FREE Soundproofing Workshop: https://www.soundproofyourstudio.com/workshop

This week I am doing something a little different. I will be showcasing my client's garage conversion home studio and interviewing him. This will be more like a podcast, but with great b roll of this finished studio and some of the build to show how this amazing transformation took place. 

If you are building any recording studio, but certainly one in a garage, this is one episode you cannot miss! 

If you are building a recording studio and want to hire me to help you design and build it then sign up for a free soundproof clarity call:

Soundproof Clarity Call Application 

FREE Soundproofing Workshop: https://www.soundproofyourstudio.com/workshop

Choosing the wrong location for your studio can lead to:

For these reasons, selecting the right place to build your studio is the single most important decision you can make.

Hands down, the best location for your studio is in a backyard. Starting from scratch ensures you’ll have:

While building in your backyard may cost more initially than converting your garage or basement, the long-term value far outweighs the upfront expense. Think of it as an investment, not just an expenditure.

For instance, you might think building in your garage will only cost around $20k—just throw in some 2x4s and drywall, and you’re good to go. But not so fast. Did you account for:

Before you know it, you’re spending $30–50k on a small, compromised space. By contrast, building in your backyard for $75k gives you a dream studio that not only meets your needs but also increases your property value. That’s a win-win.

Your garage comes in as the second-best location. While not as ideal as starting from scratch, a garage can still be a great option. Compared to a basement, garages typically offer:

That said, garages still present challenges and costs, especially if you’re aiming for top-notch soundproofing. When scouting for an ideal garage space, look for:

Finally, we have the basement. While a basement can work in certain situations, it tends to present more challenges:

Basements often require additional isolation to prevent sound transmission to the rest of the house above. This means adding extra drywall layers, which can further reduce ceiling height. If you can avoid the basement, do so.

Choosing the right location is the most critical decision in soundproof studio design. Carefully weigh the pros and cons of each option and think about the value you’re getting for your money.

In most cases, investing an additional $20–25k to build in your backyard or attach a studio to your house will deliver significantly better results in the long term.

If you’re looking for a professional touch to design your ideal home studio, book a call to see how I can help bring your vision to life.

Book a Call

Prefer to take the DIY route? Check out my free soundproofing workshop below!

FREE Soundproofing Workshop: https://www.soundproofyourstudio.com/workshop

I’ve been guilty of this myself, and I see clients fall into the same trap. Trying to design and build your studio simultaneously is a recipe for chaos. There’s a proper order to the process, but many of you might be putting the proverbial cart before the horse. Let’s break it down so you can avoid the most common pitfalls.

1) The Eager Beaver

The eager beaver can’t wait to start swinging a hammer or firing a nail gun. They’ve watched a few YouTube videos, maybe skimmed Home Recording Studio: Build It Like the Pros by Rod Gervais, and now they’re itching to “do something—anything!”

But here’s the problem: eager beavers often skip critical steps, leading to costly mistakes. Maybe they miss an essential design detail or cut corners to save time, only to end up wasting $10,000 or more on rework.

Take your time. A professional-grade home recording studio (the kind you deserve) requires careful planning. Resist the urge to jump in without a well-thought-out plan. The payoff? A studio that far exceeds what you could have built as an eager beaver.

2) The Budget Piecemeal Approach

Starting your studio project without enough money saved is a fast track to frustration. You buy a few materials, run out of cash, pause to earn more, and then repeat the cycle. This chaotic approach slows progress, creates inefficiencies, and adds unnecessary stress.

Instead, save up the full amount before you start. Whether you’re hiring professionals or tackling the project DIY, have enough to cover materials, labor, and unforeseen expenses. Stick to your budget, and don’t let scope creep turn your dream studio into a never-ending build. A clear plan and cash in the bank will save you time, money, and headaches.

3) The Chaos Drug

Let’s be honest: some people thrive on chaos. If you find yourself chasing the adrenaline rush of figuring things out as you go, take a step back.

Chaos is addictive, but it has no place in a studio build. Building a recording studio demands precision, planning, and patience—not the "messy artist" mindset. This project isn’t just about creativity; it’s about execution, and there’s too much at stake (financially and emotionally) to let chaos take the wheel.

