John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum Archive

Hello and Happy New Year to all! I've posted some studio design questions on this wonderful website which have been quickly and Masterfully answered by John Sayers. He has given me two very nice designs to work with.(both attached.) I have spent many, many hours reading, rereading and learning from all the moderators and active members of this forum. So first let me just say "Thank You!" to everyone for all the information, support and enthusiasm that is so abundant on this site.It is a fantastic resource and great cure for "the DIY studio building, problem solving blues."
I have been laboring away on my project mostly between semesters teaching.( I teach music at a couple of colleges here in the Boston area and am now on winter break.) I recently purchased a small (3,880 sq feet) church outside of Boston Ma. The church is Post and Beam construction ( built in 1905), two stories high with the main Sanctuary and ground floor foot print being 40' x 30'. The ground floor is a concrete slab covered with tile and surrounded by a 8' -9' granite stone foudation walls. The only windows on the ground floor are made of glass block. I have carved out an area 21' 2" x 18' 3" that I am sound proofing on the ground floor.(hand drawn attachement) Ideally I want to have a place to practice any time of the day or night, (I am a jazz musician), and a nice control room and studio that can also record music that is being played in the sanctuary.That is my humble start...(I am already scheming to turn the whole place into a studio!) After much demolition of the old the ceiling.I have 8' 7" to the floor joists, except in area of the north wall which has an hvac duct that runs the length of the space,the ceiling under it is 7' 6". (Beautiful huge hand hewn beams with wooden pegs are now exposed soon to be covered again, arghh.) I have built 2 steel stud walls ( 5/8+ 1/2 celotex and insulation at this point and insulated the ceiling) and just got a bunch of Therma- fiber mineral wool today to rebuild an existing wall (west wall). I will be building double wall 2 leaf system around the entire space. (wood or steel is a question) Now that you know a little about my project. A couple of quick questions:# 1. Is anyone one familiar with this new steel stud product which snaps into place and has a sliding extra foot of stud that also snaps into the top plate? I saw it at Kamco Supply of Boston ( great place they have it all!) in Rockland Ma. It means no cutting of studs, just snap it in slide it up to length, hit 'em with a screw. Wow! They are about a dollar more per stud, but they seem to be ideal to me. I had to cut every stud just a little differently because of the hewn beams. Any thoughts would be great. #2. Is RC 1 the correct choice for hanging two layers of 5/8 sheet rock on the ceiling? I have read everywhere that people are using resilient channel but I am a little confused on the best choice for the ceiling. (RC1 has a much better STC rating than RC2 ,but can it hold up the weght of the double 5/8"ceiling?) I look forward to sharing my design to build landmarks, photos, issues and questions...I thank you for your time and any and all insight. Onward and upward, Greg.

My initial build was to build a single wall double leaf system with metal studs 2 x 5/8" sheet rock plus 1/2" celotex and insulation.( I have done this on my new south and east new walls minus the second layer of sheet rock.) This gets me an STC of 50 - 55 (according to Jeff Coopers book) I am now wrestling with the idea of taking off the outer layers of these walls and building a second wall on the outside with the insulation and double 5/8" sheetrock. I would build the wall on the outside so my inner dimensions do not change.This gets me an STC of 55 -60 (Cooper pg80).I believe everyone on this forum would tell me to just do it.The idea of undoing all the rock and tape and mud is not very appealling to me. I play acoustic music ( mostly straight ahead jazz), with that in mind should I do it? I would love to hear from anyone that has up graded their own walls in a similar fashion. I fear creating the 3 leaf system so it is the only way to rebuild those walls.I have attached a couple more pics.Thanks for reading. Greg.

Cool pictures -- but you're going to have to resize them as per the rules and the dire warning.

Thanks Sharward, I thought (incorrectly) that the pics just had to be less than 150 k. I see now that they were also too wide etc. I believe they are ok now. (I don't see my updated comments however) Much Thanks for the heads up. Greg.

Hi Steve (Knightfly),
I now know that Dietrich RC deluxe is what I need to buy and use on my ceiling. I have easy access to this RC at Kamco Supply Co. in the Boston area.Thanks for all your amazing hard work here in this forum! Best regards, Greg.

Comments like this are what makes it worth it; you're entirely welcome.

(Not to be construed as a refusal to accept large gifts of cash or vintage audio components, of course )

Hi Steve (Knightfly), I picked up some more steel today and have a question on the different options of what is possible to place under the sole plate.(I want to get this right) I have been seeing some different materials used under walls. I picked up a roll of the pink owening corning 1/4" sill plate cell foam (50' roll) and also some of those much thicker lock together 1/2" rubber "play school matts". I have seen both of these materials recomended and used in studios built on this forum. I don't plan on floating a floor at this time.You recomended to Aaron to use the pink stuff under his plates but he is floating his floor.Numerous other folks have cut up the "play matts" but they have (I believe) been working with wood. Should,or could I use the "play matts".Thank you in advance for your time and your thoughts on this matter.Onward and upward, Greg.