The goal here is an iso booth. The neighbors are actually pretty awesome - as long as they can't hear me past 10, it's fine. I'm looking to extend the working hours a bit
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
My basement has a high ceiling for the age of the house (104 years!) but not by modern standards.
8'2" to the bottom of the floor
7'4" to the bottom of the joists
6'7" to the bottom of the radiator pipes
It's the last number that really makes me a sad panda.
A couple other "special" numbers:
The floor of the room above is only 3/4" - there's no subfloor. It's a beautiful, hand-crafted parquet floor - http://picasaweb.google.com/mpedrummer/ ... 5147996482 - so ripping it up and installing a subfloor is not realistic.
Money is an object.
It is possible to reroute the pipes, somewhat. Money is an object, just to reiterate. I can solder pipes myself, but unfortunately the corner where I want the booth is where the new copper meets the old black pipe. I'd trust myself to do this soldering...if it wasn't going to be closed in a wall and really expensive when the mold eats the lead singer.
I just ordered Rod's book - I should have that later this week.
The realistic goal is to be able to record vocals and have my wife not feel like she needs to walk on eggshells.
The "still realistic" goal is to record acoustic guitars, meet the realistic goal, and do it after 10.
The "I realize I might have to punt on this one" goal is to be able to do the same things, but also be able to put a guitar or bass amp in there. The goal becomes keeping sound in, not out, with this one, obviously. I know that these are mutually cohesive goals.
I'm thinking about 5'x6' for size, with wiggle room for making the proportions more "good". I'm a drummer, so the potential to make a sound-resistant practice room is desirable. I might make it a little larger, though it then becomes a pain to have rehearsals in the studio, which is a common enough occurrence.
The floor is poured concrete. The exterior walls are not an issue - 18" of sandstone. The basement is only about 60% submerged.
The current though (inklings of a plan?) is to screw or green glue two or three layers of drywall to the underside of the floor above, damp that with 703 or 705, then build the booth below that as a room-inside-a-room.
I'm worried about height - both for proportions and comfort. Would having the pipes "penetrate" the room negate any effectiveness of the soundproofing?
Any suggestions?
Sorry this is sorta rambling. I'm just getting started, so I'm in the "excited babbling" phase of the idea
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
Tim