John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum

Hello! Thank you all for this forum! I would appreciate ANY help you folks can offer.

Overview: I would like to record primarily drums, utilizing either a portion or all of my garage area. I have done nothing yet. Acoustics are really the only priority. Controlling sound transmission is not a priority, although would be a welcome by-product (as long as it doesn't add expense). A separate control room is not desired, as I will be mostly recording myself, and need to set up a desk directly behind the drum kit. I do have to park one car in the garage, but the garage is big, roughly 31' x 26', and 9' 8" high (illustration to follow). The remaining garage area can all be used for recording purposes. There is an existing post and beam structure bisecting the garage (see illustration). As it is, the garage is a reflective nightmare, painted drywall walls and ceiling, bare metal garage doors, painted concrete slab floor. My immediate budget is approximately $1,500. I could go to about $3,000 if I have to.

I'd like to supply a couple ideas as very basic starting points. I'm hoping you guys will tell me if they are good or bad!

Plan A: Constructing several large moveable panels (ranging from roughly 4' wide by 9' tall to 11' wide by 9" tall) that I can move into place for recording different instruments, as needed. Panel treatments would be of different materials, some reflective, some absorbent. I'm really hoping this will work because of the flexibility. Also, I could move all the panels to 1 side when not recording, and use the garage as well, a garage! I mostly like the idea of being able to "tune" a created room by experimenting with moving the panels, using some reflective, some non-reflective, etc.
Plan B: Add acoustic treatments to the garage as it is. Big drum rooms are good, yes?

Illustration Notes: Sketchup rookie. I left a couple panels out of my drum drum room (Plan A) sketch so you could see inside. Same for the front wall of garage, where the doors are.

Questions:
1. Could Plan A be successful?
2. I'm wondering if sound leakage would be a problem. I would have to build the panels with at least few inches gap between the ceiling and floor so they could be moved around freely. Again sound transmission is not an issue for me, I just have no clue whether or not this would negatively affect the acoustics.
3. What materials would be good/best for the construction of the panels. I prefer a warm, natural drum sound. What type of treatments would you recommend, where/how to place, etc.
4. Would the panels themselves resonating be an issue? In other words, say I built them out of 1/2" thick plywood, and left some without further treatments. These panels would certainly resonate. Is this bad?
5. If Plan B is best, what type of treatments would you recommend, where/how to place, etc.
6. If both Plan A and Plan B are bad, I am open to any suggestions!

Thanks Again,
Jamie

welcome! if sound isolation is not a priority, then only treating the space - using stand up panels, etc should be something you can readily do. depending on how you record, you might find other objects in the garage resonate and may disrupt any room mic'ing you do, so maybe a heavy drape to somewhat close off the rest of the garage from your recording space might help.

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Glenn

Thanks Glenn. The heavy drape thing has crossed my mind. I actually thought of a couple slideable drapes to cover those pesky garage doors, or maybe that entire wall, when recording.

So, sounds like my panels idea is workable. If you were me, would you be thinking along the lines of treat, and use the whole garage (Plan B), or close-off an area with panels (Plan A)? Also, it seems like the Owens Corning 703 is popular stuff around here for treatment. I was thinking of using this in my panel construction--good idea?

Thanks a bunch,

Jamie

i would opt for the panels using 703

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Glenn

Thanks again Glenn.

Can anybody tell me how to make my sketch show up automatically like others have here? I hoping for a few more comments/suggesions and I think my current sketch situation is holding me back!!

you can export the image as a JPG (max 1200px wide) and upload it. or if the SU file is 500K or less you can upload it (although it's often easier for a lot of folks to have both).

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Glenn