Studio Build

[Bruce B]

Several folks have suggested I post photos of the build that took us over 2yr. This started off in a new home with a clean slate walk-out basement. Approximate dimensions at the start were 45' x 14' x 12'. I wanted three areas, Mastering room, Post room and Isolation area. The build alone was approx $300 sq/ft. We wanted isolation from the inside out and the outside in and trying to achieve a minimum of a STC rating of 65dB and at least a NC15.

This is what it looked like when we started.

 

[Bruce B]

After temporary wall, and soffits were torn down, the visqueen and insulation was removed. Next was to seal the cement and start caulking every single seam with acoustical caulking.

We also took out all the ventilation ducting to be replaced later with insulated acoustical ducts.

 

[Bruce B]

Every 3', we put blocking in the wall. Remember.... everything is this build got Glued and Screwed... there were absolutely no nails!

 

[vinylphilemag]

Thanks for starting this thread, Bruce. I find these sorts of threads fascinating, partly because I'm interested for the sake of being interested, but partly because I plan some renos myself for my music room (although nowhere near on the scale you, Mike Lavigne, Jacob H and co have done!). My budget and ability to perform structural changes are limited (gotta compromise to keep the boss happy!), but it's nice to see the sorts of things I need to consider.

 

[Bruce B]

This is the floating floor being built in the Post room.

 

[vinylphilemag]

Would I be correct in thinking that your walls (even your internal ones) are framed using 2x6s (rather than the more usual 2x4s)?

 

[Bruce B]

Would I be correct in thinking that your walls (even your internal ones) are framed using 2x6s (rather than the more usual 2x4s)?

That is correct. When we start building the room within a room, we use all engineered lumber! Also, both windows will be removed. In place of the sliding glass door will be a "communicating" doorway. This is a door on the outside and one on the inside with a 10" air gap.

 

[Bruce B]

1. Window boarded up and caulked

2. First wall between rooms

3. Kinetics Noise Control Isolation blocks.

 

[Bruce B]

1. Top plate attachment

2. JPS Labs in-wall cable @ $24/ft

3. Roxul insulation in outside walls

 

[Bruce B]

1. First layer of Drywall

2. Green Glue (24 cases used)

3. Second layer of drywall oriented 90 degrees from first layer

 

[cjfrbw]

Wow, this is fascinating.

 

[audioarcher]

Cool pics. It's interesting to see what you started with and how you got to where you are now. How many tubes of calking did you go through? Edit. Sorry I just saw that you used 24 cases! That must have taken a while.

 

[Bruce B]

1. Inside walls are up and insulated with Roxul. Also damped-resilient channel by ASC was used throughout.

2. Attention to detail behind the walls! You can see the yellow Romex hanging from the ceiling. This is for the lighting and will be strictly on the house current and not on a separate power supply from the studio.

 

[Bruce B]

How many tubes of calking did you go through? Edit. Sorry I just saw that you used 24 cases! That must have taken a while.

27 cases of Acoustical caulking and 24 cases of Green Glue that goes between the layers of drywall. Also used it between every joint.

 

[Bruce B]

1. Pre-hung ceiling springs by Kinetics Noise Control. As you can see, no seams left out from acoustical caulking!!

2. Hat channel for ceiling

3. First layer of drywall on ceiling.

 

[audioarcher]

What is your ambient noise at now? Must be pretty low. What are your entry doors made of? I assume it has seals around it to stop noise.

 

[Bruce B]

What is your ambient noise at now? Must be pretty low. What are your entry doors made of? I assume it has seals around it to stop noise.

It was measured at NC12. You can hear your heartbeat!

2" solid core doors with Zero International cam-lift hinges and seals all the way around.

 

[audioarcher]

Nice! I thought that was just from moving speakers.