Studio Design for Audio Engineers
Studio Design for Audio Engineers
Abstract - In the present work a design for a recording and mixing studio, stereo and surround 5.1
compatible, is proposed. The control room has external dimensions, 6.6m x 5.12m x 5 m, the recording
room has 4.87m x 7.47m x 5m. The documentation and the constructive details are explained and
attached to the present work, as the coating used for the acoustic isolation and the internal acoustic
treatment. The design involves the electrical installation, the HVAC, the audio installation, and the
equipment. The project involves an economic and financial budget in order to know its viability, and the
point of balance for the initial investment.
1
doors, letting in all the dust, that can be harmful studio, the following TL must have form of
for the musicians, and equipment. figure 1.
There are 4 regions of interest in double wall
isolation, the first is the one of the normal modes
of the wall, the second follows the behavior of
the mass law, for a set of coupled walls. The
third region corresponds to the low frequency
resonance, which has an 18 dB/oct slope. The
fourth region responds to the TL of a simple
wall, which has a 12 dB/oct.
We achieve for with this design a 60 dB TL at 63
Hz, so it is assumed to be enough for the rest of
the frequency spectrum.
1000
2000
4000
8000
250
500
temperature is reached. The air speed inside the
room must be less than 1,5 m/sec, this way we
Frequency
Hz
avoid turbulence noise due to the exit of the
airshaft. The air circulates at 10 volumes per Fig.1: Minimum transmission loss for every wall
hour.
The humidity control is very important, a low 4. RECORDING ROOM ISOLATION
humidity can dry the singer's throats, and make
instruments crunch, while a high humidity can be For the recording isolation, the choice was to use
uncomfortable for the habitants and corrosive for , as shown in figure(1) , a combination of
the equipment, the right value is between 60 and concrete and regular bricks, for the outside box
70 percent. 20x20x40 cm concrete bricks, followed by a 10
cm air gap filled with mineral wool, to reduce the
3. SOUND ISOLATION Q at the critical frequency gap. The inside box
was made with a regular masonry brick 5x11x23
The isolation is an essential requirement in the cm. The inner walls shall not be plastered, in
recording studio design, so that the recording and
listening within the rooms is not altered by order to add diffusion to the acoustic field of the
external sources, obtaining a desired NC 15. recording room.
Also the isolation must assure the legal levels on We achieve with this design a 60 dB TL at 63
the outside, determined in the case of Buenos Hz, so it is assumed to be enough for the rest of
Aires, by the 1540 law, which specifies a level the frequency spectrum.
permitted in dBA for every hour.
The constructive solution in the present work is a
box in a box system, for both the control and the
recording room.
The urban noise level outside the studio is
considered to be 85 dB in all frequency bands;
therefore to achieve a NC15 level inside the
2
7. ROOM ACOUSTICS
TL
recording
studio
Acoustic volume
TL
The room's volume depends on the use it is going
200
to have, the Parallelepiped must have the so
called "golden ratio" (1:1.28:1.54 for instance),
150
which guarantee a good modal distribution, and
TL
dB
1000
1600
2500
4000
6000
100
160
250
400
630
1000
1600
2500
4000
6000
100
160
250
400
630
Frequency Hz
3
4
The average RT (tm), for the bands between 200 Fig.12: Type A1 absorber panel
and 3k1 must fall around 0.2 - 0.25 seconds. For
these bands the value must fall around 0.8x tm to These are composed by a wooden drawer of 58
1.2 x tm. cm side times 18.35 cm height, internally
Between 50 to 200 Hz, the value of RT must fall subdivided. The finished surface has a 3mm high
between 0.8 x tm to 1.2 x tm. density mineral wool, and a 3 mm cotton fabric.
It is important to define a RT for the non-critical
areas; this is to control the internal ambience of
the studio. The design proposes a RT of 0.6 for
the common areas of the establishment.
