Window/Glass used for Studio

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

Here is another helpful link. Look in the Construction section.

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

good advice rick,

Thanks Travis. I try. Sometimes I come across like a grumpy old fart, so I try to make up for it when I can

 

[moelar2]

Here's some info as to what I'm trying to do:

1. I just bought a new house and now that I'm out of my parent's house, I want build a relatively good *sounding* studio in my existing two car garage.

2. The purpose of the studio will include some recording-for-pay. I recorded/produced an album last year that is currently being nominated for album of the year, along with two other nominations in "premios lo nuestro" - a huge international latin music award ceremony. That has made my phone ring quite a bit with potential clients.

3. However, I'm a law student, and as far as a "career" is concerned, that's where I'm headed. Notwithstanding, deep inside I think it's my "plan b," in case I don't become a rockstar or a mega-million dollar producer.

4. Therefore, I want to get my studio sounding as good as possible (in a minimalist sort of way). Actually, I guess I want to cover the fundamentals, without going over teh top. For example, at this point, floating the floors is not an option. I created a double wall to sepearte the control and live room, but the rest of teh walls are single framed.

5. I'm using two sliding doors as entry/exit from/to the control and live room, rather than doors.

Use:

Most realistic use for my studio is record whatever bands I join, and to record/produce a couple local bands, including a couple of friends who I really think are commercially viable.

I MIGHT get involved with a couple "higer-end" bands who are referred to me by my successful 2004 client; hell they might come back too...

Hopes this info helps....

 

[moelar2]

I have pics but I cna't attach; the "manage attachments" says my file is too big b/c limit = 64kb??? that's ridiculously small...

 

[giraffe]

I have pics but I cna't attach; the "manage attachments" says my file is too big b/c limit = 64kb??? that's ridiculously small...

if you have photoshop, use the
"save for web" option.

 

[dgatwood]

Ha! Now that'd be funny! My dad recorded at a guy's house who had cameras rigged up in every bedroom to the control room. His entire house was his studio.

Please tell me it was a sorority house.

Sorry, all those "Girls Gone Wild" commercials were the first thing that came to mind when I read this....

 

[moelar2]

Here are some pics...

 

[SonicClang]

make certain to install the window in an air tight assembly.

Wow, you leave yourself open on ONE thing in these forums and people assume you know absolutely NOTHING about studio construction. You mean things in a studio are supposed to be air tight? Oh my GOD!!! What a revelation!

Listen, just because a guy doesn't know exactly what glass to get, nevermind if he is on a tight budget and can't really afford "the best studio glass made" as you put it, that doesn't mean he hasn't researched it, and that doesn't mean he doesn't know a studio is supposed to be air tight. Over the last 6 years I've probably gone through 2,000 toobs of caulk... and to be honest, I think that's a fairly conservative estimate. I've gone through enough tubes to caulk 1,000 bath tubs in 1,000 homes for a life time. when I open a tube of caulk, I can tell you within 30 seconds exactly how far down the air bubble is that's causing the caulk to come out slowly, and I know exactly how long to pound the toob on its bottom to force the air bubble to the tip.

Just because a guy doesn't know one thing about studios, don't assume he knows NOTHING about studios. Do you want to know why I don't know what glass to put in my studio yet? Because I haven't gotten there yet. It wasn't until last month that I even got my control room window sills in place, and I'm not even done with them yet. I JUST started looking into glass.

And if you're going to tell me that argon-filled glass isn't right for studio windows, if you really want I can go find all the sites that recommended them for the "budget oriented project studio". I'm NOT a commercial studio, and I never will be. When I put temp plexi glass up in my control room window I could hardly hear the drums 10 feet away. The window wasn't close to being sealed, and we're talking THIN crappy plexi glass I had sitting around in my basement for a few years I was going to make a few drum shields out of. I'm fairly certain that if I put glass of any kind in the window, with weather strip all around and caulk in every nook and cranny, it'll be more than adequate for my humble little home project studio.

