John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum

I am planning to build a 28ft wide x 80ft long (exterior) x 15-16ft high (interior) studio on a 28ft x 148ft lot (see attached). I do not plan an ultratech or costly control room environment (G5 + Digital Performer); studio use will be 50/50 personal/commercial. I plan to focus on acoustic jazz ensembles. Please note the setback and street noise constraints. QUESTIONS: (1) Is there sufficient control room, storage room, meeting, and mechanical room space? (2) Should the est. 80 ft. building length be reduced a few feet to save building construction costs and permit 1 more on-site parking space? (3) Can I use a polished concrete surface for the live room so as to avoid wood flooring cost? (4) Since one 80 ft. side of the new building built against an existing 80 ft. long brick-walled building, must I assure that the studio’s new footer avoid contacting the existing building’s footer to avoid subsurface sound transmission? (5) Does 8 in. architectural hollow block masonry provide less sound transmission than solid 4 in. brick? [I plan to construct new, separately framed/insulated interior walls.] (6) Should the utility company provide me with a new isolated transformer feed, since the same power line/transformer currently also feeds the neighboring fast food restaurant? (7) Does anyone have experience using interior masonry split-face flute block for internal room walls? THANKS for any help or comments on any one of these questions!

North,

If you can post a simple jpg file that people can see without downloading a pdf file, and label it well, and ask only 1 or 2 questions at a time, it'll be easier for folks to help you.

QUESTIONS: (1) Is there sufficient control room, storage room, meeting, and mechanical room space? control room size is OK, shape is not symmetrical. i don't see storage or mechanicals labeled. meeting rooom size looks ok.

(2) Should the est. 80 ft. building length be reduced a few feet to save building construction costs and permit 1 more on-site parking space?
only you know your budget and parking needs. no one can help you there.

(3) Can I use a polished concrete surface for the live room so as to avoid wood flooring cost? concrete is considered as good of a reflective live room surface as wood.

(4) Since one 80 ft. side of the new building built against an existing 80 ft. long brick-walled building, must I assure that the studio’s new footer avoid contacting the existing building’s footer to avoid subsurface sound transmission? check out sharward at http://johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2921 for details about isolated slabs

(5) Does 8 in. architectural hollow block masonry provide less sound transmission than solid 4 in. brick? [I plan to construct new, separately framed/insulated interior walls.] i would think it would be similar, but that would only be a wild guess for me. there are probably others on this board who could help you more there.

(6) Should the utility company provide me with a new isolated transformer feed, since the same power line/transformer currently also feeds the neighboring fast food restaurant? an isolated feed may cost extra. it may be unnecessary, if there is enough power available

(7) Does anyone have experience using interior masonry split-face flute block for internal room walls? i don't. sorry
[/b]