Ideas for oddly shaped Basement Studio

[jonwilder]

Hey all,

I'm moving into a new apartment that has a decent sized basement for recording. It's not the ideal room type or size, but I'm brainstorming and wanted to see if anyone had any ideas on how to make this space work. Attached a few photos and a blueprint of the general layout and my thoughts. Thanks everyone!

- Jon

 

[DISTORT6]

Do you have access to both doors?
If you do, consider making a separate iso-booth on one end of the room.

 

[jonwilder]

Do you have access to both doors?
If you do, consider making a separate iso-booth on one end of the room.

Only access to the one middle door unfortunately, the other is blocked by a dryer haha

 

[rickenbacker198]

My thoughts are lots of treatment.
Your mock-up plan looks similar to what I did.
Perhaps you should consider treating a higher percentage of the wall area because of the size of the room.


What I did in my basement:
Ceiling filled with safe sound , covering it is still on the list. Corner traps and panels built by me with fabric help from my lovely wife.
For me, the treatment of the walls/ corners was an unbelievable difference... suddenly I could hear detail below 200 hz. Less surprises when I play back on other systems now.
I’m not an expert but from the research I’ve done my stance that every small to medium room has issues, nodes , comb filtering etc,, and a general treatment with broadband absorption + bass trapping will help reduce those issues. (not eliminate)
Ceiling is 8” treated
Walls 4” with an air gap
Corners ~ 12”
Behind desk is 8”

 

[stratjacket]

I’d recommend building some 4’x2’ x 4inch panels and arranging like the attached.
So basically like you drew it, but I’d pull the desk out away from the wall.

 

[155]

My thoughts are lots of treatment.
Your mock-up plan looks similar to what I did.
Perhaps you should consider treating a higher percentage of the wall area because of the size of the room.


What I did in my basement:
Ceiling filled with safe sound , covering it is still on the list. Corner traps and panels built by me with fabric help from my lovely wife.
For me, the treatment of the walls/ corners was an unbelievable difference... suddenly I could hear detail below 200 hz. Less surprises when I play back on other systems now.
I’m not an expert but from the research I’ve done my stance that every small to medium room has issues, nodes , comb filtering etc,, and a general treatment with broadband absorption + bass trapping will help reduce those issues. (not eliminate)
Ceiling is 8” treated
Walls 4” with an air gap
Corners ~ 12”
Behind desk is 8”


View attachment 66123View attachment 66125

nice , please sheetrock your ceiling.

 

[japetus]

Contact Richie Castelano, he has it figured out

 

[flatheads_4ever]

Gonna need a WHOLE lot of absorption in that room as mentioned. A lot of reflections if you don't

Ed

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Kind of reminds me of the tight quarters that Deep Purple recorded in for machine head I think it was. Granted they had higher ceilings but anyway. One take away is that unless you room within a room, you will never truly get "soundproof" so keep that in mind. Treatment makes a HUGE difference to how you EQ and feel your amps and cabs sound. Def. take the advice of others here and get corner traps and treatment on the walls. I have an irregular space in the new house I am in and I haven't gotten around to treating it yet but its gonna be a major pain in the ass when I do. (especially seeing as I have drums too)

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

My thoughts are lots of treatment.
Your mock-up plan looks similar to what I did.
Perhaps you should consider treating a higher percentage of the wall area because of the size of the room.


What I did in my basement:
Ceiling filled with safe sound , covering it is still on the list. Corner traps and panels built by me with fabric help from my lovely wife.
For me, the treatment of the walls/ corners was an unbelievable difference... suddenly I could hear detail below 200 hz. Less surprises when I play back on other systems now.
I’m not an expert but from the research I’ve done my stance that every small to medium room has issues, nodes , comb filtering etc,, and a general treatment with broadband absorption + bass trapping will help reduce those issues. (not eliminate)
Ceiling is 8” treated
Walls 4” with an air gap
Corners ~ 12”
Behind desk is 8”


View attachment 66123View attachment 66125

Looks good, what are the dimensions length/width of your room?

 

[jonwilder]

Awesome, thanks for all the advice everyone!

 

[rickenbacker198]

Looks good, what are the dimensions length/width of your room?

Thanks , it was a lot of work!! , still a bit more to go covering up the celling.
Its about 14 x 23

 

[Panzer917-30]

I have a similar space. I arranged things somewhat differently; my desk is along the long wall with the treated wall relativly close to my back. Main diff is that I have 12 foot ceiling, but the wall behind me is all book cases randomly loaded with books, mags and angled foam sections. Because there is little time for a echo return, any non absorbed signal barely has time separate itself from the main output wave. Bass traps are in all the corners of the room and I dont have any ceiling treatment.
It seems to work pretty well for me, Ive listened to my stems and mixes in better treated rooms and whatever acoustic problems there are works in my favor.