I think your best bet might be to keep the idea of "studio" firmly in quotes. Think of it as building a spare bedroom that you can use as a studio. There are some building techniques using ordinary materials that can improve acoustic isolation somewhat.

The thing is, building a proper "studio" is probably going to be a lot more expensive and incovenient than simply hiring a studio when you need to record, say, a drum kit or whatever. I'm also doubtful that you're going to pull off something that could plausibly be both a studio and saleble as a Mother-in-law quarters-- is the space going to have windows?

The best place to build a studio is in an industrial space, or in a barn in the middle of nowhere-- big, empty, high ceilings, no worries about keeping it "homey," easy to float walls, floors, ceilings, access for big, heavy things to move in and out, etc. Converting part of a suburban home into a full-blown recording studio is the kind of project that often ends up with the "studio" being a big space that takes up several rooms of the house, none of which are completely useable for the purpose intended, and the studio owner/operator spending most of his time sitting in there at the computer, playing through headphones.

Think carefully about what you actually expect to get out of this. An actual full-blown recording studio capable of recording piano, horn sections, drumkits, live bands, etc is hard to do in a residential neighborhood.

Cheers.

Converting part of a suburban home into a full-blown recording studio is the kind of project that often ends up with the "studio" being a big space that takes up several rooms of the house, none of which are completely useable for the purpose intended, and the studio owner/operator spending most of his time sitting in there at the computer, playing through headphones.

Yep, you're going to have to come hang out at our place sometime! lol

We're so busy we're turning down work right now, and the studio lounge doubles as my business partner's bedroom. In six months we may both go full time, if the ad agency we've been working with decides to start focusing on videos, jingles and commercials. All out of a basement studio, originally designed to be a project studio for our purposes only.

Barthowk, there are many ways to do what you're thinking about doing. I think if I were building a two-story garage, I'd build it thinking that the garage area would be the "tracking" room... the 2nd floor would just be for the control room/lounge area, with the lounge area doubling as a tracking room as well. I think your project is doable, but now and then you'll have to park outside.

Corey

I think the first step anyone should make is to sit and write down on a piece of paper or word processor what the purpose for having a studio is. Then write down who is going to be able to record and how you are going to do it.

Design the studio to meet the purpose. If you are planning on building a commercial studio for hire and you don't already have clientel demanding that you have your own space then rethink everything.

ORIGINAL: Mod Bod

I think the first step anyone should make is to sit and write down on a piece of paper or word processor what the purpose for having a studio is. Then write down who is going to be able to record and how you are going to do it.

Design the studio to meet the purpose. If you are planning on building a commercial studio for hire and you don't already have clientel demanding that you have your own space then rethink everything.

Dave: Fantastic advice! We built our studio specifically for our own projects, and that was the ONLY thinking we had. Luckily, people really liked the vibe and the product we're putting out, so it's become something more than that. We got lucky.

On the other hand, I've been involved in recording in one way, shape or form for over 20 years, and have plenty of people who like to work with me, regardless of where the studio is located. Having our own space is just icing on the cake now.

Corey

I don't mean to be another naysayer, barthowk but I recently bought and rennovated an existing building for my commercial facility. One of my engineers did most of the painting during down time at our old place. My aunt runs a flooring company and gave me a deal. And one of my best friends (who can build a house by himself from the ground up) and I did all the build-out work. In short, we did it on the cheap...but good solid work. And with all that we still went 2 months and 30% over schedule and budget. From what I understand you're no carpenter...or electrician...or plumber. Even to build a simple garage with bedroom using contract design and labor would be "tightly" stretching a $25,000 budget. Trying to build a commercial ready studio for that is IMHO a pipe dream. Of course I'm not sure exactly what your needs are. For instance I do all my music production for the business in the third bedroom of my home. I found that if I tried to "work while I was AT WORK"...it just...wouldn't work. And my bedroom studio is just that...a bedroom with a bunch of music/recording gear in it instead of a bed. I've got some treatment on the walls and that's it. I've learned it well and produce very good mixes even tho it's not "tweaked out" nor purpose built for audio production. I think ModBod's suggestion is right on target. Sit down with paper in hand and assess your wants and needs. Then with an unflinching eye figure a budget including overage contingencies. $25,000 can buy a lot of heartache if you're not careful.