5
6
It is of most importance the right electrical For the general audio installation, a line filter is
installation, satisfying the local standards, prevented for the audio and data phase. The
referred to the use of grounding and phases. electrical installation cables must have a
The grounding logic must use different cables for sufficient section, in order to assure a good
each grounding, avoiding to share cables for long transient response of the monitor system.
distances.
14. STUDIO MONITORING
Fig.19: Energy distribution for the studio and Fig.20: Genelec 8020b specifications.
control room.
7
Fig.21: Genelec Flush mount specification for
1038b
The choise of the Genelec 8020b was made
considering mainly the low edge diffraction
effect, due to the monitor design, minimazing the
Speaker Boundary Interference Response.
15. CONCLUSIONS
16. BIBLIOGRAPHY
8
ANNEX 1
Economic butget
Presupuesto económico
Mes 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
VENTAS Unidades 5 5 5 5 7 7 7
VENTAS $ 20.000,00 $ 20.000,00 $ 20.000,00 $ 20.000,00 $ 28.000,00 $ 28.000,00 $ 28.000,00
UT.BRUTA $ 20.000,00 $ 20.000,00 $ 20.000,00 $ 20.000,00 $ 28.000,00 $ 28.000,00 $ 28.000,00
GS.ADMINISTRATIVOS
AMORTIZACIONES $ -2.039,86 $ -2.039,86 $ -2.039,86 $ -2.039,86 $ -2.039,86 $ -2.039,86 $ -2.039,86
AMORT.GS.DIFERIDOS $ -2.608,33 $ -2.608,33 $ -2.608,33 $ -2.608,33 $ -2.608,33 $ -2.608,33 $ -2.608,33
SUELDOS $ -10.000,00 $ -10.000,00 $ -10.000,00 $ -10.000,00 $ -10.000,00 $ -10.000,00 $ -10.000,00
CG SOCIALES $ -2.300,00 $ -2.300,00 $ -2.300,00 $ -2.300,00 $ -2.300,00 $ -2.300,00 $ -2.300,00
OTROS GS ADM $ -2.000,00 $ -2.000,00 $ -2.000,00 $ -2.000,00 $ -2.000,00 $ -2.000,00 $ -2.000,00
ALQUILER $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -
UT.OPERATIVA $ 1.051,81 $ 1.051,81 $ 1.051,81 $ 1.051,81 $ 9.051,81 $ 9.051,81 $ 9.051,81
ANNEX 1
Economic butget
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
7 8 8 8 10 10 10 10 15 15
$ 28.000,00 $ 32.000,00 $ 32.000,00 $ 32.000,00 $ 40.000,00 $ 40.000,00 $ 40.000,00 $ 40.000,00 $ 60.000,00 $ 60.000,00
$ 28.000,00 $ 32.000,00 $ 32.000,00 $ 32.000,00 $ 40.000,00 $ 40.000,00 $ 40.000,00 $ 40.000,00 $ 60.000,00 $ 60.000,00
$ -2.039,86 $ -2.039,86 $ -2.039,86 $ -2.039,86 $ -2.039,86 $ -2.039,86 $ -2.039,86 $ -2.039,86 $ -2.039,86 $ -2.039,86
