Building a Recording Studio

Post by **Sharp** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 9:16 pm

Hi everyone.

Most of you already know that I’m building a recording studio from the ground up, and for those of you who don’t… you do now

. Anyway… I’m starting this thread and I will update this first post in this thread as time goes by, and for as long as it takes to build the Studio.

My reasons for this is very simple, I’m sure it would make interesting reading, it will also show just how cost effective it is to build your dream studio, and it will also give you a guild line to follow if you do decide to do the same. If you have any questions…please shout.

So here goes.

The foundation.
I contacted a contract worker and asked him to lay a foundation for Studio that’s 20FT by 40Ft. What that means is… his job was to arrive in a digger, and dig up the earth so a concrete foundation could be poured. He would also pay and organise the delivery of this concrete, and get his own bricklayers to lay bricks up as far a floor level.

So this is the location I chose to place the my Studio.

And after all the digging, this is what he done.

Here’s a better angle so you can really see.

After this he contacted a concrete company and asked them to pour concrete into the channel that he had made in his digger.

This would support only the walls of the Studio. The floor comes later. So, as you can see from this next image, we have an outline of the Studio now.

And here’s a distant view of the same shot.
It might look small in the image, but it’s a whopping 40FT long Studio by 20FT.

Now he brought in his bricklayers to build up a few rows of blocks next so they can pour the floor. And this is what they done.

He then fills in ¾ of that floor area with gravel and sand, and lays the toilet pipe.
Which looks like this.

After this stage they then have to add a radon barrier and insulation. So they completely cover the floor in Aero board, and then lay a sheet of plastic radon barrier over the aero board to make a seal. For those who don’t know, Radon is a gas that the earth gives off that can cause cancer. This gas can build up in closed environments which is very bad news. The barrier that’s laid protects this gas from coming up through the floor of the studio, and gives you a very safe and friendly environment to live in.

Once they lay this barrier, they then pour a layer of concrete over all this, which creates the final floor of the studio. This floor is then power floated to a super smooth finish and looks exactly like this.

At this stage the foundation is totally completed and you now need your bricklayers. For the bricklayers the only think I wanted to know is…how much do you charge per brick. A good price is €1.10 per brick. So you then need to order cement, sand, and bricks. The maximum amount of brick a lorry can carry is 1000, so you order a lorry load. You then need 3 ton of sand, and 25 25KG bags of cement, 5 gallons of Plaz, and 15 bags of stainless steel wall ties for a Studio arpox 20X40FT.

So I have my bricks

And no now the guys started to lay them.

You then need to consider your windows and where they are going. You only need to ask the bricklayers exactly what they need for sills and so on… they will tell you what to order.

Once you have them, they can continue work again.
Which brings to this stage.

To be continued as work goes on…..

Regards.
Sharp

themusicman2001 · Post by **themusicman2001** » Sat Jun 07, 2003 10:03 pm

Hey Sharp.... I can see this turning into a classic thread..... compelling viewing already.... when's the next episode?

What's the scheduled completion date?... and gantt charts (I'm a Project Manager you see

)

LIFECHANGER · Post by **LIFECHANGER** » Sun Jun 08, 2003 1:07 am

Looks to me it'd make a nice sturdy Pub where you could keep the sounds of the frolicking, fist-swinging, bottle-breaking celebrating from doin' much damage at all. And after the party, ya could throw the really tipsy ones in the tall grass and forget 'em.

flavor1 · Post by **flavor1** » Sun Jun 08, 2003 1:39 am

Hello Sharp,

Your studio foundation, looks very interesting.

I can't wait to see the end results. Is your studio being built near your home, on your property?

I know that must cost you a fortune, but its an investment in the long run. You stated in a previous post that you want to achieve your own record company, will everything be in this empire as well?

flavor1

dreamaiden · Post by **dreamaiden** » Sun Jun 08, 2003 2:07 am

Lots of fun stuff going to be happening there!

Sioux

RINGO · Post by **RINGO** » Sun Jun 08, 2003 6:27 am

Ain't nothing like having your own studio.

Have any of you guys ever checked out John Sayers studio building website? They have a lot of pics of different studio's, that could also give people here a lot of ideas. http://johnlsayers.com/Studio/index.htm

Here are few more helpful websites below about studio designing, acoustics with pics.

http://www.studiowizard.com/

http://www.studiopeople.com/

http://www.studiotips.com/

http://www.saecollege.de/reference_material/index.html

http://www.acoustics101.com/

http://johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/index.php

Peace.

Ringo

kmar · Post by **kmar** » Sun Jun 08, 2003 6:50 am

"Toilet Pipe" - what a great name for the studio!

. Talking seriously, it amazes me how everything`s changing so quickly to it`s happy (I hope) final and only those pics will remain you of once empty field with grass! Cheers, Kmar.

laughing_bear · Post by **laughing_bear** » Sun Jun 08, 2003 10:35 am

Hi Sharp, I look forward to hear how the sound insulation and generell constuction is planed!