Also, as Yep has mentioned previously, keep in mind that what goes in may have to come out at resale time.

You might consider designing it to be a home theater also. That's what mine will be marketed as when time comes to sell. A home theater with a side study or office.

ORIGINAL: yorolpal

I don't mean to be another naysayer, barthowk but I recently bought and rennovated an existing building for my commercial facility. One of my engineers did most of the painting during down time at our old place. My aunt runs a flooring company and gave me a deal. And one of my best friends (who can build a house by himself from the ground up) and I did all the build-out work. In short, we did it on the cheap...but good solid work. And with all that we still went 2 months and 30% over schedule and budget. From what I understand you're no carpenter...or electrician...or plumber. Even to build a simple garage with bedroom using contract design and labor would be "tightly" stretching a $25,000 budget. Trying to build a commercial ready studio for that is IMHO a pipe dream. Of course I'm not sure exactly what your needs are. For instance I do all my music production for the business in the third bedroom of my home. I found that if I tried to "work while I was AT WORK"...it just...wouldn't work. And my bedroom studio is just that...a bedroom with a bunch of music/recording gear in it instead of a bed. I've got some treatment on the walls and that's it. I've learned it well and produce very good mixes even tho it's not "tweaked out" nor purpose built for audio production. I think ModBod's suggestion is right on target. Sit down with paper in hand and assess your wants and needs. Then with an unflinching eye figure a budget including overage contingencies. $25,000 can buy a lot of heartache if you're not careful.

I'm in the same situation. Back in the early 90's I ran an 8 track room with a friend and we did tons of band recordings. These days, I mostly do post-production (film, mixing and mastering). I do still record singer/songwriters and I don't have any problems doing that with a couple of spare bedrooms.

Just to do my Auralex and get a little equipment it cost me about $12k. I can't imagine what a new construction would cost. Of course, I am in the Northeast where property values are insane right now. I suppose if you're in the mid-west or something.

If it's your dream, I say go for it. But I would think to do what you want to do would be more in the 100k range - and even that may be stretching it a bit.

Sometimes I think folks get so wrapped up in the ideals they forget that the whole idea we are talking about is just a place to record music. We are not doing brain surgery, or building microprocessors. ;) It doesn't all have to be perfect. Especially if you are not having to impress clients. Either because you are not commercial, or because they are already impressed. Or you don't need to give a crap, because you are a lawyer with a pretty nice dayjob. ;)

I have heard great recordings made in homes. Check out Kevin Gilberts album 'Thud' if you can find it, or the last thing one Pedro the Lion.

The more technology advances the less people seem to care about the creation of music. I don't mean this as a reflection on the OP or anyone else, but a few years ago I had a convo with my old studio buddy.

In the old days (15 years ago- not 50) you had a 4 track and no outboard effects. A few mics from Radio Shack (or the oddball $10.00 job from Sears or K-Mart) and that was it. We would make tons of recordings with what we had. I remember having a hi-fi eq that I bought at a junk shop patched in between my master outs and the cassette deck because my four track had two sliders that controlled eq on the whole mix - no per channel eq!

I remember how creative wo would get - I remember putting a speaker in m garage and moving a mic around the room. I sent signal to the speaker and used the mic (at mixdown - to cassette!) to add reverb. I remember doing all kinds of crazy stuff because we had what we had and there was none of the stuff that is today called 'crap'.

We did so many recordings with that setup (there were a lot more bands then it seemed) that we pooled some money and bought a used 8 track r2r, a Peavey 16x6 board and an Alesis Reverb - the tabletop one with the chart on top.

Today, it seems a lot of people (myself included) will complain about preamps and cables and such - technology is great but sometimes I just want to forget all about it and get the old 4 track out and do the best I can with it.

Way off topic, I know. Maybe you don't need to get so crazy about studio construction. The list idea is a very good one!

While Kevin's personal habits were a bit suspect his music and production were always amazing and enlightening. But much of his home stuff was mixed and mastered at top notch facilities weren't they? Don't know about "Thud". But the "Shaming of the True" is a revelation. He will be missed...just not by Sheryl Crow.