The key to a successful studio build lies in your systems. Here’s the roadmap to get it right:

Brainstorm Your Dream Studio
Dream big! Create a vision board, save Pinterest ideas, and build a playlist of inspirational studios. This is the fun part—enjoy it.

Define Your Budget
Find your maximum spending threshold. Ask yourself, “Would I spend $20k? $50k? $100k?” When you hit your limit, you’ve found your budget. Use this number as your guide before starting the design process.

Design in CAD
Tools like SketchUp, AutoCAD, or Revit can help you visualize your studio. You’ll see how the space will come together, anticipate challenges, and plan for details like beams, HVAC, and electrical. Not a DIYer? Hire a studio designer to handle this step for you.

Create Full Construction Plans
Whether you’re DIYing or hiring a contractor, detailed construction plans are essential. They prevent miscommunication and ensure the design matches your vision.

Bid the Project
With your design finalized, gather quotes. Break down costs for materials and labor. If it’s over budget, revise the design before starting construction. This step ensures you’re not halfway through and $20k short.

Build with Confidence
With a solid plan and budget, you can start building with peace of mind. Monitor progress carefully—recording studios require more precision than typical home projects.

Avoid the eager beaver mindset, the piecemeal approach, and the chaos drug. Instead, follow a systematic process to design and build your dream studio.

Ready to take the next step? You have two options:

Book a Call

Let’s make your dream studio a reality!

FREE Soundproofing Workshop: https://www.soundproofyourstudio.com/workshop

This week I am showing you the final video for a home recording studio I designed here in Nashville. This is one of my favorite studio designs to date and I am so excited to share the final results with you!

FREE Soundproofing Workshop: https://www.soundproofyourstudio.com/workshop

 Ever been in the middle of shredding on your guitar, feeling like a rock god, only to realize your neighbors aren’t quite as pumped about your solo as you are? Yeah, we’ve all been there. And if you’re into heavy metal, rock, or just need to keep your amp cranked, I’ve got the perfect solution.

Introducing… the DIY Guitar Amp Isolation Cabinet! In this week’s video blog, I’ll walk you through exactly how I designed a custom cabinet to keep a client’s amp rocking hard while staying whisper-quiet in the studio. Think of it as the soundproof fortress for your amp—let it scream, without the world knowing!

Whether you’re looking to spare your family, your roommates, or even the neighbors’ pets, this setup will help you crank up the volume without turning up the tension in your home. 🎶

Take a look, and who knows—you might just be the proud owner of a soundproof amp fortress by the end of the day. Because let’s face it, your killer solos deserve to be played loud… even if only you can hear them. 🤘

Catch you on the other side of soundproofing!

FREE Soundproofing Workshop: https://www.soundproofyourstudio.com/workshop

If you've ever thought, “I don’t need to fully soundproof my room; maybe I can just soundproof one wall and stop the noise on the other side,” then this article is for you!

In this lesson, I'll explore when you might be able to get away with partial soundproofing without extensive construction and when it’s better to save your money and avoid the project altogether. Let’s dive in!

You may have heard me or others say, “Soundproofing is an all-or-nothing project,” and I stand by this 90% of the time. Sound expands in all directions in a 360-degree bubble, especially at low frequencies. This means sound doesn’t just travel in a straight line through one wall into your room—it also moves through floors, ceilings, windows, doors, HVAC ducts, and roofs.

For this reason, soundproofing only a shared wall with your neighbor might not stop unwanted noise. Let’s look at why this is the case.

  1. A Soundproof Room Requires Mass on All Surfaces

In soundproofing, mass is the primary tool to block sound and reflect it back in the direction it came from. A solid 12-inch concrete wall, for example, will effectively stop most sound. The more mass we add, the less likely high, mid, and even low frequencies will pass through. For louder or lower frequencies, you’ll need substantial mass on all walls, ceilings, and floors, including windows and doors.

  2. A Soundproof Room Is Decoupled from the Outside World

After adding mass, the next essential step is decoupling the room from the outside structure. This means isolating the sound so it doesn’t travel through structural elements like joists, studs, and drywall. Mass can block airborne noise, while decoupling prevents sound transmission through these structural pathways.

