Warehouse Studio

[frederic]

Re: Too good!

Of course it would help Rick, and I thank you for your generous offer, and count on me taking you up on it

All I was saying earlier is "thank you", and I am uncomfortable with freebies. Nothing more

Still on my honeymoon, back in about a week in a half. Got to dial the net really quick while my better half is out on the deck tanning

Hi frederic, thanks for the quicki response. I want you to know, that I am offering free gratis help, on anything you do here. I hope my replys are here didn't imply anything else. I sometimes have opened my big mouth about autocad here, but still havn't taken the time to get this damn format conversion down yet.(I would rather be playing my guitar) But my offer is sincere, regardless who designs your studio. I just thought maybe full blown autocad (E) drawings would help, on any portion you need. Hell, I just spent 30 hrs laying out my wiring diagram in cad. But it helps, cause if I need to trace something down, I can pull the file right at the console, that has up to 216 layers of each wire, plug, device, circuit etc. It works good. Anyway, I am by no means a studio designer, but even I know some stuff. Its the details that turn me on anyway. Hardwoods, esoteric hardware and finishes, chemetals, laminates, plexi, trick lighting- Like my console, you wouldn't beleive what I've put in to it. Its my "experimental toy"! Just getting ready to mount these "hi tech" folding arms(like a monitor arm) on my console for things like my midizer etc My best friend is an engineer at a hospital, and he gives me all kinds of stuff that you can't just go out and buy. I have so little room in my "studio" that I have to use every sq. inch. And I hate CORDBALLS!
So I try to design for my own little pet peves in my studio. Sorry for the ramble. I'll get ahold of you.
fitz

 

[frederic]

The property will be mine once I return home and sign the paperwork. My attorney, on my behalf and absence already signed everything so its legally a done deal. The only thing left to do is sign the check

I paid the balance of the mortgage, a $2000 fee to the bank, and a $6% fee to the realtor selling the property on behalf of the bank. That total out of pocket sum is a mere $47,390 according to my lawyer a few minutes ago. Plus whatever he sticks me for. The last civil apprasial on the property, which was in 1992 or 1993, I forget which (papers at home), appraised the property at lose to $450K, which is why I leaped at it so quickly. Parking is acceptable (one full side) to be shared between my buddy's machine shop and of course my studio. The neighboring businesses are also clean businesses, the messiest being a auto body shop. There's a party rental warehouse, a BK within walking distance, and some electronic assembly kind of places. Its located in Rahway NJ.

Hi frederic - Would you mind revealing how much you paid (or made an offer for) on your space? Also what city are you in? I'm in Seattle, and have been thinking of looking into a commercial piece of real estate. Thanks.

Practically free too

________________
Post indie electronic
Meriphew
www.meriphew.com

 

[meriphew]

Hey Frederic - It sounds like you just got the deal of the century. Thanks for the info and best of luck with your new pad.

________________
Post indie electronic
Meriphew
www.meriphew.com

 

[frederic]

Thank you

Honestly, had it not been as "nearly free" as it was, I wouldn't have bought it. In fact, I wasn't on the market for commercial space - I was very happy wiring up my garage loft as I'm not aiming my career into music full time.

Actually my buddy with the machine shop found the building, but didn't have the finances to pull the deal in. So, he now rents his half of the building from me. In fact, I get the first rent check today (so he can start trucking his machining equipment from LA to NJ).

Its going to be cool because I can put some of my unfinished car projects over there instead of in my driveway. Should make the new missus happy heh-heh

Hey Frederic - It sounds like you just got the deal of the century. Thanks for the info and best of luck with your new pad.

________________
Post indie electronic
Meriphew
www.meriphew.com

 

[flatrockrecordin]

If I were in the same boat as you, a 2-story apartment would be built upstairs, and there would be a for sale sign in front of my home ASAP! In Atlanta, EVERY piece of commercial property is being converted to lofts.

 

[John Sayers]

WOW!

