Garden Room Studio build

[DaleSmith]

Hi,

So I haven't been on SOS for years, but I managed to reset my password and here I am.

I have recently had a garden room built with the aim of using it as a music room / studio. Realistically it's not a proper recording space ( maybe acoustic guitar and vocals ) but my aim is to use an electric kit for recoding Steven Slate Drums, Bass and guitar Line 6 HX or Two Notes Genome.

Once I work out how to insert phots I will. I'll be installing acoustic panels and setting the monitors up in the next few days.

Any comments regarding acoustic panels are welcome. I've bought a fair few second hand which I'm in the process of re-covering.

[Random Guitarist]

Looking forward to seeing this. I'm finally getting to the plasterboard/finishing stage on my own build. I'll be interested to see what you do on the acoustic treatment.

[zenguitar]

We don't host images here on the SOS site. So first of all you need to choose your preferred online image host.

Unfortunately, Imgur used to be good but is no longer viewable in the UK. Flickr works fine for me. Others have success with Dropbox, but there are a few wrinkles you might need to work out. I am sure there are others too.

Once you have hosted your image you can follow the video tutorial below, created by a very helpful forum member.

https://www.soundonsound.com/forum/view ... hp?t=75253

Andy

[DaleSmith]

Thanks for the replies.
I’ll look into image hosting tomorrow as I’m out tonight and I feel like it’ll take a few hours at least.
Regarding recording I should have added that I have a Two-Notes Captor so “proper” guitar and bass amps should be possible at reasonable volumes.

[Drew Stephenson]

In terms of acoustic panels, start with the mirror points (including the ceiling). Generally mount them off the wall at a distance equal to their thickness.
You can never have too much bass trapping so look to your corners for that (including wall / ceiling corners).
Start simple and see how you get on, then you can make a more informed choice about what else might be needed.

[DaleSmith]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/203819913 ... ed-public/

Ok after trying every combination I can think of this is the best I can do! I followed the instructions in the video but only ever got this. Photos are set to public so that’s not the issue.

[DaleSmith]

IMG_5724 by Dale Smith, on Flickr

Done. Its easier on an actual computer rather than a phone..

[DaleSmith]

IMG_5733 by Dale Smith, on Flickr
IMG_5764 by Dale Smith, on Flickr
IMG_5812 by Dale Smith, on Flickr
IMG_5813 by Dale Smith, on Flickr

So that's the summer house build. it's built on ground screws which are popular round here because the ground is clay, plus there's no risk of standing water. Each on holds 500kg and there's 20 of them. Full weather proof membrane all round. Double skin and insulation all round. Roof is pent, drops by 10cm front to back. internal size is 3.4m x 5.4m x 2.3-2.2m. ( I believe there is a HxLxW ratio for control rooms and this, coincidentally falls quite close to it.)

[DaleSmith]

IMG_5865 by Dale Smith, on Flickr

This is the current state of play.
I have 15 panels at the minute. All Rockwool.
The Dark Blue panels are all 120x60x10 with no outer frame, just a narrow panel for support on the back. I have 6 of these.
The Light Blue are 120x60x15 with a wooden frame. I have 2 of these.
The Green panels are a mish mash of sizes that I'm re-covering as they were a bit tatty. There are 7 in total with 3 corner traps 10cm deep with 10cm gap to the corner..

So my first thought is, front corners x 2 and 1st reflection points.
The light blue traps ( 15cms deep ) were used by the previous owner behind his monitors, to absorb bass I assume. is this worth trying?

[jaminem]

Looks good although it’s not going stop a lot of noise getting out, or in, so your idea about using attenuation on your is probably a good one. I think you need to invest in, or make some proper bass traps, what you have atm won’t do much past about 150hz.

If it was me I’d build some square or triangular frames in each corner and go floor to ceiling with rockwool then cover. You’ll want a chunky ceiling cloud above your mix position. I’d also be very tempted to make the whole back wall- to the right of the door looking from the outside one massive trap with some diffusion in it. Like 40-50cm deep. Then follow Drew’s recommendations on first reflection points. In short you don’t have nearly enough treatment for a room that size.

[OneWorld]

That’s looking good, well done, seems you have a methodical step-by-step approach that assures good results. Now where’s my hammer and saw, I’m inspired

[Arpangel]

IMG_5733 by Dale Smith, on Flickr
IMG_5764 by Dale Smith, on Flickr
IMG_5812 by Dale Smith, on Flickr
IMG_5813 by Dale Smith, on Flickr

So that's the summer house build. it's built on ground screws which are popular round here because the ground is clay, plus there's no risk of standing water. Each on holds 500kg and there's 20 of them. Full weather proof membrane all round. Double skin and insulation all round. Roof is pent, drops by 10cm front to back. internal size is 3.4m x 5.4m x 2.3-2.2m. ( I believe there is a HxLxW ratio for control rooms and this, coincidentally falls quite close to it.)

