DIY build - garage studio ALMOST DONE!

[Tortuga]

It was cool to see this again!

Man... I know - still need to get you guys to come out this way...

Talked to Orlando today - he wants to come out. We gotta do this

[Tortuga]

We need to see some new pics... I'm curious to see what the room looks like full of gear!

I'm only on page 2 of my re-read... didn't I post some pics of the room full of shi.... i mean, gear???

New pics will be up this weekend!

[Tortuga]

Can.not.believe. it's been 4 years since I "opened" the studio. That room has been my home for a hell of a long time

Had to go through 4 years of pic folders (actually didn't take that long). Unfortunately, I haven't been good about taking pics of the "room" over that time. Up to now, it's just been pics of gear. This is about as close to a room shot as I've got...



Been sick this weekend, so didn't get much done on the panels. Hoping to get them done next weekend.

[ajaxlepinski]

I may have missed some of the newer pics but, that room looks awesome!
Totally jealous of all the elbow room.

[Tortuga]

Thanks Brian!

I've been able to squeeze 5 of us (I think it was even 6, one time) from the band in there. It's been truly awesome to have.

[Tortuga]

1st actual update in what, 4 years?!?!?!

Broadband absorption panels!!!

My brother, who works construction, got access to a LOT of fiberglass sound panels from a movie theater they were remodeling. I think they may be Owens-Corning 703, but not the typical 2'x4' panels that people buy for their home studios. These things are 9' x 2' with rounded-over tops, and he had a bunch of larger 9' x 4' ones, too. He used a lot of his stock building a professional rehearsal studio (band lock-outs), but had some left, and offered the extra to me. I wish I'd have taken pics, but everthing happened quickly. I think I got about 10 or so of the 9x2's and 2 of the big 9x4's. Because rain was coming and I had no covered space to put them in, I had to cut them down to managable sizes...





I'll get some better pics of the building on the next go-round, but I got pretty motivated this past weekend and knocked two of them out, so I could see how much impact they make. I decided to make them 2' x 5' with wood-framed sides and a simple front frame that'll be covered in cloth (for looks and to keep the fiberglass fibers from floating around and killing everyone. Here's some pics that I did get of the build









Happy coworker...



This is the basic prototype



Covered the front - no need to cover the back, since they came with material already on them




...and that's about it. I build 2 of them as prototypes (no finish, yet - just raw wood) and placed them on the longer wall in the room. Can't know for sure yet, but I swear my amp sounds better at louder volume than it did prior to them being in there. Lots more in store. Stay tuned...

[JerEvil]

Man I wish I was handy. I REALLY need sound reinforcement...

[RIFF]

Very cool, Steve!!

Man I wish I was handy. I REALLY need sound reinforcement...

Jer, heck, there are many ways to skin that cat.. You kinda just need to know what kind of scenario you want... if youre trying to just cut down reflective surface, a few panels are great. Simple rectangular panels similar to what Steve just showed, can be made pretty damn cheap & easy.. Youtube has a lot of guys showing it in detail.

[Thurston]

How did you make out with soundproofing? Does it work well?

[Tortuga]

Everything I've thrown at it has come up winning. Loudest we've gone was Holy-diver's Triple Recto (150 watt ) through a bona-fide Boogie 4x12, cranked pretty much wide open. It was still pretty loud in the garage with the studio door closed, but stepping outside or in the house, it wasn't all that noticeable. Someone could easily watch TV in the house and not even know death and destruction was happening in the studio.

I have yet to get live drums in there, so I can't say for certain that it's absolutely 'sound proof', but I think we more than mitigated any potential complaints from family or neighbors. If/when we get drums, I think I have some good ideas for handling that.

[Tortuga]

Bottom-line is, staggered studs & rockwool, plus sealant are a winning combo, IMO.

[Thurston]

That's awesome! I'd love to hear how you do with drums in there. I'll have to re-read the thread to get an idea of where the studio is in relation to your house and construction methods.

