John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum

Happy Memorial Day...back to work.

Got the Top of ISO B painted...around the Sonex.
Also installed hangers for floor level treatments in ISO B. Got 2 - 8 x 5 2" thick wool carpets setup for hanging in the ISO.

Also got a big ol mirror in the bath hung. The lead singers are gonna love that one.

And a second coat of paint over the primer in the bath.

And 5:00 came so fast it felt like noon.

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Only crazy people build their own studios.

Carpets? I thought hanging carpet was universally rejected around here, due to flammability and hygiene (among other things)...

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"Converting a garage into living space requires a city permit . . . homeowners insurance won't cover a structure that's been changed without a building permit . . ." --Sacramento Bee, May 27, 2006

Well if you smoke or stink- you arent going in the ISO.

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Only crazy people build their own studios.

Keith, that's more normal carpets; wool isn't as flammable IIRC, plus a 2" thick carpet should do some serious damage to a wider range of freq's than foam will -

Mark, sorry I've not had much time lately, looks like you're churnin' and burnin", and since you've consistently been pretty sure of what you were doing I didn't think you were looking for much help.

You've made a few choices differently than I would have; not necessarily wrong, just different - I'll be curious to see what your isolation between rooms is like when doors/seals, etc, are in place... Steve

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Soooo, when a Musician dies, do they hear the white noise at the end of the tunnel??!? Hmmmm...

Glad to have you back Keith...seems like you have been busy mate! The best always are...

I don't know about being too sure about knowing what I am doing...the older I get, the less I seem to know. The more I think I know, the more stupid I seem.

On the subject of seals & doors, were almost there, but not quite done yet.

The ISO treatments are not done either...but I'll get you a full report soon.

But I think I have an issue I am going to have to deal with in my control room B...this is the room below. < 13'9" x 16'9" x 12' high >

The room sounds pretty good with just a set on nearfields...but my mix position is dead between these two glass sliding patio doors. They are parallel to each other. Bad design flaw on my part.

The visablity into the B studio on the left and the B ISO on the right is super. But there is a sonic buildup around 160/540 and a dip between 2k and 7k that goes away when I put 4x8 absorbers in front of the glass on both sides.

I am brainstorming a few ideas, but now that I am done with the buildout, I am pretty limited in what I can do. Any ideas?

I have thought of spinning my axis in my room to change the parallel - but that has some layout drawbacks...
I have thought of various treatments over the glass- even on a track or wheels that could slide out of the way of the doors, while tracking, but that has drawbacks too.

I guess all this speed in buildout may have caught up with me, and I regret slapping these in parallel at this juncture, but if you have any thoughts about a solution for this buildup that would not kill my visual communication with the studio & ISO, I'm all ears. I need some good ideas...

'Bout 5 minutes left before work, but here's one thought -

http://www.rpginc.com/products/clearsorber/index.htm

Have NOT tried these, don't even know how expensive they are, but if you were to put one on each side of the mix position and ANGLED, they should also provide some flutter control... Steve

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Soooo, when a Musician dies, do they hear the white noise at the end of the tunnel??!? Hmmmm...

I told everyone I was going to have to get some clients in before the studio was done. That’s what I’ve been doing for the last three weeks.

I setup the Control B room temporarily and stuffed the corners with 4'deep of 703. I tied in Studio A (across the hall) into this control room and have begun recording. Tracked a 17 person orchestra, 5 days of drum kit, guitars, and vocals.

No permanent treatments up yet; but I really like the sound of my A studio. I swear I can hear at least an octave - if not more, below what I could hear in my other room. Really helps with the lower instruments in the ensemble. The Drum Kit sounds good in that room...I like it a lot. HVAC is quiet, no electric or ground issues.

We are slowly working around the studios to finish things, between sessions. We got the double sliding door up between Studio/Control B. Works pretty well, considering its not finished- at least 45 db separation now and were not finished sealing it yet.

Got some drywall patches to do, all the acoustic treatment/fabric installs, Bass traps to build, some electrical, the bathroom fan install, a few more doors, all the threshold and perimeter sound seals on the doors, etc, etc.

I'll get some pix up soon.

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Only crazy people build their own studios.

Wow, must be hard to work in a half-finished construction zone! But, money coming in must be nice.

Nice logo! Now make a smaller version and change your avatar to it! (Not that there's anything wrong with the lil' tyke...)

--Keith

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"Converting a garage into living space requires a city permit . . . homeowners insurance won't cover a structure that's been changed without a building permit . . ." --Sacramento Bee, May 27, 2006

Tracking in a studio under construction - well, it was a bit nerve-wracking to start with-unsure-ity, until I developed a trust relationship with the rooms. I was expecting them to be really loose and woofy-BUT the rooms are really cool and dont sound bad at all. Actually-considering I havent done anything yet, I think they sound pretty good.

Not "Hidley" good, but a lot better than some castle in the middle of nowhere.

----so now I need to change my name from Daily Planet to "Soundmark"- how do I do that, huh?

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Only crazy people build their own studios.

I don't know if that's possible. Maybe the mods can do it for you. Otherwise, they maybe can give you a custom title (like mine, "mere mortal").

--Keith

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"Converting a garage into living space requires a city permit . . . homeowners insurance won't cover a structure that's been changed without a building permit . . ." --Sacramento Bee, May 27, 2006

I dont recommend starting sessions before your studio is done- however it can be fun once you relax a bit.

Again a very temporary setup in Control Room B.

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Only crazy people build their own studios.

I designed the room for 12- 17 showed up.

They forgot their chairs too.

Recording sounds nice.

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Only crazy people build their own studios.

I am especially happy with this room with drums. When the room gets properly treated, I am gonna be even happier methinks.

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Only crazy people build their own studios.

Very cool; Happy is a word we all like to see here... Steve

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Soooo, when a Musician dies, do they hear the white noise at the end of the tunnel??!? Hmmmm...

I have the door seals on order-should be here soon. Got some more drywall to finish and absorbtion to install and the Ill give you a full report.

Great to see you around here Steve!

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Only crazy people build their own studios.