Studio is finally completed

[T.Lime]

Our band decided to invest in our own studio. Set in an industrial unit in deepest darkest Suffolk County it is 30 feet by 16 feet. It is set up to replicate how we gig: 3 acoustic guitars ( J45, D35 and Crafter GA) run through their various pedal boards into amps ( respectively Fender 212R with Celstions, Carlsbro LTD and Vox 100) into ALto 16 trac 1500w PA, into Mark of the UNicorn 18 trac 828 Interface, into desktop ( for recording) and then into a pair of 1985 Peavey speakers with EV monitors. Mics are a Prodipe TT1 for myself on lead vocs, Beyerdynamic for 2nd vocs and Behringer XM8500 for backing vocs and sax. Room is mic'd thru AT2020 for recording our rehearsals. Recording rehearsals is done through Reaper ....Total cost minus guitars and amps,mics ... £250.. all gear bought used apart from Reaper software and NCH Videopad for vid recording

studio done by Gram Phillips, on Flickr

[Nimiety]

That's exciting!

What are the ribbons on the wall covered with ?sheets?

[T.Lime]

Originally Posted by Nimiety

That's exciting!

What are the ribbons on the wall covered with ?sheets?

Hey there Nimiety, the ribbons are cut from a mix of saris and scraps of fabric.

[Nimiety]

Thanks! Interesting!

[T.Lime]

Originally Posted by Nimiety

Thanks! Interesting!

THe walls themselves are insulated drywall covered in cotton twill dust cloths

[jim1960]

No room treatment?

[T.Lime]

Originally Posted by jim1960

No room treatment?

Hey Jim 1960, not really needed, the walls are two layers of Drywall with insulation between. Dry wall was bought used from facebook market place, and the rolls of insulation were end cuts from larger rolls being used in a local housing development. This was primarily to keep the studio warm, it sits inside a larger warehouse and so can get quite chilly.

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by T.Lime

Hey Jim 1960, not really needed, the walls are two layers of Drywall with insulation between. Dry wall was bought used from facebook market place, and the rolls of insulation were end cuts from larger rolls being used in a local housing development. This was primarily to keep the studio warm, it sits inside a larger warehouse and so can get quite chilly.

I'm confused. I was talking about acoustic treatment and you're talking about drywall and insulation. The latter doesn't replace the former.

[T.Lime]

Originally Posted by jim1960

I'm confused. I was talking about acoustic treatment and you're talking about drywall and insulation. The latter doesn't replace the former.

Rolls of insulation make for good acoustic treatment. you need stuff that is 3lbs per cubic foot, lighter for ceilings. Rock wool is best, but others are just as good. All of it is much cheaper than acoustic panels, so yes the latter does replace the former ,and you can buy it all second hand. To be fair we are not looking for high end recording studio levels here ,all we want to do is provide an acoustically OK room for rehearsal, video streaming etc. Instead of individual panels we trapped the insualting material between two thin drywall panels.

[jim1960]

Originally Posted by T.Lime

Rolls of insulation make for good acoustic treatment. you need stuff that is 3lbs per cubic foot, lighter for ceilings. Rock wool is best, but others are just as good. All of it is much cheaper than acoustic panels, so yes the latter does replace the former ,and you can buy it all second hand. To be fair we are not looking for high end recording studio levels here ,all we want to do is provide an acoustically OK room for rehearsal, video streaming etc. Instead of individual panels we trapped the insualting material between two thin drywall panels.

What you've done will likely help reduce some transfer of sound from the outside coming in and vice versa, but you're still going to have sound waves created inside the room bouncing all over that space. However, you said it's just for rehearsals and video streaming, so not really a recording studio, and it will probably suffice for those purposes.

[MikeBmusic]

Originally Posted by T.Lime

Rolls of insulation make for good acoustic treatment. you need stuff that is 3lbs per cubic foot, lighter for ceilings. Rock wool is best, but others are just as good. All of it is much cheaper than acoustic panels, so yes the latter does replace the former ,and you can buy it all second hand. To be fair we are not looking for high end recording studio levels here ,all we want to do is provide an acoustically OK room for rehearsal, video streaming etc. Instead of individual panels we trapped the insualting material between two thin drywall panels.

Clap your hands in the room? What you hear is slap-back echo. That's why you need some acoustic absorption INSIDE the room (not just in the walls).

[johnnydobbers]

yeah, from what i understand, this room isn't acoustically "treated"

[KevWind]

Originally Posted by T.Lime

Rolls of insulation make for good acoustic treatment. you need stuff that is 3lbs per cubic foot, lighter for ceilings. Rock wool is best, but others are just as good. All of it is much cheaper than acoustic panels, so yes the latter does replace the former ,and you can buy it all second hand. To be fair we are not looking for high end recording studio levels here ,all we want to do is provide an acoustically OK room for rehearsal, video streaming etc. Instead of individual panels we trapped the insualting material between two thin drywall panels.

Unfortunately the written word is not always the clearest communication.
Hate to pile on here but there appears to be some basic misunderstanding about "Acoustic Treatment"

Now like you say if you are looking for mostly for a rehearsal space what you have done so far, may be just dandy. But as far as recording in that space ? It may work but only OK ... And (if I am understanding your posts , correctly) what you have built is likely only marginally OK for a recording, and or not really OK ......

