I'm about to start construction on my home studio but am unsure of the best way to construct ceiling. Studio will be in the basement of a large converted barn house. The floor above is supported by large wood beams ( about 1' deep and 1'wide) standing on top of large 9" wide wood pillars. The height from floor to beam is 7.5 with another foot reaching to actual floor above.

What do people recommend?

Should I build the walls to fit right up to the existing floor above which has many nokes and crannies between boards, and seal the gaps with something?

Or should I build the walls to about 7 feet and have say 2/4 supporting beams crossing the studio below the existing beams and put up drywall?

Main problem is the pillars which I would have to build around if I put in another ceiling over studio

James,

> am unsure of the best way to construct ceiling. <

What's the main goal? Good sound in the room, or maximum isolation to the upstairs? We need to know this before advising further.

--Ethan

I think I've changed my mind and decided to build the room apart from surrounding structure. My goal was a really good sounding room and a 7' ceiling seemed low to me. Building right on to the supporting beams would have given me another foot and a half but, I'd have to try and seal all the cracks between those beams and floor above. Although, I could do it and have higher ceiling, 8.5' instead of 7'. Should I go to the trouble?

The floor above is a living room used mostly for famil occasions, not much noise coming from there.

James,

> I could do it and have higher ceiling, 8.5' instead of 7'. Should I go to the trouble? <

Yes, I think so. Extra ceiling height is always valuable, especially when to avoid a 7-foot height which is pretty low.

--Ethan

James,

I did a basement studio a while back and am getting ready to do another one.

BASS TRAPs
BASS TRAPs
BASS TRAPs

What kind furnace do you have that can be the source of alot of agony?

Glue carpet to the cold air returns. They are a bass players worst nightmare. If the ducts are round you're probably OK with those, but if they are square you may want to toughen the support structure and treat them with something. Prior to putting a ceiling in.
Maybe you don't even have a furnace if its an old farmhouse?

I treated the ceiling in the last studio with owens corning insulation it was white and came in pink plastic bags. Then we tacked 4x8 celotex to the cross beams, with the reflective surface downwards. Then Tuned in with aurlex absorbers. This sort of turned the entire ceiling into a series of bass traps. Carpeted the floor. Opposite of most studios where floor is reflective and ceiling is absorbtive, but you're in a basement that sucks right from the get go. The reflections off cement just don't sound like hardwood. We also, bought a bunch of office partitions from a going out of business auction. They seem to help break up modes.

And did I mention bass traps.

Thanks for the info guys. I think I figured out a good way to go about it. We're moving the room over about 6 feet which will avoid the cold intake ducts altogether. On one side The wall be be built right next to the supporting beam and sealed but, the other side next to ducts I'm trying to decide whether to build up to the existing floor and seal, or built a couple inches short and create a small bit of new ceiling sealed to next beam over. Lemme know if theres any thoughts you have on this, otherwise it'll still be better reguardless cause I can have traps right above mixing area in the gaps between support beams. Thanks again.