Frederic - your story is identical to Kevin of Guruland even down to the motor shop friend who found the building. He's in an Industrial area just like yours with a couple of mechanics downstairs

Looks like a great place for a studio - I'd consider flatrockrecordin's suggestion of the flat (with a DVD player ) - not for yourself (the GF would hate it) but for clients so they can stayover.

cheers
JOhn

 

[frederic]

a two story apartment over the office space.

Thats a VERY cool idea, and makes use of that space. I was thinking I might put the console room up there but then I realized its tough to look over the console, out the window, down to the floor below.

Hey, I was being creative

I have to visio in my current layout idea and see what you all think. Right now I'm migrating my midi library from one server to another, since that particular server is getting cranky.

Had my machinist buddy survey the electrical on my side (since I'm away, and he's not) and the 400A on my side is confirmed to be on my side. Other than the office space and the lighting on the ceiling, there is only two outlets in the warehouse space. I think my license hasn't expired yet... so I might make out good on electrical. I'll have to dig it out and see.

A friend of mine who is in a bar-band suggested I carve out some of the space for "practice rooms", whereas bands who don't want to annoy neighbors might rent the space, set up their gear, and practice for 4-6 hours for $10-15 an hour. Split among a 4-person band thats not terribly expensive.

Never did that before, what do you think? His idea includes no engineering or recording - just rental of space on the cheap maybe with a few average guitar amps and a beater kit. Anyone here do that?

 

[CrimsonWarlock]

Hey Frederic,

I'm following this thread to see where you are going with your space, makes for interesting reading

I have to visio in my current layout idea and see what you all think. Right now I'm migrating my midi library from one server to another, since that particular server is getting cranky.

I've seen you mentioning Visio before. I'm in designing stage also (currently for my "desk") and found a free 3D CAD program that's easy to use (got into it in about 2 hours myself) and completely without registration, spyware or any other anoying limitations.

I've posted about it here in the studio building section. You can get it at http://www.softcad.com

It will give you the option to walk through your design and see how it looks from the inside

Peter.

 

[frederic]

I'm following this thread to see where you are going with your space, makes for interesting reading

Glad you enjoy

I've seen you mentioning Visio before. I'm in designing stage also (currently for my "desk") and found a free 3D CAD program that's easy to use (got into it in about 2 hours myself) and completely without registration, spyware or any other anoying limitations.

Its now downloading Free is a great price

I've been using visio for most of my studio designs, including space, electrical, digital and analog wiring, simply because everywhere I've worked in the last decade, has provided me a laptop with Visio Also, before I leave one place and move on I always take my homemade visio clip art off and put it on the next employer's machine Its all drag and drop, which is why I like it so much. Plus, its kinda free - comes with the office gear

It will give you the option to walk through your design and see how it looks from the inside

Coooool Its now installing !

 

[flatrockrecordin]

There are a few warehouses in the Atlanta area that have been cut up into rehearsal studios with 24 hour access. Rent for approx. 14'x16' goes for about $300 per month. My opinion is if you wanted to do any recording of your own, or sleep in an upstairs apartment, this would be out of the question.
However, a rehearsal only facility would be a source of income.

 

[frederic]

There are a few warehouses in the Atlanta area that have been cut up into rehearsal studios with 24 hour access. Rent for approx. 14'x16' goes for about $300 per month. My opinion is if you wanted to do any recording of your own, or sleep in an upstairs apartment, this would be out of the question.
However, a rehearsal only facility would be a source of income.

At this point its a possibility - I'm curious what others would consider doing with about 2000 sq feet.

I was thinking studio A, a studio B both wired to the same console room, and some practice rooms. Another friend of mine has a music teaching business and after hearing about my space, inquired about carving out a small room or two for him, in exchange for rent. He dislikes having students coming to his home. Well, actually his wife doesn't like students coming to his home.

decisions decisions. Damn, this is hard. I think its harder to decide what to do, than to actually design and implement sometimes.

 

[M.Brane]

One thing that struck me that hasn't been mentioned is the likely scenario of magnetic/electrical hash bleeding in from your buddy's machine shop. I would definately consider isolating the studio electrically/magnetically as well as sonically.

If it were me I'd also make the main tracking room as big as possible. Nothing like the sound of drums and loud guitars in a big properly treated room with a high ceiling.