JWL's Crafted Recordings studio build diary

[JWL]

Greetings all, I've officially begun my studio build, though presently it is merely building a storage shed on the side of my garage, so I can store all the crap presently in the garage.

This is probably my favorite audio forum on the web, so I wanted to put a build diary here. I'll actually have the full build diary on my website, but I'll put highlights and links here.

It is my hope that this build diary, outlining a modest home-based studio in a garage, will be useful to others building out their spaces. I've done a lot of research in this area over the past several years, and of course deal with these issues as a matter of course during my day job.

My family and I have chosen a simple lifestyle, we don’t have a big house or a lot of space. Our garage is a separate building, a 12×19 single car garage. The studio will take up about 12×15 of that (actual inside dimensions will be closer to 11×15).

I also don’t have a huge budget for this build. I’ve already acquired 2 cases of Green Glue to get started. For those who don’t know, this stuff is not actually glue, but is rather a viscoelastic compound that, when applied between 2 sheets of drywall (or similar material), will dramatically cut down on sound transmittal. Green Glue, along with the HVAC machine down the road, will likely be the single largest expense of this build.

This build will happen as I get budget; I’ll pick up materials as I can. Also, I’m relying heavily on free/recycled materials for this build. The build will go slowly, both due to time and budget constraints, so I can afford to be patient.

I’ll save details of what the studio will be for a later post (since this will be down the road for me), but for now I’ll say that it will be a one-room design. I simply don’t have enough space for multiple rooms. This room will be enough for me to do mixing, recording overdubs or small ensembles, or even a drum kit with a tight fit. That will be more than enough for me; Crafted Recordings is still mobile so if I need a good room for a full band I have options nearby.

Objectives are that the room is soundproof, both so I don’t disturb my family if I’m cranking music at 1am, and so the logging trucks that rumble down my road at 50mph don’t get picked up by my microphones. Also, the room has to sound good both for listening/mixing/mastering and for recording said overdubs. I’m particularly interested in a good acoustic guitar sound, since that’s my main instrument.

The studio will also serve as my home office for my work with RealTraps.

Here is a pic of where things are as of now, again this is just the foundation for a storage shed on the side of the garage:


For more pics and a more detailed description, go check out the full post on my website.

I'll keep this thread updated as the build progresses.
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Making the world sound better, one room at a time

[studiodog]

Thank you in advance - and by the way thanks for all the other info you provide on this site!!
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"...because I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and gosh darnit, people like me!"

[JWL]

No problem, studiodog. Glad to be of help. Thanks for the well-wishes.

Got a bit more done this weekend. The concrete seems to have cured nicely. Over the weekend, I fastened the beams to the concrete, and build the deck on top of the beams. I still have to trim the spacer boards between the joists, to keep them from flexing down the road. It was very rainy today so I didn’t want to get the power saw out.

But, here is where we stand so far:




Next step is to cut and install the spacer boards. Then, I need to order the floorboards and install those. Once the floorboards are in, it’s wall-framing time!

I’m also building a treehouse for my daughter, and it’s very nearly at the same stage as this (need to get floorboards). I’ll likely get all those floorboards at the same time.
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Making the world sound better, one room at a time

[Jon Nolan]

go james go!
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www.jonnolan.net
http://jonnolan.bandcamp.com/
dude about town.

[JWL]

Woo! Thanks Jon....

Got the spacers installed this morning before work. No photo yet, but just sayin'....

I also ordered the next round of lumber, floorboards and 2x4s to begin framing the shed walls.
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Making the world sound better, one room at a time

[JWL]

More musings:

Step 1: is to complete the shed, which will have extensive shelving built-in to maximize storage space. I have a ton of stuff in my garage, and need to organize it more efficiently and clear out the garage space.

Step 2: will be to "beef up" the outer structure of the building. Right now it's framed lumber, and thin plywood exterior, that's it. First step will be to install 5/8" OSB between the joists of the entire building, using cleats to hold them in place. I don't want to screw into the exterior plywood, for fear that a screw would go too far and pierce the "skin." Once the OSB is in place, I'll caulk up the entire building.

