Converting an outbuilding to a "studio"

[Antag]

OK, hypothetical (for now) situation:  What would be involved to convert an outbuilding into a home music room/studio/practice space?

The building was originally a garage which has been converted to an outdoor utility/storage area.  It's brick built with a tiled roof, 2 doors (normal doors, not garage doors).

I'm guessing I'd start with some basic things like insulation & heating to regulate temperature & humidity so guitars can be stored there: platerboard on the walls, some sort of ceiling (at the moment is just the roof beams), carpet/tiles on the floor (bare concrete), and better security.

Then I'd quite like some level of sound proofing, not sure how much I want to spend.  I guess this would involve replacing the doors, can't remember if the window was double-glazed or not, something to put on/in the walls & ceiling?  Any idea how much internal space would be used up by sound proofing?

I'm guessing I'd need a builder for much of the basic stuff, then some specialist company for the sound proofing?

Anyone know any useful sites I can look at and/or companies to contact?

Thanks :)

[Jonny]

http://www.noisestopsystems.co.uk/

Handy categories on the left.

[HTH AMPS]

Adding rockwool covered by plasterboard will give you a good degree of reduction to the noise leaking outside.  if you're able to add a door on the outside AND inside (i.e. doubling up on the door) you will cut sound leaking through the door too.  Your main problem will be capturing the bass that leaks out the building.

I'd look at some basic acoustic treatment too to keep the sound in the room tight - some bass traps if necessary, and don't have too many reflective surfaces.  My old studio just had carpet on the walls and they was enough to keep the room from sounding too live.  The floor and ceiling were just bare and added a little bit of reverberation to the room. 

When we recorded there, we used to open the door and use the corridoor as a natural reverb chamber (micing it with a stereo pair of small diaphragm condensers).  I used to roll off most of the bass end then mix the reverb signal into the main mix - worked a treat.

[Oli]

In addition to the things mentioned above, you'd want to consider raising things like drum kits and cabs off the floor on some acoustic foam, then you'll get less bass resonating out through the ground/walls.

[ToneMonkey]

Not only that but garage floors get bloody cold, so some thinck insulation would do two jobs.

[HTH AMPS]

In addition to the things mentioned above, you'd want to consider raising things like drum kits and cabs off the floor on some acoustic foam, then you'll get less bass resonating out through the ground/walls.

Excellent suggestion - you want to kill structure-borne vibration (or transfer thereof).  You might look into building a frame for the floor (floating floor) to decouple the floor from the other walls - you'll want to leave a small gap between the edges of the floating floor and the walls for the best acoustic decoupling.

Further risers for the cabs and drum kit (as Oli suggested) would improve this even more.

After that, I'd see how the room behaves and if the bass gets a bit boomy, I'd look into bass traps to tune the room.

This is all DIY stuff you can do yourself that shouldn't cost a fortune.  Do some reading up and get a book on acoustic treatment and sound proofing.

[MDV]

Good project!

Where to begin

You can put up internal walls in the corners and fill them in with rock wool for bass traps.

mulit-layer plasterboard and rockwool for soundproofing

Rockwool+plasterboard platforms for drums and cabs (in the right places of course)

Little room for drums and vocals.

Rockwool and shaping the internal walls to get rid of standing waves are your friend!

Wish I could help, I'd love to get my teeth into something like this. Was fun, hard work, but fun, treating and configuring my home studio, but I was restricted in what I could change with space and the fact that the place is rented.

[Denim n Leather]

This is my line of country. Pics and room dimensions. I can help you from design thru construction. And my rates are very reasonable! PDT_008


You should plan on taking the space down to the studs, because that is what is going to be required.

[DeanS]

You could also try this forum

http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/index.php

[jibidy]

Lots of money. Stick it on the walls the ceiling and the floor fill all the gaps you can see with money.

[theroyalconsort]

I know someone who has done this....

They didn't need much sound proofing though. they live in the middle of Dartmoor. Also they didnt need a builder.

Section off 1 control room / editing room (secton it believe me keep your amp a wall away)

1 main live / rehersal room

1 small vocal / amp room

And if you have enough space an "Airlock room" to help kill escaping / incoming sound through the door

Have far more power points that you ever think you'll get through... because you will :lol:

Also have far too many patch points between the control room and vocal booth an live room than you think you need.

Dont use strip lights or dimmer swiches for lighting as they play merry hell with single coil pickups.

[Matt77]

Neoprene floor panels used in gyms are a cheap solution to some of the issues you might get