Final Project
(How To Build A Studio)
By Sean Aka StRo“The New
Jack”
Table Of Content
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Budget
Preparation Process
Building Materials
Purchasing Material Process
Vendors Selection
Building Process
Studio Software & Hardware
Initiating Classes To Teach Kids………
Budget
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When planning to build a studio or any other project it is important to count the cost.
Come up with a spending limit according to the money you have in pocket. This is
called a budget. If you don’t have money there are always ways to get materials to
build studio. Use your resources to acquire materials like extra or unused foam,
mic’s, doors ect. from friends and co-workers in the music field.
There are many ways to obtain a budget for a studio. You can either do a fundraiser
or write a grant. It is better to show your initiation for the project. From that other’s will
see you work and want to help out.
We at the Salvation Army obtained a matching grant from the Mustard Seed
Foundation, which allotted us 30,000 in total. The agreement is that we raise 15,000
and they will match us with 15,000 = 30,000
The total building of the studio including construction & Materials cost $11,000.
Computers, recording programs/hardware and software cost approximately $4,000;
Equaling $15,000 in total.
Materials
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Wood (2x4’s) Used to build frame for studio’s control room, live recording room and
vocal booth.
3” Thick Stage One-Bullet Proof Glass Window (Purpose to keep sound from
transferring between the control room and vocal booth). Bullet proof glass is much
cheaper than regular 45stc rated sound proof windows and is as effective and
better due to its 3” Thickness.
Doors (Purpose – Studio & Booth Entry. Also used to keep sound from escaping
and entering into the room from outside of studio.)
Lights
Carpet (Purpose to dampen sound in control room where mixing is done.)
Wood (Purpose to give live room an ambient like sound while recording.)
Vinyl Noise Barrier (Purpose to block a great amount of sound from entering in and
exiting from the rooms. It is very effective for blocking sound.)
S10 Quiet Rock-Sheet Rock (Purpose to Dampen sound from entering from the out
side of the room). (You can also double up on regular sheet rock. But it comes out
to about the same price and effectiveness).
Foam Padding-Egg Crate (Purpose to absorb high and low sound frequencies) The
foam padding will be used in the mixing room where a major amount of sound
frequencies travel due to music being played back thru speakers in the studio’s
control room.
Acoustic Wall Panel(s) (Used to absorb sound and prevent it from bouncing around
the room which creates unwanted sound which comes out in recording).
Insulation (R-13) (Purpose to insulate and keep unnecessary heat from escaping
the room).
Purchasing Materials
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Research - Check internet for vendors that carry materials needed to build a studio.
Do a Price Comparison (When searching the internet or other source(s) be sure to
check and see who has the best price) Make sure to compare apples to applesMeaning to make sure to compare the same product against it’s self while searching
for the lowest price.
Negotiate – Call Company’s and let them know that you found the same product at a
lower price and ask them could they beat that. Usually they will. I would continue to
do this several times to ensure getting the lowest price.
Print out Quotes (May Not apply to all) – This process was necessary in order print
out checks for Vendors. Printing out Quote’s also helps to keep physical
documentation of what you are spending. According to your budget you can see how
close you are to your budget limit and see if there is a need to re-negotiate, take
away some materials you could do with out or replace certain products with a more
cost effective product that is not as good but will not take you away from your original
sound proofing goal.
Vendors
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Sound Away Corp.
West Wood Building Materials
Pacific Bullet Proof Co.
The Foam Factory Inc.
Acme Doors
Lumber Liquidators
Hollywood Carpet
Building Process
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Use 2x4’s to build a frame inside of your existing room with the help of a contractor
or knowledgeable, experienced builder. Keep up with fire safety code(s). Find out
what they are if you do not know. Ignorance could lead to paying unnecessary
fine(s) from your local Fire Marshall. What ever is done in darkness will come to
light. Do what is right.
Hire an electrician to rewire room for the sake of preventing a socket blow out and
unnecessary electrical fire.
Once this is done you can then begin to insulate room by shoving R-13 insulation
between rooms frame work/wood beams.
Next apply vinyl noise barrier over the wood beams with a nail gun the same way
you would put plastic over a car with no window. Be sure to nail vinyl noise barrier
to the studio’s inner wood frame. The vinyl noise barrier is to be applied to all walls
and the ceiling.
When this is done apply drywall over vinyl noise barrier (drywall should be applied
to wall structure and ceiling also).
Install window if you have one (it is not necessary that you have a window).
Framing is important make sure to get a rough opening for the size of window you
are going to get. It is better not to have one because once you remove the space
for a window you then have to replace the empty space with a window that has the
same sound proofing effectiveness as the wall once had if not better (unnecessary
spending). You don’t need it most people do it for the look attempting to match the
big wigs……lol
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Carpet should be installed after the drywall and window if applicable: (experienced
carpenter is highly suggested).
Last step to completing a studio is to pad the wall with foam padding (egg crate shape
is highly suggested). We went a step further and purchased acoustic padding for our
live room. If you have more than one room then repeat the same process.
Studio Software & Hardware
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Studio Software & Hardware
(Suggestions)
These are just suggestions for music software and hardware based on my knowledge
of what is widely used with in the music/film industry.
Hardware
Computer - (pc or Mac) Mac’s are highly suggested because of there ability to
process music.
Mixing Board – (Need when recording multiple instruments. A mixing board has
multiple outlets.)
Mic - (Condenser mic is needed to record vocals strictly. Do your research and ask
around to find the best mic for what every type of sound you are trying to achieve.)
For recording Instrument’s you need an omni directional mic or a ribbon mic which is
very sensitive (Sure has good mic’s do by according to quality and your budget).
Pre-Amps make all the difference between a so recording and a very crisp recording.
Pre-Amps help to pick up sound you wouldn’t normally pick up while recording with
just a regular interface. It also helps to capture the fullness of an artist’s voice during
recording.
XLR Cables (Male & Female) for proper connections.
Interface (This helps to give a little boost to speakers and helps computer speakers
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monitors and mic’s all co-inside together). Digi 003 or an M-Box are highly suggested
and used greatly thru out the music and film industry for professional quality
recordings.
Monitor Speakers (Needed to acquire a flat sound for mixing). M-Audio BX 10’s are
suggested along with M-Audio’s Subwoofer. These two together help you to get the
full sound that you would in a car w/ or with out bass and helps you to mix better than
most regular stereo speakers.
Software/Computer Programs
Protools 8 LE (Used for Recording)
Fruity Loops (Production/Beat Making)
Reason (Production/Beat Making)
Initiating Classes To Teach Kids
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Here are a few classes that can be initiated to teach kids about music. Trained
individuals to teach are suggested and encouraged but at the same time experience
in the context to spending hours practicing with various pieces of equipment has
helped me to learn more effectively as far as retaining how different pieces of studio
equipment is concerned.
Here are the Classes Suggested:
Beat Making/Production
Music Arrangement/Composition
Song Writing
Music Business
Recording Engineering