$ -2.608,33 $ -2.608,33 $ -2.608,33 $ -2.608,33 $ -2.608,33 $ -2.608,33 $ -2.608,33 $ -2.608,33 $ -2.608,33 $ -2.608,33
$ -10.000,00 $ -10.000,00 $ -10.000,00 $ -10.000,00 $ -10.000,00 $ -10.000,00 $ -10.000,00 $ -10.000,00 $ -10.000,00 $ -10.000,00
$ -2.300,00 $ -2.300,00 $ -2.300,00 $ -2.300,00 $ -2.300,00 $ -2.300,00 $ -2.300,00 $ -2.300,00 $ -2.300,00 $ -2.300,00
$ -2.000,00 $ -2.000,00 $ -2.000,00 $ -2.000,00 $ -2.000,00 $ -2.000,00 $ -2.000,00 $ -2.000,00 $ -2.000,00 $ -2.000,00
$ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ -
$ 9.051,81 $ 13.051,81 $ 13.051,81 $ 13.051,81 $ 21.051,81 $ 21.051,81 $ 21.051,81 $ 21.051,81 $ 41.051,81 $ 41.051,81
ANNEX 1
Economic butget
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 A balance proyectado
15 15 20 20 20 20 20
$ 60.000,00 $ 60.000,00 $ 80.000,00 $ 80.000,00 $ 80.000,00 $ 80.000,00 $ 80.000,00
$ 60.000,00 $ 60.000,00 $ 80.000,00 $ 80.000,00 $ 80.000,00 $ 80.000,00 $ 80.000,00
BIENES DE USO
Valor Residual
Qty Importes sin IVA IVA Vida Util años Amortiz Anual Amortiz Mensual Amortiz Cuatrim
2 años
Computadoras 2 $ 30.000,00 $ 6.300,00 3 $ 10.000,00 $ 833,33 $ 3.333,33 $ 10.000,00
SYMPHONY APOGEE 32/32 1 $ 63.750,00 $ 13.387,50 15 $ 4.250,00 $ 354,17 $ 1.416,67 $ 55.250,00
CRANE SONG AVOCET II 1 $ 2.550,00 $ 535,50 15 $ 170,00 $ 14,17 $ 56,67 $ 2.210,00
FOCAL TWIN 6Be 1 $ 37.400,00 $ 7.854,00 15 $ 2.493,33 $ 207,78 $ 831,11 $ 32.413,33
UAD OCTO CUSTOM 1 $ 19.125,00 $ 4.016,25 15 $ 1.275,00 $ 106,25 $ 425,00 $ 16.575,00
SHADOW HILLS MONO GAMA 1 $ 20.400,00 $ 4.284,00 10 $ 2.040,00 $ 170,00 $ 680,00 $ 16.320,00
HERITAGE 73 JR 1 $ 17.000,00 $ 3.570,00 10 $ 1.700,00 $ 141,67 $ 566,67 $ 13.600,00
AVEDIS MA5 1 $ 25.500,00 $ 5.355,00 10 $ 2.550,00 $ 212,50 $ 850,00 $ 20.400,00
CHANDLER GERMANIUM MKII 1 $ 20.400,00 $ 4.284,00 10 $ 2.040,00 $ 170,00 $ 680,00 $ 16.320,00
CRANE SONG SYREN 1 $ 21.250,00 $ 4.462,50 10 $ 2.125,00 $ 177,08 $ 708,33 $ 17.000,00
MILLENIA 1 $ 7.225,00 $ 1.517,25 10 $ 722,50 $ 60,21 $ 240,83 $ 5.780,00
PACIFICA A-DESIGNS (STEREO) 1 $ 22.525,00 $ 4.730,25 10 $ 2.252,50 $ 187,71 $ 750,83 $ 18.020,00
MANLEY CORE 1 $ 19.550,00 $ 4.105,50 10 $ 1.955,00 $ 162,92 $ 651,67 $ 15.640,00
AURORA AUDIO GTP8 1 $ 50.150,00 $ 10.531,50 10 $ 5.015,00 $ 417,92 $ 1.671,67 $ 40.120,00
DISTRESSOR 1 $ 59.840,00 $ 12.566,40 10 $ 5.984,00 $ 498,67 $ 1.994,67 $ 47.872,00