I think to a certain extent you all get a little carried away with seeing who can flex their brains more than the next guy, just waiting for the moment when you can use those formulas you've been memorizing about sound transmission losses. Listen, when it does come time for me to crunch the numbers to figure out exactly what glass I'll be using, I'll be memorizing those formulas just long enough to write them on the peice of paper. Once I've got the final dimensions for the glass they'll be out of my head. I will never pretend to be a professional studio builder, I'm a musician. I frankly don't want to ever build another studio ever again. It's my goal to finish what I've started and be done with it.

I guess if a guy can't ask questions in a forum like this, where is he supposed to go? Everyone gets yelled at for asking any question when you should have used the search function. When, if you think about it for a few seconds, every question about studio construction has been asked a thousand times before. So I guess I won't be asking any more questions around here because God forbid I ask something and have everyone think I don't know studios are supposed to be air tight!

EDIT: fixed spelling errors

 

[SonicClang]

Please tell me it was a sorority house.

Actually, no, this guy was serious about this. My dad said the experience was horrible though because it's impossible to communicate through cameras. The guy's name was Dick Kitchen.

 

[Rod Gervais]

I guess if a guy can't ask questions in a forum like this, where is he supposed to go? Everyone gets yelled at for asking any question when you should have used the search function. When, if you think about it for a few seconds, every question about studio construction has been asked a thousand times before. So I guess I won't be asking any more questions around here because God forbit I ask something and have everyone think I don't know studios are supposed to be air tight!

Sonic,

I never suggested that you didn't know anything (although I would think after using that much caulk you would realize that it was tubes you were using - not toobs) - but you acknowledged to Rick that he has a good point about 4 leaf systems - and then ask if he suggests that you use a 3 leaf.....

This does suggest to me that you have slightly less experience than Rick.......... (Meaning - no - 3 leaf systems are not good isolating assemblies).

All I am guilty of is suggesting to you that you listen to Rick........ and did not intend to insult your intelligence.

This is a case of either my being very insulting - or your being hyper-sensitive.

If it's the former - I apologize - if it's the latter - perhaps you should grow some thicker skin.

Sincerely,

Rod

 

[mshilarious]

I would think after using that much caulk you would realize that it was tubes you were using - not toobs)

That depends on the voltage supplied to the caulk gun

 

[punkin]

I've got a caulk gun...but the wife won't let me use it unless I'm supervised.

 

[SonicClang]

Yeah... tubes... not toobs. drr.

Well, I typed that first thing when I woke up this morning, and reading through it now, yeah, I was a little bit hyper sensitive, but I do mean some of the things I said. I think people are way too concerned with flexing their brains instead of thinking practically. You can give advice from the perspective of the pro studio, but also say what is practical for the budget-minded home studio... there is a difference. And I'm fully aware that more material isn't always better. That's why learning about this stuff is so important, it's not intuitive like you'd think.

Maybe I was just pissed off to be pissed off. Rick flies off the handle every day, so maybe it was just my turn.

 

[Rod Gervais]

Yeah... tubes... not toobs. drr.

Well, I typed that first thing when I woke up this morning, and reading through it now, yeah, I was a little bit hyper sensitive, but I do mean some of the things I said. I think people are way too concerned with flexing their brains instead of thinking practically. You can give advice from the perspective of the pro studio, but also say what is practical for the budget-minded home studio... there is a difference. And I'm fully aware that more material isn't always better. That's why learning about this stuff is so important, it's not intuitive like you'd think.

Maybe I was just pissed off to be pissed off. Rick flies off the handle every day, so maybe it was just my turn.

Sonic,

No bigs, we all have our days..........

I will always explain the practical side (if there is one) but when it comes to isolation there is only the actual side of it.

Sometimes the real answer is "you can't get there from here", especially if people can't (or just won't) invest the money it takes to get the job done.

Rod