[Tortuga]

Studio is built entirely within the garage. 6" air gap along 2 studio walls to outer garage walls, and the other studio walls and ceiling are in the open garage space (none are touching any of the garage structure). The only "shared" surface is the floor, which has 1/2" padding and loop carpeting on it. I plan to build decoupled platforms for drums and bass amp if things transmit through the floor and start bothering anyone.

The garage has a 12' non-insulated aluminum roll-up door, 2 outside-access doors and a solid-core door that leads into the main house (Kitchen). The roof of garage and house is all connected, and most of one whole wall of the garage forms the kitchen wall. The family room (where they watch TV / use computer while I'm in the Studio trying to annoy them) is on the other side of the kitchen. We have neighbors on the other side of the garage - their house is probably 15' from my Garage, but elevated about 4'. I've been in their house with a loop running through my amp (cranked up loud), and I couldn't hear it at all with their windows closed. With the windows open, it was barely audible. I honestly don't think any of my neighbors have any idea that there's a studio in there. They probably know far more about my woodworking machinery in the back house

I'll see about drawing something up that shows more of the garage/house layout and posting it.

The thread has pretty good detail about my studio wall construction techniques, but I'll be happy to answer any questions / clarify anything.

[Tortuga]

Here's a quick drawing of how everything basically lays out on the property

[DrLunk]

Finally did a quick read through of your build. Well done!

A very big smile came on my face when I saw you utilizing a Kreg Pocket Hole jig, I'm not great at woodworking but I got a Kreg R3 jig two years ago and it upped my game. Built an audio work station using nothing but pocket screws and it turned out better than I imagined. I've already outgrown that desk and planning Version 2 and I am going to re-purpose the original desk as a electronics workbench.

You really documented your studio build really well and I'm going to refer back to it whenever I start my studio construction.

I noticed that you went with mounting the electrical outlets externally instead of flushed. Any particular reason for this?

In general, if you had the chance to do it all over, what would you do differently?

[ajaxlepinski]

Had to Google the Kreg Pocket Hole Jig... really handy thing to have!
The video I watch also had a rip saw guide, electric hand plainer, and a hidden hinge jig... amazing!
I would have liked to have had the hand plainer when I had to hang three doors!
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi38vcAZ6tk[/video]

[Tortuga]

Finally did a quick read through of your build. Well done!

A very big smile came on my face when I saw you utilizing a Kreg Pocket Hole jig, I'm not great at woodworking but I got a Kreg R3 jig two years ago and it upped my game. Built an audio work station using nothing but pocket screws and it turned out better than I imagined. I've already outgrown that desk and planning Version 2 and I am going to re-purpose the original desk as a electronics workbench.

You really documented your studio build really well and I'm going to refer back to it whenever I start my studio construction.

I noticed that you went with mounting the electrical outlets externally instead of flushed. Any particular reason for this?

In general, if you had the chance to do it all over, what would you do differently?

Thanks for the complements and feedback. I am amazingly fortunate to have this studio, and cannot tell you how much it means to have it for my use at any time. I'm really proud of our achievement, and if documenting it here provides any help to anyone else in doing something like this, then mission accomplished

All the electrical wiring was terminated in surface-mounted electrical boxes, in order to minimize the potential for air (and thus sound) to escape. I caulked the hell out of the small hole in the wall made where the wire comes through, and sealed it with the boxes. Cutting boxes into the walls would have prevented that degree of sealing.

I honestly wouldn't change a thing. We planned the shit out of it, and the plan was executed well. I wish I'd have built up the acoustic panels sooner, because I think they're going to make a tremendous positive impact on the sound in the room. But the room itself turned out perfect.

[Tortuga]

Had to Google the Kreg Pocket Hole Jig... really handy thing to have!
The video I watch also had a rip saw guide, electric hand plainer, and a hidden hinge jig... amazing!
I would have liked to have had the hand plainer when I had to hang three doors!
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi38vcAZ6tk[/video]

Pocket screws are seriously great. I use my jig all the time for attaching panels, building frames, and much more. Well worth the investment.