Love the finish, that pine cladding, it always reminds me of 70’s studios, it’s what I’d use if I had the chance to build a studio.

[Hugh Robjohns]

I doubt there'll be much problem with internal LF reflections given that construction — the walls themselves will act as bass traps to a useful degree — letter a lot of it leak outside.

But with all that wood panelling there will be strong lower mid and higher reflections, so you'll need good absorption at the mirror points as a minimum.

[James Perrett]

It looks good but, as Jaminem says, it won't stop much sound getting in or out. However, this does mean that you possibly don't need quite as much bass trapping as you would need with a more solid construction as much of the bass will simply pass through the walls. You'll still need some trapping though.

Since you already have some absorbent panels, you could try putting some across the corners with some more rockwool behind them to form bass traps.

[DaleSmith]

Thanks for all the constructive replies so far.

My plan initially is to install what I have, and see where I am. I had considered the back wall as a potential issue and could put 3 large/deep panels on there if required.

The problem with covering the full thing is that I like how it looks and I accept it's never going to be A) soundproof to any reasonable level B) Flat response inside.

With that in mind, I'd still like it to be as good as possible with what I have available. I have SoundWorks REF for measuring the room, and my plan is to get the best listening position I can, get whatever improvement I can with the treatment and then use SW for some correction ( not wanting to get side tracked into a debate on whether correction works or not )

[Sam Spoons]

That's a great looking room

Treating the mirror points will get you 70% of the way there for mixing, then you need panels around the positions where you plan to record acoustic instruments (and probably the e-drum kit just to reduce the annoying click). I have 10 panels in my 4 x 4 x 2 metre (L/W/H) basement room including three large and deep bass traps. I'm planning to add a few more but the room sounds pretty good as is so you should get a meaningful improvement using what you have. Put them up and see what you think, and don't get too hung up on measurements or you'll end up chasing your tail.

[DaleSmith]

IMG_5869 3 by Dale Smith, on Flickr
IMG_5871 by Dale Smith, on Flickr

Thank you for the support so far.

Next question. What to do with the 2 big panels ( light blue ). They're 120x60cm and 20cm deep. Whats the best bang per buck for these two.

The guy I bought them from had the directly behind the monitors as in the second picture..

[DaleSmith]

Of the back of that, and I know it’s a massive question. Monitor placement. Genelec say against the wall or 2.5m. Everything in between is problematic.
If I go against the wall, the large panels can go elsewhere.

[Wonks]

Close to the rear-mounted panels will be better. You'll still get bass being reflected off the rear wall. The distance thing is to do with not being too far away so that you get significant cancellation of bass frequencies from reflected waves being 180° out of phase with the direct waves.

Whilst you won't get significant levels of direct higher frequencies coming from the rear of the speakers, you can get reflections of waves that have already been reflected back from the rear of the room, so panels behind the speakers will help with that.

[Drew Stephenson]

The advice I read (on the Sonarworks site initially I think but backed up elsewhere) when I put my room together (not dissimilar size to yours) was speakers at 25% of the room length and listening position at 38%. I can't quite get to that in my room without sitting too close to the monitors so I've compromised on both of those but with sufficient treatment and trapping (I have a LEDE set-up), and with DSP correction, I can get it pretty much flat between 23 and 17kHz.
So I reckon that's not a bad set of starting parameters to play around with.

[jaminem]

I’d go against the wall with those traps behind them as you have it. The monitor screen position needs to be considered too. You want that at the very least in line with the front of the speakers preferably behind. You don’t want it in front of you can help it

[Hugh Robjohns]

^ Wot J says.

[RichardT]

I think it’s good to experiment. Set up a good starting configuration and try adjusting things bit by bit. Not so easy for the ceiling cloud, but possible for the rest.

[BJG145]

What a smashing space. I think you're gonna love this.

[DaleSmith]

IMG_5872 by Dale Smith, on Flickr
IMG_5873 by Dale Smith, on Flickr
Thanks again for the replies.
So this will be the starting point. Not really happy with the cloud as it looks scruffy, but it'll do for now.
second pic is the gap behind the wall panels. I've heard this helps.

The remaining panels will probably go on the rear wall to eat up a bit of the energy hitting it.