building a studio and audio room for cheap?

PegLeg Media

PegLeg Media

Well-known member
so I am the full time videographer for a blood bank and have a room thats about 12x15 where I have my desk on one end and a 3 point lighting kit in the room with just a blue backdrop and a green screen thumb tacked to the walls. I just got this email from my boss I was not expecting:

I have this meeting on Friday about our space needs. I’m thinking and architect is going to create a new area for us. MAYBE. If so, what are your needs for a studio. Can you give me your desired layout of a studio you would want that would incorporate enough space for you (videographer level 2) another videographer level 1 and an intern. Include things like soundproofing etc… I need this before Friday. If you want to draw it out….go for it.

So does anyone have any suggestions for this? we dont do too much studio stuff so im thinking just a longer room, maybe 20x12 to give us more depth. Would the walls floor and ceiling need something special for sound? the walls i have now are 2 made of cement and 2 just drywall to other offices. could they just add a 4x4 corner "closet" type room I could just fill with sound proofing material for voice overs? i know we cant afford studio lights or a sound booth room or anything. My budget for camera/lights/audio when I started was only around $1200 and they've only spend a couple hundred on little pieces of equipment since then. Anyone have low budget ideas for a studio layout? I assume we could just have 2 desks with computers on the back wall for editing if the room is long enough.
 
If it's a new build, then it's serious money, but if existing accommodation is available, it's much cheaper. Can you find out what space they may be thinking about, because things like windows, doors and ceilings make big differences to the potential layout and of course cost.
 
We have a nice building already, i dont know if they are adding on to it or reconstructing the inside. They arent just making me a studio, they are creating different rooms for different departments so ceiling height and what the walls are made of probably wont be negotiable. But saying tile floors/carpet or getting special sound flooring could be an option. No windows is something I will ask for. I didnt know if they should build us a closed off closet in the studio that we can fill with cheap sound proof material and use as a voice over room or if just recording in the larger studio would get just as good sound. Also any special stuff for the walls or ceiling to help with sound? I'm thinking they are talking more about just giving me a bigger office and calling it a studio but I will do what I can to customize it.
 
Seems to me you might as well shoot for the moon and see what they give you....

These aren't terribly expensive:

-acoustic foam, doesn't have to be all over, either make a chessboard like pattern out of 2x2 panels, or just cover 2 non opposing walls plus the cieling. If too costly, use cheap foam bed toppers.
-ask for a lighting rail system, gets equipment off the ground. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...tiveASIN=B004LYNEP4&linkCode=as2&tag=dlevi-20
-make changing backgrounds far easier http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...tiveASIN=B002P32990&linkCode=as2&tag=dlevi-20

more expensive

-request MLV, mass loaded vinyl, be placed in or on the walls, this seals out external noise

note:

if the room will be long, and there will be desks, have the desks on opposite sides, chairs facing the shooting wall, so that there is a direct line of clear area to the far wall from the shooting wall, so you can get back as far as needed
 
here is what i have drawn out so far. Any help would be great. Any videographers looking for a full time job in Florida let me know because we will be hiring the 2nd videographer come summer time.
studio draft 1.jpg
 
Make sure you use furring strips on top of the cinder block to create a pocket (barrier) inside the wall and then I would apply homosote fiber board ($22.00 4x8 sheet) If sound is a major concern, double up, ceiling too. Then put your finish wall on top of the homosote (fiber board) preferably covered with felt or some organic material. Of course sound foam works too but can be exspensive if you have to buy it at a music shop. Look for foam from distributors, wholesaleers if you can. Hey It may be a little excessive for just some vo's but if you do it right it will work, if you don't it's not gonna work, sound travels fast through concrete, 2x4's and duct work. Keep in mind the more barriers you create you have a better chance deadening sound.
 
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