Anyone have experience building home studios.
All plans have been finalized, double framed walls double drywall, lots of insulation, isolated ceiling hangers, etc.
I have run my pricing a few times already, just want to make sure I’m not screwing myself or the client.
It’s a full-on two room studio for a wealthy client who is in charge of all the equipment, I’m just building the rooms.
$160 per sf in a basement just seems like alot.
Thanks
Replies
Mike:
I've never built a recording studio, but I used to be a recording engineer in another life and I even worked briefly at the Hit Factory in NYC. The cost of your work will probably be dwarfed by the price of the equipment. Expect to be called back numerous times to fix little buzzes and noises here and there and to modify the design a few times to correct acoustic issues.
It would be smart to have the owner set up some equipment before you start the finish materials to do some rough acoustical tests while you can still easily fix problems. If you are handling the electric and other wiring, pay special attention to grounds and separation between electric and other wiring. Lights can be troublesome too. Incandescent only.
I used to read "Mix" magazine, which was the industry bible-- you might see if it is still around and if they have any backissues on building home studios.
J Painter
i have a friend that builds em all over the world... based out of nashville and i've toured a few during construction in nashville.... slabs on springs... floating walls... different room design for each instrument ect... you might be price'n it cheap...
p
Mike-
Depends on the overall scope of your work, the size of the rooms, and the level of sound control they're trying to acheive. Given that, the last sound studio I priced came in at a little over $300/SF without any equipment. That was just two small recording spaces and a central control room.
Doesn't seem like you're pricing is obnoxious at all, especially if you're paying Chicago wages, etc.
Bob
Close friend of mine has a home recording studio, and from what I've seen of his, I'd say that $160/sf for everything but the equipment is a bit LOW.
If you're happy with that, go for it.
just finished two of them...
you left out cable tracks and the egg-crate sound board / sheathing...
160$.. maybe... 230$ is a bit better..
The 1st one I did was at 190$ not much of pay check.. Materials chewed it up....
there's a gazillion PITA's to go with it... and call backs...
MAKE SURE the cieling can hold the additionals...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Edited 10/29/2004 12:03 pm ET by IMERC
the egg-crate sound board
That's what I was just thinking was not on the list.Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Thank you one and all.
It will be my first studio, but I built the home so the client is comfortable with me.
The plans are well detailed from a professional studio guy, out of Nashville no less.
I have contacted him as well for some special equip pricing.
I did not plan on "tune-up" call backs though so I will definitely add for that.
I'll post back with client feed-back, and hopefully job progress.
Are you doing the furniture as well? Counters, cabinets and racks?
tony b.
No racks or control platform etc. Client has these from his old place.
I would like the job, as it does seem like a very cool project, even better that it would keep me indoors through the winter.
Goldstar, The links you provided are quite helpful
As usual great advice from everyone
While searching eBay for a Focusrite preamp (unrelated to woodworking!), I found this http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=1287&item=3757158767&rd=1 which is tangentially related to our discussion and just happens to be in the neighborhood. Thought you'd appreciate that!
Hope the project falls in place for you!
tony b.
I've built three studios, including one in a semi trailer. The level of work and detail required to get them done dwarfs what we usually do in residential construction. First one had a raised floor, 2x10 joists, 1-1/8 plywood screwed and glued to the bottom, built in sections so we could turn it over, then fill the entire thing with kiln dried sand so it would be nice and dead. Two individual walls for every partition, with 2 layers of 5/8 rock and a layer of soundboard in between on each side. Lots of angles everywhere, lots of heavy sheet goods, gallons of construction adhesive, nothing nailed everything screwed, huge pieces of 1/4" glass installed into split jambs (3 per window, and not parallel to each other), two 1-3/4" solid core doors in every jamb with gnarly weatherstripping everywhere), major pains taken to ensure that the lighting (yes it's all on dimmers for mood) does not hum and interfere with the audio wiring, racks and racks of gear that require isolated grounds and hospital grade plugs, speaker mounts that will not vibrate even when the volume is at 11, HVAC that is silent and can cool the gear...
It just goes on and on, and takes forever. It's great work and very interesting. I'd start at $500 per foot and add another ten grand for every paragraph of specs. You will be called back to help tune things up as soon as they get gear in there. It's not done until they mix some stuff and like it.
All I did was one room (22x24). Walls floor and cieling and associated equipment and 190$ was way too light...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
160$ labor only or 160$ labor and materials????
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
i don't know jack about this sort of thing but from what jpainter said, "Expect to be called back numerous times to fix little buzzes and noises here and there and to modify the design a few times to correct acoustic issues. ", i'd plan on buying liquid nails or some such other suitable glue/caulk by the 55 gal drum and use screws instead of nails virtually everywhere. also caulk or foam any/all of the wiring & plumbing holes thru the framing and probably use polyiso foam insulation or similar- but i'm guessing you already thought of that sort of stuff.
m
In 1998, we did a foley stage, 30 x 60, 16 ft. ceiling, for $750k. This was a double wall job inside an existing building, and that includes a new slab on grade floor (with footings for the inner box) and the equipment. IIRC, the equipment wasn't much, maybe $100k. Oh, and they made us put in a wheelchair lift, which has never been used.
Look carefully for gotchas like having to re-route DWV or HVAC for the existing house so they don't make noise in the studio. Beware of parallel surfaces and standing waves, especially if they're hard surfaces. If you have a booth window, tilt it at least 10 degrees down into the studio.
The box within a box idea can work remarkably well. I knew a drummer once who turned an ordinary tract house garage into a practice room by building an inner separate structure. The neighbors couldn't hear a thing.
-- J.S.
Mike
There are several online forums that discuss recording studio construction, though most of the contributors tend to be DIY types who don't always speak "construction", so take some of the info w/ a grain of salt. The best ones are:
http://www.recording.org (look for the Acoustics and Construction group)
http://www.johnlsayers.com
You should be able to get a good sense of the type of detailing that's expected, and some of the terminology. Good luck
Frank
Instead of or in addition to the double-framed walls, consider using resilient channel to attach the drywall.