I can offer to post pics from Oceanview as well, but I want to wait until we have the contract, it is not over until the fat lady sings, then I can post pics as well.

We probably have a different approach, so this could be interesting. The foundation and brickwork is already done, and I will include a space as a workshop where I can do the woodwork and later have that as a generell small workshop available. I plan to have a floating concrete Floor on Neoprene pads, Mastering Room, Regie Room, Recording Room, Relax area with Kitchen and WC. I seperate the mastering room as it will have dual Function, besides mastering this will function as a video editing room with a dedicated video Workstation.

Actually I try to locate source a wood supplier for a very special wood that I will use to build a Regie desk, racks for gear etc myself.

Btw. A friend of mine has a studio in Utah USA and he just sold his fully automized 96 channel TASCAM. We had a long discussion about the pros and cons, and I am probably not investing a something like a o2R96 or SX-1 or similiar. I will have a DM1000 for my keyboards, thats about it, the rest will be a s**t load of Mackie Controllers. The money I spare here goes into a studio projector system and camera gear.

Ah well, at least you dont need to wait whether you get the contract for your house and studio. Nervwrecking time here.... sigh

Daz · Post by **Daz** » Sun Jun 08, 2003 11:10 am

Wow, it's amazing seeing this being built from the ground up ... I hope you will continue to share your photo journal, Sharpy. Very interesting indeed !!

Daz.

chordial · Post by **chordial** » Sun Jun 08, 2003 12:05 pm

Excellent start

Good to see your studio taking shape, guess we can see part of the house in the second picture. Looking at it the studio will be self contained.

Cheers Simon

DrWho · Post by **DrWho** » Sun Jun 08, 2003 12:58 pm

Love the story. Can't wait for the next phase. Sounds like all is going smooth

Post by **Sharp** » Sun Jun 08, 2003 3:36 pm

Hi themusicman.

compelling viewing already.... when's the next episode?

Hopefully that will be next Thursday and I’ll be able to show you everything to roof level including the two peaks for the roof.

What's the scheduled completion date?... and gantt charts

LMAO… No Gantt charts, only a big stick with a nail sticking out. I have no idea when the Studio will be completed. It’s all based on the Irish weather, and that’s as unpredictable as you can get

. It won’t be long though.

Hi LIFECHANGER

Looks to me it'd make a nice sturdy Pub where you could keep the sounds of the frolicking, fist-swinging, bottle-breaking celebrating from doin' much damage at all. And after the party, ya could throw the really tipsy ones in the tall grass and forget 'em

LMAO… I’ve seen stranger things happen than that I can tell you. If you get thrown into the tall grass at my local, you see a little kid of around 12 years old driving a car bringing people home. LOL… I’m not kidding. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I say it for the first time.

Hi flavor1

Is your studio being built near your home, on your property?

Yes. My home is in the Country, I have two driveways into my house and a small car park at the side that can by used to give access to the back of my garden. The garden it’s self is very large indeed. Lets just say you could build a great go carting track on it if you liked.

I know that must cost you a fortune, but its an investment in the long run.

To get a builder into to everything from start to finish would have cost me €47,000 for the lot (which does not include sound proofing). But I’m actually an engineer so I’m used to dealing with direct employment and contracts, so…. one of the idea’s behind this thread is to show everyone just how much you can actually save if you take all this onboard yourself and go with direct employment. I expect to save more than €27,000. Wishful thinking you might think, but so far I’m actually saving more than we planed. Ahh.. nice news for a change.

You stated in a previous post that you want to achieve your own record company, will everything be in this empire as well?

Well I have been down this road before and I’m much older and wiser this time around. But most importantly, I’m doing this out of my own pocket this time and on my own, so this means I don’t have any ties to the old people who where greedy. This time it will be done right.

Hi Sioux.

Lots of fun stuff going to be happening there

You bet !!!.
Hey what do you think my chances are of Christine allowing me to put a Pool Table in there ?. LMAO..

Hi RINGO

Have any of you guys ever checked out John Sayers studio building website?

Hooo. Thanks for the links.
Knowledge is power

Hi kmar

"Toilet Pipe" - what a great name for the studio!

LMAO. !!! It’s been done.
There seems to be a fascination here with mad names. Even the bands use mad names. Like… A band called Free Beer. So if they are playing a gig, the poster would read.

Music tonight. Free Beer.

It sure catches attention.

Hi bear

Hi Sharp, I look forward to hear how the sound insulation and generell constuction is planed!

Me too. It’s not going to be easy for a room that size.

I can offer to post pics from Oceanview as well, but I want to wait until we have the contract, it is not over until the fat lady sings, then I can post pics as well.

Sure.
Anything worthy of being a Classic Thread is very valuable to everyone. You could have a detailed thread based on your own experiences since your taking a different approach that me. Your converting an already existing building right ?.

Personally I would be very interested to see that myself. To see the floating floor being installed sound very interesting. What your doing would be very different from what I’m doing too. Like the floor in my Studio as you can see form the images is raised way above ground level, and it’s extremely thick. So I would like to see what your at very much.

