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Post by pablopiriz on Aug 31, 2019 21:48:43 GMT
hi all, I am a new member and about to embark on a house remodel which includes building my sound studio from the ground up. I am clear about the buildout, room in room for sound proofing with hard wood floors. I am not clear on how to acoustically treat the room once built. The room is 16.2' by 14.6' with 8'8" tall ceiling. I am intending to place the workstation on the long wall, 16'2 length, centered in the room. I would appreciate any input regarding acoustic treatment. Bass traps, reflectors and diffusers placement and quantity, overhanging panels to lower the ceiling placement, etc I am running an iMac with Logic Pro X. Focusrite Scarlett 18i20 Heritage Audio TT73 Pre amp Event 20/20 Active monitors I record mostly guitar, bass, saxophone and would like to record drums and vocals with decent results. Attached is the room blueprint with the desk and monitors placement included. I can consider repositioning the workstation if there is a good argument for it. Pablo Piriz
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Post by Hexspa on Aug 31, 2019 22:03:23 GMT
Stickies
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Post by pablopiriz on Sept 1, 2019 2:44:18 GMT
hi Hexspa, what do you mean stickies?
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Post by Hexspa on Sept 1, 2019 9:54:17 GMT
I mean that I see nothing in your first post indicating that you've implemented any of the standard practices which are outlined in this forum's Stickies.
The vast majority of 'input' anyone needs for treating a room can be found there.
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Post by rock on Sept 1, 2019 15:12:34 GMT
I of course agree that much if the info is available in the stickies and links to Ethan's material. One detail: I was wondering how you arrived at the inside room dims. I plugged the numbers into this online calculator amcoustics.com/tools/amroc?l=16.2&w=14.6&h=8.66&ft=true&r60=0.6(I don't know if you meant 8' 8" or 8.8' so I went with what you had written,8' 8" and converted it to decimal = 8.6') I'm not sure if it makes a huge difference but this site would suggest this is not an optimum ratio... so since this sounds like a "from the ground up" project, you might as well start with the best dims you can. On the other hand, I don't really know there is one best ratio but it is something you probably have already considered. I'm just wondering how you arrived at it. As far a studio building, I think this book is required reading www.amazon.com/Home-Recording-Studio-Build-Like/dp/143545717X
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Post by pablopiriz on Sept 1, 2019 16:59:14 GMT
thanks for the heads up Hexspa, I will review the stickies link.
Rock; the room dimensions are the most I can do with the area I have. The room height is constrained by a second story which is part of the house remodel.
I considered having slab foundation to increase the studio's height but not sold on it, the rest of the house is raised foundation so I will stick to that as we are in Los Angeles. Raised foundation is supposed to be better to withstand earthquakes and we have those here.
I have been considering adding 2 more feet to the room length, making it 18.2 x 14.6 x 8.8.
I did buy the Home Recording Studio Build Like a pro book, I am getting started with that one today. Will review the Stickies section and compound the info. thanks
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Post by Hexspa on Sept 1, 2019 19:52:21 GMT
Before you do any construction, look into golden ratios for room acoustics. There is a cutoff for room volume, and your room is probably below that, but, since you're building anyway, I can't imagine that it'll hurt.
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Post by pablopiriz on Sept 2, 2019 3:17:54 GMT
Right on Hexspa, I spent the day reading about this and I see some recommended ratios on Rod Gervais's book. Planning on room inside room construction.
I am redirecting my architect to try and make the below dimensions ratio work;
Height = 1 = 9' Width= 1.6 = 14.4' Length= 2.33 = 20.97'
Looking at swapping raised foundation for isolated slab foundation as per Rod Gervais's book too. I have a lot of reading to do I know, plans need to go to the city for permits soon all advice on the above dimensions appreciated.
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Post by Hexspa on Sept 2, 2019 3:24:39 GMT
You wanna go at least 1 = 10' if you can.