Then, once OSB is in and caulked, I'll then install a layer of 5/8" drywall between the joists, screwed to the OSB, with Green Glue between the drywall and OSB. I may add a 2nd layer of drywall, just on the side of the garage that faces the house. There is a bedroom in the house closest to where the garage is (about 15' away), and I definitely want to maximize iso to the house for late-night jams.

Finally, I'll add insulation over that. I haven't yet decided if I'll use Ultratouch (all else being equal I'd prefer this) or regular fluffy fiberglass with FRK backing (this will likely be cheaper). Once this is done, the outer structure will be ready.

Step 3: Finally, I'll build the inner room. This will consist of a modular inside-out wall design, using 2 layers of 5/8" sheetrock with yet more Green Glue between. I'm presently planning on building soffits for main speakers (I'll build the speakers as well), as well as some active monitors on stands. There will of course be extensive acoustic treatments in place as well.

Hmmm, I wonder where I'll get treatment?

At some point, I'll do a sketchup model of this build. When I do I'll post it here.
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Making the world sound better, one room at a time

[JWL]

More progress, though not as much as I'd like because of incessant rain.

Floorboards are in:


For more pics see the update.
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Making the world sound better, one room at a time

[roygbiv]

looking good dude, keep at it. You are inspiring me to get off my ass.

You last completion made me think of - a song for under the floorboards:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p58kCYsiwt0
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[myfipie]

Hey if nothing else you have make one heck of a deck.

Looking good man.

Are you going off of Rods book on the build??

[JWL]

Thanks, Glenn. It will be more than a heck of a deck, that's for sure. Though this part of it is still the shed, the studio will be inside the garage. This is just for storing the stuff presently in the garage. Good practice, next year's build project (studio and treehouse this year) will be a new deck/back porch overlooking the woods (house is on a hill).

Though the rain is really pissing me off. It's literally been raining at least some every day for 2-3 weeks now. Suppoda rain all this week, too.

If they're giving me UK weather, the least they could do is move me to the UK....

The build is my own design, with some influence by Rod's book (esp. in the "beef-up" stage), and many other influences I've picked up over the years. For inner wall framing I'll use a variation of John Sayer's inside-out-wall method. Acoustic treatment will be a combo of some DIY and of course a bunch of RealTraps stuff.
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Making the world sound better, one room at a time

[JWL]

Today was very strange, almost supernaturally so. It was extremely bright outside; when I went to investigate there was this large, yellow, fiery ball in the sky. It was frightening actually; I could feel the heat from its fire. I do hope we aren’t doomed to combust in a cosmic fireball from the gods….

Anyway, I used the abrupt and dramatic change in weather today to begin the wall framing. I’m about 3/4 done with the wall framing:





The studs are 24″OC, since it’s a shed. Not gonna worry too much about it.

The wall frames are 6′6″ tall (don’t wanna bump me head….), which allows for a very small slope on the roof. I may have to keep an eye on the snowfall during the winter, and roofrake the snow off it.

All the frames you see there are attached together, but not yet attached to the deck.

I have to pick up another 10 2×4s early this week, and build the last remaining wall. This wall will be more complex because it will have a doorway.
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Making the world sound better, one room at a time

[Jon Nolan]

[JWL]

No worries, Jon. The yellow, fiery intruder from the skies seems to have gone away again.
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Making the world sound better, one room at a time

[JWL]

Cool, thanks to Larry and/or Tony for making this thread a sticky. Even though the studio build itself hasn't even started yet....
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Making the world sound better, one room at a time

[TapeOpLarry]

I just wanted to keep tabs on it. Good luck.
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Larry Crane, Editor/Founder Tape Op Magazine
please visit www.tapeop.com for contact information
(do not send private messages via this board!)
www.larry-crane.com

[TapeOpLarry]

I just wanted to keep tabs on it. Good luck.
_________________
Larry Crane, Editor/Founder Tape Op Magazine
please visit www.tapeop.com for contact information
(do not send private messages via this board!)
www.larry-crane.com