help with small basement studio

Post by **John Sayers** » Mon May 05, 2003 10:09 am

Looking good mate - just one thiong - break up the parallel ceiling in the front like this

cheers
john

jon s · Post by **jon s** » Mon May 05, 2003 9:37 pm

that's a good point

which raises a couple of questions, thanks for your patience!

- how should i create the new space (see pic.)
- do i need to separate the two 'shapes' of cavity?
- is it ok to rest the insulation in the resonator on the slats or do i need to build an inner frame to hold it away?

cheers,

jon

Post by **John Sayers** » Tue May 06, 2003 10:03 am

- how should i create the new space (see pic.)
- do i need to separate the two 'shapes' of cavity?
- is it ok to rest the insulation in the resonator on the slats or do i need to build an inner frame to hold it away?

Yes separate the two spaces - why not build some of Ethan's panel absorbers but with an angled front, instead of flat like his.

For the slots put the insulation on the ceiling.

cheers
john

jon s · Post by **jon s** » Wed May 07, 2003 6:46 am

why not build some of Ethan's panel absorbers but with an angled front, instead of flat like his.

good idea, makes sense to use the space.
-would i need to back the absorbers with ply, as there is no existing wall to form the shape?
- (A) or (B) in diagram?

-thinking about panel absorbers, should i put one on the rear wall where i have the 8" rear wall absorber and cover that with 703 to prevent the ply from causing reflections, or stick with what i have?!

cheers for the advice, it's getting beyond where i can guess now

Post by **John Sayers** » Wed May 07, 2003 10:30 am

I think I'd go with A.

sorry I don't understand what you mean about the ply backing. Surely the ceiling and the wall become the rear of the cavity - you just create the sides to mount the plywood panel.

Yes you could put them on the rear provided you put 703 in front. Maybe two next to each other and angled slightly as well.

cheers
john

jon s · Post by **jon s** » Thu May 08, 2003 12:42 am

great, i think that's me all set for some serious carpentry, looking at my original sketch it's a good job i checked in here!

one final question. existing walls are double brick cavity. is it worth lining them with double plasterboard for sound proofing, or will single do. i don't know how much difference this will make to the STC (it's not essential, but i may as well get what i can and i don't have space for room within a room, although, as it's built off an isolated concrete slab i guess i kinda have a brick room within a room anyway)

cheers,

jon

Post by **John Sayers** » Thu May 08, 2003 8:53 am

I wouldn't wory about a room within a room - If you render the brick surface the STC is greatly improved.

good luck with the building

cheers
john

jon s · Post by **jon s** » Thu May 08, 2003 9:32 am

If you render the brick surface the STC is greatly improved

plaster direct to the brick surface? ie. no messing about with plasterboard? sounds good

good luck with the building

thanks!

Post by **John Sayers** » Thu May 08, 2003 10:12 am

I think the easiest way is to bag it. That's a loose sand cement mix you wash onto the surface with a cloth. It seals the surface.
I'd ask Steve in the construction forum what he recommends.

cheers
john

knightfly · Post by **knightfly** » Thu May 08, 2003 8:31 pm

I'll save you having to make a trip "all the way over" to the construction zone -

Since it looks like virtually all your walls will be covered with various treatments, aesthetics appear to play no part in the choices - you could either do the bagging thing with a light mortar mix to seal the brick, or if you can get access to an airless spray system you could use a heavy-bodied latex paint and apply two or three coats right to the brick, whichever way is more comfortable to you. Either way is 98% just for the sealing effect.

If you want better sound proofing, additional layers of 5/8" (15mm) wallboard will add about 2-3 dB per layer. If you do this, you could seal the brick with floor mastic, and use it to also glue the wallboard to the brick.

What you DON'T want to do is to create yet another air gap so you end up with 3 mass leaves and two air spaces. That will actually WORSEN the wall performance.

One other thing I noticed in your drawings - if the layout is to scale (latest floorplan), you need to widen the speaker placement so that the distance from center of radiation of each speaker (baffle, midway between tweet and woof) is the same as the distance from each speaker to your EARS, not to a spot 3" from the edge of the desk.

Widening the speakers should also allow you NOT to make the mistake of having the computer monitors off to the side, but instead place them between the speakers, and if they're the same height set the left CRT so its face is a continuation of the left speaker's front baffle, and set the right CRT so its face is a continuation of the right speaker's front baffle. This will give you a symmetrical mix position, effectively extend the size of the speaker baffles, and keep you from getting a stiff neck.

Notice that, in your drawing, if you draw a line from the left speaker over to the face of the CRT's next to the right speaker, those CRT's will reflect into your right ear. Early reflections SUCK even when they're symmetrical, so I wouldn't do that... Steve

jon s · Post by **jon s** » Thu May 08, 2003 9:00 pm

good info, thanks (i already posted all the way over in the construction room, so feel free to ignore that one!)

the computer monitor thing makes a lot of sense, having gone out of my way to get a symmetrical room it makes little sense to spoil it with the high's bouncing off my screens

as for aesthetics, it's gonna be a dark fabric covered room

but with it being so small i don't think i have much choice about that, maybe you need to open up a 'studio aesthetics' zone with some interior design advice

jon

knightfly · Post by **knightfly** » Thu May 08, 2003 9:06 pm

"maybe you need to open up a 'studio aesthetics' zone with some interior design advice " - Sorry, sport, but I'm "hetero" ONLY :=)

Also, Tag, you're it (check the construction forum again, I'm outa here before John yells at us for "running in the halls"... Steve

Post by **John Sayers** » Fri May 09, 2003 9:24 am

running in the halls

it's a good idea when you have a small room with a low ceiling to make the ceiling a dark colour and the walls light. Makes the room feel bigger.

cheers
john