And the bench.
+1, love to see someone not using an Aeron chair.And the bench.
haha+1, love to see someone not using an Aeron chair.
knew I'd regret that!Always, regardless of what we're talking about.
Actually they are no more problematic than splayed walls. With parallel walls you can easily calculate things like room modes and decay times. Splayed walls may spready the modes out - and it might even work, but you would have to use finite element analysis to calculate the modes.I would just mention parallel walls are generally problematic.
Not true. Calculating room modes and decay times is still possible with splayed walls in real world measurements, not theoretical. Also my walls were parallel before the addition of the splaying panels. The acoustician for my space calculated all modes and decay times.Actually they are no more problematic than splayed walls. With parallel walls you can easily calculate things like room modes and decay times. Splayed walls may spready the modes out - and it might even work, but you would have to use finite element analysis to calculate the modes.
Excellent advice here and good contributions from nick and pinkiAlcorey and Nick are spot on and the rest of the replies are not terribly helpful, if not downright wrong.
The only things I can tell you, without a great deal more info, is a rough order of priorities and some advice:
1) sit in the empty garage and listen - what do you hear? You will hear stuff. And from that you can decide how much soundproofing is required. Bear in mind that soundproofing will probably make the acoustical behavior of the room worse, since energy will no longer be able to escape.
2) optional - put a source an amplifier, and a couple loudspeakers in the garage, blast some music, and then go listen outside. How much do you hear? See above.
3) Floor treatment is a personal taste thing - some folks like a reflective floor, some don't. I like cheap wood flooring over some form of padding, and usually throw in a small rug here and there. This is one of those things you can do later, don't worry about it now. (although you probably want to do whatever you want to do before you move all your gear in.)
4) now that we know to start with an "ignore all" mindset bring in your studio monitors, some source capable of playing music, a chair, and your ears. This will be the optimal configuration, sadly it is totally useless - except for this. Move the chair and the loudspeakers around - closer to the wall, further from the wall, facing east, facing south, closer to the chair, further from the chair, etc. You will find one or more configurations that sound (subjectively) better.
5) Avoid cheap measurement microphones and free software tools. Avoid expensive measurement microphones and expensive software tools. And avoid any software that says it will fix your room. Just don't do it!
6) avoid "experts" that are trying to sell you stuff.
7) There are a number of companies making soundproofing and room treatment products. Check them all out. I like ASC and GIK, and if I had the money, RPG. (something about three letter acronyms?) There are some I avoid, but in the past they have been known to sue for defamation if one criticizes them, so I am afraid I can not list them.
8) set up your studio in the configuration you liked most from step 4. Spend some time listening to tracks that you are intimately familiar with, and do not freak out if they sound different - they probably will.
9) subjectively figure out the worst problem - noise, low frequency rumble, discrete echoes, etc. Solve the problem. Move on to the next problem. Repeat until you are happy.
10) if you have the budget, before you spend money on treatments "hire" an acoustician that is familiar with small, critical listening spaces and get their opinion. (actually, if the budget allows just hire them<G>).
11) similarly, try to budget to hire an HVAC company that has a clue about recording studios. It isn't rocket science, but you will need HVAC, and a poorly installed system will be a nightmare.
12) if you are hiring contractors to do any build-out find ones that have have a clue as well.
Above all else, have fun with this exercise. You are going to learn a little bit about acoustics, and a lot about your ears. It is supposed to be fun!
Once you have any room demons tamed it will be time to hook everything up. That is nearly as involved, but a lot easier to grasp. Ask questions, just like for the acoustical treatment.
And if all else fails, listen to Nick!
no.Here's another thought. What about a room within a room? Could one buy a 10 x 10 wood shed, add the acoustic foam inside, shut the door and get good results for a straightforward DAW workstation? Or would this create a "dead room" situation? I'm sure my wife would love having a shed inside the new garage, lol.
Good point. The thought was short-lived anyway. To be clear, like in my original post the intent of this room is to compose music with my DAW station and potentially do piano lessons. It's not for high-end pro recording with live instruments or anyting. Maybe that makes it a workspace and I'm using the terminology of "music studio"wrong? I just want to get the garage to not sound like crap when I am using my monitors. I just want to hear a somewhat accurate sound.no.
and if there is fire, and anyone gets hurt, you get to spend a few years in jail.
foam isnt sound proofing. Soundproofing requires air , power permits. Honestly, I think you are underestimating what you think it takes to build a studio.
what is your budget. It is hard to tell how serious you are.
Definitely listening, taking notes, and even bought that book you recommended but also trying to think outside the box, or in this case...shed, lol. My name is Donovan btw. The shed is a no-go anyways. Seemed cool for a moment there until it wasn't.Daniel, pretend you have alzheimer's and forget the foam - waste of money as many have said
You've gotten absolutely fantastic advice by most in this thread, yet it doesn't seem like you are listening to any of it - I hope you'll give things a second look
Hi David. Thanks for the book links. I've added them to my Amazon to-buy list. I realize that this is going to take more time to get it right. I've got three books to read, all recommended by you and another member here. I can spend about $3000 initially, and then the rest bit by bit through the next year. Appreciate it!If you want to build something that you could sell as a "recording studio" then you're either going to need to:
1. Hire multiple professionals and open up your wallet
OR
2. Spend a lot of time (roughly one to two thousand hours) learning about:
(a) the science of acoustics
(b) the science of construction
And then you'll be in a better position to... Hire multiple professionals and open up your wallet.
In all seriousness, it is definitely possible for you to DIY to a room that gets you into the ballpark of commonly referenced Professional Standards, but be prepared for a massive investment of brainpower and/or finances.
I went the DIY route myself and it took almost 11 months of learning and then building to convert a single room to professional spec (and that was without having to mess with electrical or HVAC, which probably would have added another two months). Zero regrets because I love the space and it ended up being a lifesaver during the pandemic, but it's so much more than slapping foam on walls and calling it a day.
I really recommend two books as primers:
1. "Build it Like The Pros" by Rod Gervais for studio construction considerations
2. "The Master Handbook of Acoustics" by Everest for the underlying science
Sorry Donovan - don't know where I got Daniel fromDefinitely listening, taking notes, and even bought that book you recommended but also trying to think outside the box, or in this case...shed, lol. My name is Donovan btw. The shed is a no-go anyways. Seemed cool for a moment there until it wasn't.
Excellent! You'll soon realize that building a recording studio is in some ways like constructing a house of cards -- every decision you make impacts the final result, and one "tiny" mistake can result in a room that is physically incapable of achieving your goals. So I would start by developing a complete treatment plan before you spend that 3k on anything but books.Hi David. Thanks for the book links. I've added them to my Amazon to-buy list. I realize that this is going to take more time to get it right. I've got three books to read, all recommended by you and another member here. I can spend about $3000 initially, and then the rest bit by bit through the next year. Appreciate it!