Also to back up a bit ,the laws of physics of acoustics are a factor, and are the same regardless of the intended purpose or budget, be it dedicated high end recording studio, or something to just get by for rehearsal and possibly some recording.


First we should clarify the broad term "Acoustic treatment"
There are two marginally related but functionally different aspects of
"Acoustic Treatment"

#1 sound attenuation to limit sound transfer through a wall (sound proofing )
#2 sound reflection attenuation within a room. (interior sound absorption)

Just like horsepower torque, energy transfer etc. are one aspect for automobile efficiency , and aerodynamics and suspension and corning etc. are related, but they are different.

What you are describing is #1 (room within a room) i.e. " we trapped the insualting material between two thin drywall panels." ,,,,, is primarily addressing #1 (yes it will attenuate some secondary reflection , i.e that which passes through the drywall hits the second drywall and reflects back through the insulation) BUT it does not address the primary reflections coming off the interior drywall back into the room . And hanging cotton cloth over the drywall does little to nothing as far as either #1 or #2 which is why cloth is often use to cover home speakers with little resulting attenuation of sound.

And to be clear as far as "Acoustic treatment" ? No #1 does not replace #2. nor vise vera. For example you could build a high end recording room with virtually total sound proofing (no sound sound in or out of the room) and still have terrible recording issues from internal reflections

Also 3lb per cubic foot insulation can help with #1 , but there are other sound proofing techniques that will contribute more.
And while 3 lb can be used for #2 (BUT not when place behind drywall), and is not nearly as effective as say 6lb pcf insulation for Acoustic panels

Here is a very brief summary of the basic difference
https://www.mower.com/insights/sound...%20the%20room.

[alohachris]

Aloha Lime,

I completely agree with Kevwind's & Jim1960's thoughts here.

It looks like you're putting together a decent home studio for your band. Bravo!

However, I used to sell acoustic drywall AND.... I hate to tell ya, but it is NOT adequate for treating an acoustic recording space for MUSIC (check it's STC noise rating). Many customers asked me about that difference.

Acoustic drywall only controls external noises, & will NOT control problem early room reflections or maximize your new gear inside your recording studio. It actually makes them worse! In fact, adding a sheet of 1/2" Homosote 440 Sound Barrier inside your acoustic drywall would really do a MUCH better job on external AND INTERNAL noise abatement. Again, check their STC noise ratings, Lime.

Proper acoustic room treatment for a recording studio space is all about consistency, separating & balancing frequencies (getting rid of the mid-range mud common in home studio's), & control of internal room reflections. Even with two layers & air space & that useless top covering of your current drywall, you cannot achieve proper treament of a recording space - especially consistent recordings. So, back to the drawing board. Solutions.

Lime, check out the first couple chapters or more of Ethan Winer's Acoustic Treatment thesis here for some more clues:

http://ethanwiner.com/acoustics.html

Then just make & install these Owens-Corning 703 rigid fiberglass, 4" x 2' x4' DIY broadband absorbers (again, minimum 4" thickness!) over the drywall PLUS floor to ceiling in the corners as bass traps. You'll also need a few more panels around & above your desk area too (overhead, sides & behind your monitors - even in the wall to ceiling joints). Or just buy expensive gobo's & do the same.

http://www.homebrewedmusic.com/2009/...-on-the-cheap/

http://www.homebrewedmusic.com/2011/...adband-panels/

Check out how other home musicians treat their spaces at this site:

https://www.gearslutz.com/board/stud...ing-acoustics/

Lime, I'm sure that you will succeed with all the planning, thought & effort you've put into your space. DIY Room Treatment (described above) will give you the consistency & control in your recordings that acoustic drywall simply cannot provide.

Best of Luck, Lime!

alohachris

[S.bowman]

Originally Posted by T.Lime

Our band decided to invest in our own studio. Set in an industrial unit in deepest darkest Suffolk County it is 30 feet by 16 feet. It is set up to replicate how we gig: 3 acoustic guitars ( J45, D35 and Crafter GA) run through their various pedal boards into amps ( respectively Fender 212R with Celstions, Carlsbro LTD and Vox 100) into ALto 16 trac 1500w PA, into Mark of the UNicorn 18 trac 828 Interface, into desktop ( for recording) and then into a pair of 1985 Peavey speakers with EV monitors. Mics are a Prodipe TT1 for myself on lead vocs, Beyerdynamic for 2nd vocs and Behringer XM8500 for backing vocs and sax. Room is mic'd thru AT2020 for recording our rehearsals. Recording rehearsals is done through Reaper ....Total cost minus guitars and amps,mics ... £250.. all gear bought used apart from Reaper software and NCH Videopad for vid recording

studio done by Gram Phillips, on Flickr

The really important thing most in this thread are missing is that it works well for you, and that you like it. All that really matters is that it is a place to play and do your thing, whether that be recording, or rehearsing. Studio building is a rabbit hole that can never end. Not practical for the average musician, or needed. All depends on the goals of, and results wanted by the user. Congrats on finishing your space, and hope you have lots of fun playing music in there.