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Post by rock on Sept 2, 2019 3:49:54 GMT
Most people who find their way to this forum are trying to improve a pre determined, fixed space. You are in a position unlike many. My suggestion is not to rush to any conclusions and digest as much info as you can so you won't regret a rushed or ill advised decision. If your budget allows, consider an architect who really understands acoustical isolation and room dimensions etc. Many people forget about isolating the HVAC from the walls and the rest of the house (a home run back and forth to the furnace/air handler may be a good idea). Also, try to work in star grounding with isolated ground outlets and separate audio circuits from lighting etc.
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Post by pablopiriz on Sept 2, 2019 4:45:40 GMT
thanks Rock, I am indeed in a unique position being that I will build from the ground up but square footage is a limitation as we cannot sacrifice any more garden space, part of the house rules ;-) I will be likely able to stretch the room to the above stated dimensions but not larger.
20.97x14.4x9 seems the best compromise given the constraints I am facing.
The HVAC unit will likely be a line run from our existing 5-ton ceiling mounted unit, it is about 20' away from the studio wing. The architect is not that acoustic savvy but my contractor has experience building sound studios for some pros in Los Angeles.
"Also, try to work in star grounding with isolated ground outlets and separate audio circuits from lighting etc." Noted, will make this part of requirements.
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Post by pablopiriz on Sept 5, 2019 16:28:42 GMT
Thanks for the advice on slowing down for planning Rock. I spent some time reading Rod Gervais and got my architect interested in reading it too.
I am now looking at making the following interior dimensions room, taken from Rod Gervais's recommended room porportions with a minimum 10' ceiling.
10' Height 15'4" Long 12'8" Wide
Went back to Slab foundation, room orientation back to recommended position. Workstation will sit on the center of the width wall, listening sweet spot at 38% length (5'8 back from speakers)
Anything you would recommend at this point? Is this a good starting place?
thanks Pablo
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Post by rock on Sept 5, 2019 17:39:59 GMT
Another thought: a well insulated room will tend to get hotter than the rest of the house so look into zoning AC or even a dual system.
My basement (studio if you want to call it that) always has cables all over the floor. If you can pour your floor over a system of audio cable raceways that might be nice. You'll never get another chance like you have now.
There's probably other things too but I like that you're taking time to plan.
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Post by pablopiriz on Sept 8, 2019 18:17:01 GMT
hi all, so on the room measurements, is this a good starting point? I have not heard from you guys and want to be sure before I pull the trigger on permits.
I would love a 20' long room but it does not seem to work out on the "golden" proportions idea. I cannot go any higher on the ceiling and that seems to be the best compromise given the area I have. What do the experts think?
I will try an factor in under floor cable runs from workstation with floor/wall boxes to plug microphones in on the back side of the room, plus I was thinking I might run some XLRs to a wall box in the family room which could become a good tracking room if needed.
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Post by rock on Sept 9, 2019 1:40:48 GMT
Room measurements look good according to the online calculator I use (Ethan's calculator is PC only but they should agree. The main idea is you want to spread out your room modes as evenly as possible. You'll need to treat your room of course but you'll have a better starting point. The reasoning behind in the floor as opposed to in wall is that unless you surface mount your jack panels (which you should consider if you wall mount), running chases in the floor precludes any compromises in wall construction (air/sound leaks). Also, if your chases are large enough, say 5" high by 10" wide (I just pulled those measurements out of the sky), you'd have plenty of room to easily fish new cables at any later date. Just an idea. Great idea to send cables to other rooms. In those rooms, consider isolation too. Maybe you won't go full room in a room but you can still de-couple with resilient channels and double drywall. Beef up the floor above or below with additional mass (and make sure your framing will support it). If nothing else, at least add insulation in the walls and ceiling. You'll have the quietest house on your block! On that note, doing something to bed rooms like RC, double drywall or al least insulation may go a long way for a happy household. It's a big job but you know if you take you're time and try to consider everything you can, the better. Did you consider consulting a studio designer? We usually talk more about treatment here but you're in the building planning phase so you should run these ideas by gearslutz.com. I don't mean to send you down a rabbit hole but they have threads dealing more with that.
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