For example, if you put your ear to a metal railroad rail, you’ll hear a train from miles away. Sound travels faster and more efficiently through solid materials than air, as it would through concrete. A concrete wall might stop airborne noise like traffic but won’t prevent sound from passing through its structure.

Consider a neighbor with a subwoofer on their floor. Even with a heavy wall, sound and bass vibrations will travel through the shared floor, making the wall less effective and wasting your investment in soundproofing.

  3. A Soundproof Room Must Be Airtight

Finally, a soundproof room must be airtight. Sound, like water, can seep through even the smallest gaps. Have you ever closed a heavy door but still heard noise coming in around the edges? Or maybe you’ve noticed sounds coming through an older home’s air leaks?

Without airtight sealing around walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, and HVAC systems, sound can still enter or exit your room, undermining your soundproofing efforts.

As I mentioned, there’s a small percentage of cases (around 10%) where partial soundproofing might work. Here’s when it might be viable:

If you meet these conditions, you might get away with soundproofing a single “party wall” (the shared wall with a neighbor who hosts parties).

Keep in mind that even in these cases, halfway soundproofing offers no guarantees. The results are often unpredictable, so you need to carefully weigh the risks of a partial solution.

Some people ask about “light soundproofing,” usually meaning they don’t want to spend a lot of money or time and don’t need full noise blockage. You might consider light soundproofing if:

If these criteria fit, you may be able to get away with lighter soundproofing measures. But if you’re trying to create a truly quiet space, this approach likely won’t be sufficient.

As you can see, in most cases, soundproofing is all or nothing. If you’re committed to doing it right, with the necessary financial and technical resources, then it’s worth the effort. Otherwise, it’s often better to leave the project until you’re ready to commit fully.

If you’re intrigued and want to learn more about soundproofing, check out my free soundproofing workshop (link below). Or, if you’re short on time and prefer to hire a professional, click the Soundproof Your Studio logo above to schedule a clarity call where I can learn more about your project.

Best of luck on your soundproofing journey!

FREE Acoustic Treatment Guide: https://www.soundproofyourstudio.com/acoustic

If you have ever wondered how to build an acoustic cloud with a built in light or lights than this is your video. I go over the details of how I design acoustic clouds for my clients. Learn: 

-how to build an acoustic cloud

-what fabric to use

-how to install a light and wire it to your cloud

-how to hang your acoustic clouds

FREE Soundproofing Workshop: https://www.soundproofyourstudio.com/workshop

In this episode I go over the main soundproof wall details most people miss when designing and building their soundproof walls. 

FREE Soundproofing Workshop: https://www.soundproofyourstudio.com/workshop  

In this video I go over the best place to buy soundproof doors in North America, New Zealand/Australia and the UK/Europe.

FREE Soundproofing Workshop: https://www.soundproofyourstudio.com/workshop

If you’ve ever felt confused by electrical terms like “grounding” or “isolated ground,” trust me, you’re not alone! When I first started learning about how to properly wire my own home studio, I had no clue what it all meant, and I’m a studio designer! Let’s break it down together in the simplest way possible.

Imagine you’re plugging in your gear, ready to record, and suddenly you hear a hum or buzz in your monitors. What’s causing that? Chances are, it’s an issue with your studio’s electrical grounding. Grounding is like giving the electrical system in your studio a path to safely return to the earth—this keeps both you and your gear safe from electrical faults, and it helps eliminate noise in your audio.

But here’s where things get tricky—just like I was confused when I first learned about it, you might wonder: Can’t I just plug my gear in and call it a day? Why all this talk about grounding? Well, not all grounding is created equal, and how you set it up can make a big difference in the sound of your recordings.

When I first learned about star grounding, I didn’t get it. I had one outlet for all my audio gear, and I thought, “Isn’t that enough?” Turns out, not exactly.

In a normal electrical setup, all your equipment shares the same ground as everything else in your house—lights, HVAC, appliances. This can cause ground loops, which are electrical problems that lead to noise and hum in your audio. To avoid this, star grounding is a way to isolate the ground for your audio equipment.

