. Absolutely essential for us home recording types. And not difficult at all for a even a beginner DIYer. If you can change the started on your truck, building bass traps is easy.

Thanks for checking out the thread. :)
 
You're too far along now, but it seems to me that if you'd just left off the drywall from the inside of the studio (maybe used some of it for a double layer on the outside) you could have saved on both drywall and rigid fiberglass. You had a nice, mostly absorbtive surface on the walls, then covered it with a reflective surface, and now you're trying to add absorbtion back...
 
ashcat_lt said:
You're too far along now, but it seems to me that if you'd just left off the drywall from the inside of the studio (maybe used some of it for a double layer on the outside) you could have saved on both drywall and rigid fiberglass. You had a nice, mostly absorbtive surface on the walls, then covered it with a reflective surface, and now you're trying to add absorbtion back...
Click to expand...

Hey, thanks for the comments. Yeah, been in the studio for a couple of years now.

The drywall was free because the builder left out an option I paid for, so no scratch out my pocket.

But anyway, the pink fluffy stuff is not great at absorbing low freqs which is what is necessary for a small room like mine. Ideally, you need a density of 3 pounds per cubic foot (EthanWiner.com) to tame the low end of the room. And because of the shape and size of this room, it has a huge peak around 500hz and a big null a little below that (400hz? Can't remember). Pink fluffy just won't do. OC703 in strategic locations!!

Besides, I want the room to look nice and not have to stare at 2x4 framing and insulation. And doubling up the drywall on the outside would only help a little towards sound isolation which was not part of my requirements for this room.

Granted, the room has many compromises, but it's working well and I'm comfortable in it.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Always good for discussions!!!
 
Hi Chili,

Actually, standard pink fluffy does work pretty well for really thick traps (like 18" thick). At that thickness, it works better than most insulations.
Also, the density really isn't the important factor in how absorbers work. So 3lb rigid fiberglass will have much different characteristics than 3lb mineral wool. Similarly, different brands of rigid fiberglass will absorb differently, even if they're the same density (and then there's also semi-rigid fiberglass to compare as well..). The real figure that is used to assess the absorptive properties of a material is the gas flow resistance of the material. For thinner traps, a higher flow resistance works best (like a very rigid dense board like OC705). However, as the traps get thicker, more porous absorbents are better (So OC703 actually would not be that great at 10" compared to other materials).

And as you stated above to reiterate, drywall is added on the inside to help with isolation, so the sound doesn't leak out too much. Exposing the open pink fluffy without the drywall on one side would not be very good for isolation. John Sayers has some cool builds you can look through though with his "inside out wall" - similar idea. Works well of course, just need to do something else for better isolation.
 
Yeah, I thought the pink fluffy was better for bass traps if you do super chunks. The more rigid stuff is good too, but I think the pink fluffy stuff is better in that situation.
 
That's good to know about the pink fluffy. I stand corrected. I have some panels straddling the corners, maybe I can fill the voids with pink fluffy.
 
Chili said:
That's good to know about the pink fluffy. I stand corrected. I have some panels straddling the corners, maybe I can fill the voids with pink fluffy.
Click to expand...

This is actually pretty common for people to do. Its a simple added benefit and gives some extra absorption down low with relatively minimal cost.
 
Chili said:
That's not a bad idea. Eventually, I want to build a shed in the area behind the studio somewhere. Maybe I can incorporate the a/c in there somehow.
Click to expand...

Do you guys use split systems over in the US much? Used everywhere here. And we get HOT weather (just had one of the hottest summers on record 100F = 37 deg C, it has reached 112 F here). I use Mitsubishi split systems one in each room. Mine was the quietest when I bought it 32db, but now they have a 19db unit, Link. Even my 32db unit can be left on during recording most of the time unless it's a particularly quiet recording being done, i.e spoken word.

Alan.
 
I heard of the split a/c units, but haven't seen them. Most everyone in Texas has central a/c. You just can't live here without it. My room is not connected to the main house and I have a window unit. It sucks.

I'm going to look more into the split units, because it seems to be exactly what I need. I'm so tired of the constant droning of this window unit.

Thanks for the suggestion.
 
I installed a Mini-split A/C unit in my Garage conversion studio. The area is about 550 square feet. It only required one very small hole in the wall. It works great and is dead quiet. Wish I had installed it years ago.
 
How much $$ was split A/C unit?

What brand/model split unit did you install...just curious , being that I am also an HVAC guy...
 
Manor Music said:
What brand/model split unit did you install...just curious , being that I am also an HVAC guy...
Click to expand...

I did a lot of google research and had a Fujitsu Halcyon installed. One contractor tried very hard to sell me a General brand A/C unit, but I couldn't find a single positive review. When I asked if he had any other brands, he stopped returning my calls. Anyway, it cost about $3200 and took a full 8 hours to be installed. For my area, that seemed like a good price. I had other quotes closer to 4K & 5K.
 
Manor Music said:
What brand/model split unit did you install...just curious , being that I am also an HVAC guy...
Click to expand...

Good to know you're in HVAC. If/when I install, I'll give you a call. I can do most of the work myself, but don't have the equipment to handle the freon charge.
 
witzendoz said:
Do you guys use split systems over in the US much? Used everywhere here. And we get HOT weather (just had one of the hottest summers on record 100F = 37 deg C, it has reached 112 F here). I use Mitsubishi split systems one in each room. Mine was the quietest when I bought it 32db, but now they have a 19db unit, Link. Even my 32db unit can be left on during recording most of the time unless it's a particularly quiet recording being done, i.e spoken word.

Alan.
Click to expand...

Bringing this thread back to life. After more than one year, I finally got my mini-split a/c running in my office. Man, what a HUGE difference this thing makes. So much quieter after listening to that window unit for 5 years (Has it been that long? :eek:)

Thanks for the suggestion, Alan.

But now I have the studio torn apart again. I'll be yanking out the semi-permanent window unit and fixing the hole in the brick wall outside and the drywall inside. This place is a mess..... :( But quiet and cool. :)
Can't wait til it's all done.
 
I was about to go with triangles stacked in the corners (rockwool) but I found some information that said that anything touching the wall will not "trap" bass. So I'm back to 6" thick panels positioned with air behind them in the corners. I will also put a tall tube in the corner to deflect frequencies a little. I hope that helps.
Rod Norman
Engineer

Chili said:
Moved into our newly built house and we finally decided to put the studio in half of the 3rd car garage. The room will be used for tracking vocals and acoustic guitars, then for mixdown with monitors. Everything else will be DI or ITB. Sound isolation won't be an issue, because that part of the garage is almost not attached to the house.

I have two concerns and am looking for feedback from you guys.

1) The space will essentially be a cube, 9'x12' with 10'ceiling. I have a 10 panels of johns manville equivalent to 703; 2" thick and 2'x4'. I know bass traps in all corners will be recommended. Has anyone ever cut 703 into triangular pieces and stack them into the corners? My thoughts are to cut teh 2'x4' panels down to 1' squares, then cut those diagonally in half to make 16 triangles. Stack those up and figure out how to mount them in the corners. The stack would be 32" tall. Would this be beneficial?

2) This is Texas and air conditioning is a way of life. However, I won't have access to the house HVAC system, so I'm thinking of punching a hole in the wall and mounting a window/thru-wall unit. Has anyone done or seen this done?? My concern here is keeping it quiet. Any suggestions??

Did I leave out anything out?? Is there something else I should be thinking about??

Thanks,
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top