Studio Build

Studio Build

SongMachine Studio Build Update #10 – The FINAL One!

Posted on by Corey Stewart

Well, its finally happened. SongMachine is now finished and (technically) ready to take on clients.

The finishing touches were made today but a lot of work was poured into the week trying to get SongMachine ready for our first client who starts her recording project in two days time on Monday, November 18th, 2024.

One of the things we needed to do was to do a test recording or two just to see if all of the connecting up of the hardware was done correctly. This was done last Wednesday.

Thankfully it was and here’s a picture of the three mic setup for acoustic guitar and voice.

We also did a sound frequency test for the recording area once the curtains were up and a basic covering of the concrete floor with carpet tiles and the room passed the test with flying colours.

Both the recording area and the control room are flat in terms of sound response but with a little bit of life in them to give the recorded sound some character. 

Now, I’m not up with the technical specs of the sound frequency tests and what it all means but Sandy was happy with the results and that’s all that matters.

What we did today was essentially a general clean up, final laying of the carpet tiles (with glue) and putting a frame around the recording room side window as you can see from the following pictures.

Now that everything is pretty much ready to go I wanted to extend my final thank you’s to the following people…

  • Mum and Dad – Absolute legends and huge supporters of the project from the very beginning
  • Sandy Mathewson – Came down every Wednesday to help me with building the studio. He is now going to take on his role as head engineer come Monday.
  • Cooper Lindsay – My nephew, budding musician/producer and a handy person to have around. He’s tall and walks around in stilts
  • Darryl Puckridge – Our sparky who made sure that power was delivered to SongMachine
  • Henry Sweet – Our chippy who did all of the wall and ceiling frameworks at the beginning of the build
  • TLC Concrete – Built the new shed and poured the concrete slab marking the beginning of the SongMachine studio build project.
  • TMW Earthworks – These guys removed the old slab and created the foundation for the new shed to be built

That’s it… All done and dusted. I know that there will be finishing touches here and there, little tweaks along the way and both split system AC will need to be installed at some point but a recording studio like us mere mortals are works in progress.

I’ll be taking Sunday off in readiness to start work on Monday November 18th. Wish me luck.

Peace,

Corey 🙂

Studio Build

SongMachine Studio Build Update #8.5

Posted on by Corey Stewart

It’s been two months since the last update and yes, things have been a little quiet on the SongMachine Studio front but still, there has been activity, just the progress has been very, very slow.

After the ceiling was completed the only things left to do were the construction of all the doors which were four in total (two for the control room and one each for the front and side entrances) as the spaces left as doorways in the floating wall framework were not of standard size plus the installation of two panes of glass for the control room window.

At this very moment, one of the panes of glass has been installed and the two control doors have been constructed and put into place but in doing so we came across some bad news.

The door frames for the control room wall are not perfectly square meaning that fitting two opposing doors which are meant to seal together was and still is going to be more of a challenge than first anticipated.

Add to that the fact that both Sandy and I can only get together once a week (on a Wednesday) to work on the studio build in which Sandy was sick for the last two weeks.

Well, things have ground slowly to a halt for the time being.

Anyways, I just wanted to let you all know that once Sandy is well again (he is on the mend and should be back by next Wednesday September 11th) we’ll recommence the studio build and (fingers crossed) have everything done by the end of September.

I can see the switch that I need to flick to get everything working but I just can’t reach it. It’s so very frustrating but I’m looking at this as an opportunity to practise my tolerance, patience and humility.

There are a number of people who are waiting very patiently for SongMachine to be finished and my message to them is “We’re almost there, not long to go now”

I guarantee you that I am not going to be beaten by four doors and a window pane. As soon as it’s all systems go you’ll all be the first to know. In the meantime I am going to use this time to practise my patience and tolerance to unforeseen circumstances which will only benefit my development as a human being.

At the moment it’s certainly the gift that keeps on giving.

As always, watch this space…

Peace,

Corey 🙂

Studio Build

SongMachine Studio Build Update #7

Posted on by Corey Stewart

Well, as of yesterday (Thursday May 16th) all of the major building work has been done with my Dad finishing painting all the walls as you can see below…

All that is left to do now is…

  • Make and install the doors.
  • Buy and install glass for control room window.
  • Put up acoustic foam on ceiling.
  • Lay down all of the carpet tiles.
  • Sort out electrical issue (the circuit board keeps tripping out at the moment).

Once all this is done the fun part begins, bringing in all of the hardware and setting it all up, testing it all out and making test recordings to see if the recording workflow is going to be seamless between the analogue and digital systems working together. 

Plus, along with all of that, the studio speakers also need to be installed as well. This is primarily going to be Sandy’s job with me helping out. 

It’s starting to come to the pointy end of the build and I’m really excited about all of the possibilities that lie ahead for me. Now, it’s my goal that everything “should” be ready to go by July 1st but, we’ll see what happens.

At this point my fingers are crossed.

Peace,

Corey 🙂

Studio Build

SongMachine Studio Build Update #6

Posted on by Corey Stewart

YES! There is now light at the end of the tunnel.

Over the last couple of weeks there has been some frenzied activity with the SongMachine Studio build.

All of the walls that have electrical wiring attached to it have now been finished and are now ready for Darryl the electrician to finish off his bits and pieces which will make this whole studio dream one big step closer to reality.

Here are some images including the finished control room (notice the side and rear walls)…

Once Darryl has done his bit it’s then time to put up the final piece of the puzzle… The acoustic foam on the ceiling.

That wont be happening for at least another couple of weeks though.

Peace,

Corey 🙂

Studio Build

SongMachine Studio Build Update #3

Posted on by Corey Stewart

Finally, there has been some progress with the studio build now that Christmas, New Year and my birthday are now out of the way for the year.

With some help by the wonderful Henry Sweet, all of the walls now have a framework to put in the soundproof insulation as well as getting a start on putting ion the electrical cabling.

I’ll be getting the insulation this week and it’s my hope that all walls will be insulated by the end of the week.

It’s really starting to take shape and the light is starting to appear at the end of the tunnel.

Peace,

Corey 🙂