Here’s the basic idea:

 • Star grounding creates a dedicated, isolated path for the ground of your audio gear, keeping it separate from other systems like lighting or HVAC. This minimizes electrical noise and interference in your recordings.

Star Grounding Diagram - 

In my studio, I had a 4-gang outlet where all my audio gear and computer were plugged in, and it was connected directly to its own circuit breaker. That’s not a bad start—everything shared one ground, and I didn’t hear any hum.

But here’s what I learned: if your ground wire goes straight to the same ground that all your lights, air conditioning, and everything else use, there’s still a chance that noise could sneak into your audio signal. So even though I didn’t have any problems, there was still room to improve. And this is where star grounding comes in.

Think of star grounding like a bicycle wheel. At the center (the hub) is your main ground point, and all the ground wires from your audio equipment are the spokes connecting to it. This central hub (called the ground bus) is isolated from other systems in the house until it all ties back to the main electrical panel. Here’s how you can do it:

 1. Use Isolated Ground Outlets: For your studio gear, use special outlets called isolated ground receptacles. These are designed to keep the ground for your audio equipment separate from everything else.

 2. Run a Separate Ground Wire: Instead of using the regular ground wire inside the Romex (your standard electrical wire), run a separate jacketed ground wire directly from the isolated ground outlets back to a dedicated ground bus. This ground bus collects all the grounds from your studio gear and then ties back to the main electrical panel’s ground.

 3. Connect the Ground Bus to the Main Panel: At some point, everything needs to connect to the main panel’s ground. This is to comply with electrical codes (for safety) and to ensure that the system is properly grounded.

When I first learned about star grounding, I thought, “Why can’t I just have a separate earth ground for my studio?” That seemed like the best way to keep the ground isolated, right? But here’s the thing: you can’t have multiple earth grounds because it creates multiple paths for electricity to flow, which can lead to the very hum and noise you’re trying to avoid. This is called a ground loop.

By connecting everything back to the main panel, you make sure that all grounds in your house are at the same electrical potential—meaning, there’s no voltage difference between them that could cause hums, interference, or worse, safety issues.

 • Step 1: Install isolated ground outlets for all your audio equipment. These outlets help keep the ground for your audio gear separate.

 • Step 2: Run a separate ground wire from these outlets to a dedicated ground bus. This bus can either be in the panel or a separate location.

 • Step 3: Connect the ground bus back to the main panel’s ground bar. This ensures safety and keeps everything at the same ground potential.

Now, if you’re like me and have a dedicated outlet that’s working fine, you might not need to rush into setting up a star grounding system right away. If you’re not experiencing noise or hum issues, it might be enough. But if you’re building a studio from scratch, upgrading your electrical system, or want to future-proof your setup, star grounding is one of the best ways to eliminate noise and hum before they even have a chance to start.

If you’re overwhelmed by all this talk about grounding and wiring, don’t worry—you don’t need to be an electrical expert to improve your home studio’s sound quality. Star grounding is just one tool in your arsenal, but it can make a huge difference in keeping your recordings clean and noise-free. Whether you choose to implement it now or later, just remember: the key is keeping your audio equipment’s ground separate from everything else.

And if you’re ever unsure about how to set this up safely, hiring a qualified electrician who understands studio-grade electrical systems is always a good move.

Further Reading and Resources:

Coming from little to no understanding of electricity I had to learn everything about studio electrical from the ground up. The following resources are great for getting different perspectives on this and furthering your own research and understanding of studio electrical systems. 

Power and Grounding for Audio and Video Systems A White Paper for the Real World – International Version Jim Brown Audio Systems Group, Inc. http://www.audiosystemsgroup.com/SurgeXPowerGround.pdf

Philip Richard Newell. Recording Studio Design. New York ; London, Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2017. (affiliate link) - https://amzn.to/4b7zyxd

Gervais, Rod. Home Recording Studio: Build It Like The Pros. 2nd Edition, Course Technology Cengage Learning, 2011. (affiliate link) - https://amzn.to/48ONVF6