How to Build Your Own Garage Music Studio
Whether you prefer to jam to your own music alone or you have an entire band, every musician ultimately fantasizes about having their own garage music studio. It isn’t feasible for most people to practice only in the rehearsal studio. Besides, your best ideas may come in the middle of the night and you’re going to need somewhere to capture your thoughts.
A garage music studio has probably been in the back of your mind for quite a while, but it’s time to make your dream a reality. With these simple steps, you’ll be well on your way to creating the perfect garage music studio.
Find the Right Space
Before you can move on to any of the finer details of acoustics and soundproofing, you need to ensure you have an excellent space. A detached garage is the first choice for creating the ideal music studio from home.
This type of space allows you to have quick access to your music and equipment without causing a major distraction for your family or roommates. Unlike a typical garage that attaches to the home, this gives you more privacy and freedom to turn the tunes up louder.
If you don’t have a detached garage at your disposal, don’t fret. Many companies can help you to build one for you inexpensively. Danley’s would love to help you with your detached garage – get a free quote now.
Once you find the perfect spot, you need to clear out all of the things that are currently creating clutter. You won’t be able to create the right sound with gallons of old paint, boxes of hand-me-down clothes, and used stuffed animals lining the shelves.
You’re creating a space that’s going to be solely for producing and recording music, so these miscellaneous items need to find a new home. The same goes for cars that may have been parked in the garage.
Be sure to clean up your new garage music studio thoroughly before you start to move in. Harsh chemicals and exhaust fumes that linger may give you a headache while you’re trying to work. It’s far better to get rid of these pesky odors and stains before you get too far into the process.
Soundproof the Studio
Do you really want to hear your neighbors complain when your band’s practice session lasts until midnight? Soundproofing your garage music studio is essential to creating a space on your property.
This is going to be a time-consuming and tedious process. You’ll need to examine the current state of your garage and insulate it to the best of your ability.
You can start with ensuring that the seals around windows and doors are tight. Even a small gap can allow sound to escape into the yard. Make sure the window panes are all intact and the door shuts firmly. Replace any weatherstripping or caulking that seems to be deteriorating and peeling off the frames.
Next, you’re going to need to insulate the walls and the garage door panels. You may want to use insulation spray or an entirely new layer of insulation panels. If space allows, installing an additional layer of drywall over the new insulation can really seal the space tightly and improve the soundproof qualities.
Monitor the Acoustics
While soundproofing your garage music studio, you may realize that your music suddenly reverberates off the walls. You’ll need to add a few things to absorb some of the sound waves and improve the overall acoustics in your garage music studio.
The best way to improve the sound quality is to add lots of items that are known to stop sound waves in their tracks. For example, you may want to hang heavy curtains or add an oversized sofa.
Alternatively, you could add acoustic panels to the room if your budget allows. You may be able to purchase these panels that are specifically designed to help absorb some of your sound waves.
Be aware that these panels may not come cheap, particularly if you need several of them to adequately fill your space. You may want to consider going for a combination of these items.
Don’t Forget to Breathe
Most musicians are so busy sealing up the sound in their garage music studio that they forget to allow some air flow. Chances are you won’t want to practice for long in a garage that doesn’t have air conditioning during the summer.
Be sure you install some vents or an air conditioning system that has the compressor installed outside. This will help to keep air circulating in your studio and prevent too much unnecessary noise.
If you have a window in your music studio, it’s not a bad idea to leave it open when you’re not practicing. This can allow fresh air to circulate while you clean or write new lyrics.
While a window could be a sore spot for musicians that are struggling with sound transmission, it’s a great feature to have when you need a dose of fresh air.
Circulating the air is also essential to maintaining your equipment. A room that never has fresh air will eventually become stale and humid. The moisture in the air can begin to build up on your expensive production equipment and cause long-term damage. It’s best to ensure that the humidity doesn’t become too elevated in your garage music studio before it’s too late.
Build a Separate Room
If you know that recording is a must-have function in your new garage music studio, many musicians may consider building a second room in their studio. This allows the musicians to practice on one side of the wall while a producer records and edits on the other.
This can be a great way to separate the space, but not all garages are large enough to have two separate rooms.
Measure out the space to see if you would still have room to maneuver comfortably with a small area sectioned off. Don’t forget to account for the thickness of the wall and the space for any necessary equipment like soundboards, computers and instruments.
This is also a great way to create an area to store equipment that isn’t currently in use. You may have extra soundboards, computers, microphones, amps and other items that you only bring out on occasion. They still need a place to call home and a separate recording room could be the best place to organize them all efficiently.
Your Garage Music Studio Starts with Danley’s
Building a garage music studio is a practical way to start getting serious about your music and your band. It can be a cost-effective solution to renting a space or paying for a rehearsal studio on a regular basis.
If you want 24/7 access to your equipment and practice space, there’s nothing better than having a garage music studio right in your own backyard. Using a few of these simple steps to get started, you’ll be creating the perfect tunes in no time at all.
Your music studio will only be as good as your garage. If you’re in need of a new garage, trust Danley’s to build your dream garage. We specialize in custom garages and will meet your specific needs. Start today and get a free quote and join the over 100,000 homeowners who’ve trusted Danley’s.