GERMANIUM TONE CONTROL 1 $ 37.230,00 $ 7.818,30 10 $ 3.723,00 $ 310,25 $ 1.241,00 $ 29.784,00
MANLEY PULTEC STEREO EQ (2u) 1 $ 30.600,00 $ 6.426,00 10 $ 3.060,00 $ 255,00 $ 1.020,00 $ 24.480,00
CRANE SONG FALCON 1 $ 22.100,00 $ 4.641,00 10 $ 2.210,00 $ 184,17 $ 736,67 $ 17.680,00
API 550A 1 $ 21.250,00 $ 4.462,50 10 $ 2.125,00 $ 177,08 $ 708,33 $ 17.000,00
ELYSSIA NVELOPE (2U) 1 $ 42.500,00 $ 8.925,00 10 $ 4.250,00 $ 354,17 $ 1.416,67 $ 34.000,00
CRANE SONG INSIGNIA 1 $ 22.100,00 $ 4.641,00 10 $ 2.210,00 $ 184,17 $ 736,67 $ 17.680,00
OVIE 1176 1 $ 11.900,00 $ 2.499,00 10 $ 1.190,00 $ 99,17 $ 396,67 $ 9.520,00
HEARBACK 1 $ 14.450,00 $ 3.034,50 10 $ 1.445,00 $ 120,42 $ 481,67 $ 11.560,00
AURICULARES audio technica 1 $ 10.710,00 $ 2.249,10 10 $ 1.071,00 $ 89,25 $ 357,00 $ 8.568,00
PRO TOOLS HD 1 $ 12.750,00 $ 2.677,50 10 $ 1.275,00 $ 106,25 $ 425,00 $ 10.200,00
LUNCHERA OVIE 1 $ 11.900,00 $ 2.499,00 10 $ 1.190,00 $ 99,17 $ 396,67 $ 9.520,00
COLES 4038 1 $ 31.025,00 $ 6.515,25 10 $ 3.102,50 $ 258,54 $ 1.034,17 $ 24.820,00
ROYER 121 1 $ 13.515,00 $ 2.838,15 10 $ 1.351,50 $ 112,63 $ 450,50 $ 10.812,00
WUNDER CM67 1 $ 37.825,00 $ 7.943,25 10 $ 3.782,50 $ 315,21 $ 1.260,83 $ 30.260,00
SHURE SM7B 1 $ 3.995,00 $ 838,95 10 $ 399,50 $ 33,29 $ 133,17 $ 3.196,00
ELECTRO VOICE RE20 1 $ 4.845,00 $ 1.017,45 10 $ 484,50 $ 40,38 $ 161,50 $ 3.876,00
SENNHEISER 441 1 $ 19.210,00 $ 4.034,10 10 $ 1.921,00 $ 160,08 $ 640,33 $ 15.368,00
SENNHEISER 421 1 $ 12.410,00 $ 2.606,10 10 $ 1.241,00 $ 103,42 $ 413,67 $ 9.928,00
NEUMANN 184 1 $ 16.575,00 $ 3.480,75 10 $ 1.657,50 $ 138,13 $ 552,50 $ 13.260,00
SHURE BETA 52 1 $ 2.210,00 $ 464,10 10 $ 221,00 $ 18,42 $ 73,67 $ 1.768,00
AKG D12 VR 1 $ 5.440,00 $ 1.142,40 10 $ 544,00 $ 45,33 $ 181,33 $ 4.352,00
AEA R84 1 $ 10.200,00 $ 2.142,00 10 $ 1.020,00 $ 85,00 $ 340,00 $ 8.160,00
AKG 414 XLS 1 $ 9.775,00 $ 2.052,75 10 $ 977,50 $ 81,46 $ 325,83 $ 7.820,00
WUNDER CM7 FET 1 $ 21.250,00 $ 4.462,50 10 $ 2.125,00 $ 177,08 $ 708,33 $ 17.000,00
MANLEY REFERENCE 1 $ 25.500,00 $ 5.355,00 10 $ 2.550,00 $ 212,50 $ 850,00 $ 20.400,00
TMS 1 $ 10.200,00 $ 2.142,00 10 $ 1.020,00 $ 85,00 $ 340,00 $ 8.160,00
CAJA DIRECTA J48 RADIAL 1 $ 5.950,00 $ 1.249,50 10 $ 595,00 $ 49,58 $ 198,33 $ 4.760,00
CAJA DE REAMP RADIAL 1 $ 5.950,00 $ 1.249,50 10 $ 595,00 $ 49,58 $ 198,33 $ 4.760,00
TOTAL $ 890.030,00 $ 45.302,25 $ 24.478,33 $ 2.039,86 $ 8.159,44 $ 166.768,33