John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum Archive

Hi,
Been lurking forever and posted a bit a while back.

I am finally finishing up my recording space. This is a loft over my garage. I live in a rural area and loud isn't a HUGE problem - just no drumming after 9pm or so. Nothing has been constructed for isolation.

The loft is around 700 sq' of which I'm using most of it. It is insulated normally for heat and finished with spruce boards. I have built many broadband panels using 4" rockwool. I also have 4 'super chunk' bass traps in 4 corners.

My goal is too record, obviously, in a comfortable cozy space. Typical 4 piece band stuff with real drums. I want it to sound as good as I can. Symmetry is a bit of an issue - I still have to make a gobo to place at my left in the mixing position so as to try to create better symmetry there.

I will post more pics once I'm finished but as for now I would ask that if you see something that looks odd in my panel placement, etc... please let me know. Rear wall might need treatment or a couch.

All opinions/feedback very appreciated.

Thanks
Scott.

looks like a nice space. maybe you will need some absorbers in front of the windows? spaced enough to allow some light but still provide some absorption there. possibly hung or hinged so you could move them out of the way if desired? the windows probably contribute some LF absorption but having some additional absorption there will likely be helpful. as will a pair of gobos - one on either side of you. with the bass amp in the alcove, you might consider some super chunk absorbers in the corners (and ceiling corners) to tighten things.

Thanks Glenn,
I have lots of rockwool left - 14 pieces actually...I can rig something up to cover the windows no problem.

When you say bass amp in the alcove do you mean bass buildup? There is no actual amp there...I have super chunks in the front corners on either side of the windows...they are only to the bottom of the windows though. 2 super chunks in the back wall corners too...covered in black cloth.

For my super chunks I'm cutting a 2x4 panel into 2x2 and then a 45 slice through that. Would it be worth my while to to half that yet again (getting 8 pieces out of 2x4) for wall/ceiling corners or is that simply too small? It's only a 7' ceiling to begin with -

Maybe another cloud over the drum area too???

Thanks again.

The first phot looks like a bass guitar and I thought maybe the black box there was an amp... Either way thar alcove will be a focal point for bass so madding some trapping in there is a good idea. If think you have enough over the drums. I'd maybe concentrate on the gobos for symmetry on the mix.

Thanks.

Yeah, I can simply stuff the windows with rockwool and build a cloth frame that fits snug in the window casing.

As for gobos, I'm going to make a few and see how that sounds.

I have that one broadband panel on the right wall but I really need to form a symmetrical zone there.

Then once those are done - another day or so - I'll clean up, setup some gear and track a bit - see how it all sounds.

Thanks again for the advice.