Actually I try to locate source a wood supplier for a very special wood that I will use to build a Regie desk, racks for gear etc myself

Cool. Sounds wonderful.
I’ll be using a very large amount of steal because I’m a Sheet Metal Engineer. Wood for me won’t be really that important as everything will be attached to frames specially designed.

Sound like we’re both going to have loads of fun. Hey… best of luck with the deal, and I sincerely hope you get the house. It must be very exciting for you.

Btw. A friend of mine has a studio in Utah USA and he just sold his fully automized 96 channel TASCAM.

Nice, but what is it ?. I don’t remember every seeing a 96 Channel Tascam before.
Are you just going to buy a 220V to 110V converter, or are you getting it refitted with a new transformer ?

the rest will be a s**t load of Mackie Controllers

LMAO… Can I be your best friend

. Did you win the Lotto or something ?. Those are very expensive.

The money I spare here goes into a studio projector system and camera gear

Hooo, very nice.
I defiantly wont be buying anything as grand as that. LOL… you don’t by any chance suffer from “Gear Lust” ?. LOL… Heck your listing out gear that 99% of the people living in your area would never even heard of, let alone even care about.

If I may say so… when you’re building a Studio, “Price” will be a big factor in how much work you get, not what gear you have. I’m only saying this because you’re talking about investing really crazy amounts of money here. I’d hate to see you invest all that and not get enough work due to your overheads driving the price up.

Remember that the area you’re moving into is the heart of Country music and Ballads. These people don’t care if your using Mackie or some 10 year old desk. All they want is a CD at the lowest price possible. These guys will also be your bread and butter because of the amount of recording they do. It’s a area you should really make sure you can compete in.

Pulling the big names down from Dublin and so on…requires Studio musicians and one heck of a promotional package. Again,…not gear, but Music.

I’m sure you know what your at, but I said I’d just say that anyway to be sure. The last thing I would like to see is you landed with a load of gear and the only use would be for yourself.

Hi Daz.

Wow, it's amazing seeing this being built from the ground up ... I hope you will continue to share your photo journal, Sharpy. Very interesting indeed !!

Yep… I sure will.
LOL… it would even be funny to use one of those Morphing image programs to see it just grow out of the ground.

PS: Don’t forget when it’s built I’ll have a spare room in the house

Hi chordial.

guess we can see part of the house in the second picture. Looking at it the studio will be self contained

That’s actually the garage. The house is a good bit away from all this. But yes, it will be a self contained Studio.

Thanks everyone.
Got to run.
Bye.

Sharp.

RINGO · Post by **RINGO** » Sun Jun 08, 2003 4:11 pm

Looking good Sharp

I see you have no neighbors around the place, that's great. What are your plans for the front ground of the studio?

Peace.

Ringo

laughing_bear · Post by **laughing_bear** » Sun Jun 08, 2003 4:27 pm

Sharp wrote: Remember that the area you’re moving into is the heart of Country music and Ballads. These people don’t care if your using Mackie or some 10 year old desk. All they want is a CD at the lowest price possible. These guys will also be your bread and butter because of the amount of recording they do. It’s a area you should really make sure you can compete in.

Pulling the big names down from Dublin and so on…requires Studio musicians and one heck of a promotional package. Again,…not gear, but Music.

LOL, nah Sharpy, its not in my business plan at all, none of them would be my target group anyways. Firstly I can not and do not intend to compete with Windmill Lane or the likes, and secondly those deep-from-the woods-musicians who want to get a CD burned and still believe that a CD Burner is a Sorcerer's Tool would only wreck my nerves with their country-polka-folk-rock, besides, they have to kill their grandmother to get +10K together.

The last thing I would like to see is you landed with a load of gear and the only use would be for yourself.

LOL, that would be allright as well. The studio is and will not be my main income source, it is a professional hobby for me with a very specific target group that doesnt mind the location, in opposite, values the location, and has the financial means.

My ROI plan is rather generous and fortunately I do not depend on return at all. It's all about a niche market for me, and not to be one of the many others with the same ole stuff, some of them have better tools, some of them include the groupies, some of them can't even afford a mastering engineer to be flown in from the states or elsewhere for a 10 days session, because they dont have the global contacts in the industry, and this is what it's all about if money comes into the game, contacts, not music, not gear, but contacts and a niche to be filled.

Post by **Sharp** » Sun Jun 08, 2003 5:28 pm

Hi Bear.

those deep-from-the woods-musicians who want to get a CD burned and still believe that a CD Burner is a Sorcerer's Tool would only wreck my nerves with their country-polka-folk-rock

LMAO !!!. Ho man I cried with the laughing when I heard that.
But at the end of the day, they are the people who are spending the money.

besides, they have to kill their grandmother to get +10K together.

+10K ????. Flipping heck.
Really ???

LOL…Say hello to Madonna for me when she fly’s in to Ireland.
You must have some sweet contacts to get that up and running.

All I can say is that I wish you the best of luck, and I hope it works out for you.

Regards.
Sharp.