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Post subject: Turning a garage into a Jam Area
Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 7:31 am
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I live in a suburb area where most kids don't take it upon themselves to go out and have fun, so I'm thinking of dropping some cash (~$1,500) on equipment and supplies to create a good place to jam and have fun. I already have an idea of what I might need, But I want to make sure everything is all good and that I'm not forgetting anything. The garage already has a cheapo ~100w speaker system for just playing music and a space heater, so I'm going to list the stuff I already have in mind. Also, I already have a good MIDI keyboard.

-Guitar stand x2 ( I already have one so x3)
-Amp Stand x1
-Floor Fan x2
-Fender Rumble 150 watt
-Behringer 300 watt PA/Keyboard Amp 4 channel
-Marshall Class 5 Amp

Is this worth following through on? Do I need to raise my budget? I know I'm missing a lot of stuff on that list, but I just started this idea.

Also, the garage is not attached to any other structure, so I might look into some soundproofing foam.

Side note: As winter is approaching, my work hours will be shortened and my revenue decreased, so I don't know how much I will be able to raise this budget.


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Post subject: Re: Turning a garage into a Jam Area
Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 7:46 am
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Good idea! Looks like a good plan. Some other members should have some suggestions about sound stop and such. Lets see what they suggest.

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Post subject: Re: Turning a garage into a Jam Area
Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 12:07 pm
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One note, my garage can get in excess of 100°f during the summer. Would that be detrimental to any equipment? Such as amps, tubes, or other things.


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Post subject: Re: Turning a garage into a Jam Area
Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 12:18 pm
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Is the garage heated?

You might want a humidifier/dehumidifier.

Is the current wiring/circuits up to snuff?

Do you need to soundproof it?

Just some ideas...

Good luck!

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Post subject: Re: Turning a garage into a Jam Area
Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 12:49 pm
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Miami Mike wrote:
Is the garage heated?

You might want a humidifier/dehumidifier.

Is the current wiring/circuits up to snuff?

Do you need to soundproof it?

Just some ideas...

Good luck!

I haven't bought equipment yet, but I do need to soundproof it and I need to heat/cool it.


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Post subject: Re: Turning a garage into a Jam Area
Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 1:08 pm
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Concrete slab floor? If so then you'll want to put something non-conductive on top of it. Astroturf or similar works, even a cheap area rug. Anything. Better would be a slightly raised plywood floor carpeted, but that blows the budget to kingdom come.

Soundproofing can be as expensive as you want. Instead of soundproofing I'd possibly concentrate more on improving acoustics inside by hanging some heavier curtains or something like that. Garage interiors as a rule have terrible acoustics. Concrete floor, concrete walls, metal garage doors, all reflective.

Electrical service was brought up, it should be up to code for sure. Beyond that if on concrete then ground fault interruption outlets are very advisable.

"It isn't the heat it is the humidity." Humidity is probably worse. Amps themselves aren't really all that heat sensitive but humidity causes rust and isn't good for speaker cones either. Heating, cooling, condensation, heating, cooling, condensation. Not a good pattern.

Ideally a slightly raised wooden floor, insulation in or on the walls, some AC or other humidity controls are all good ideas. Total soundproofing is cost prohibitive but good insulation and hanging heavy curtains around will help. Especially to cover overhead garage doors which not only bounce sound back but pass lots of it outside. Total soundproofing is like building a second building inside the first building. That is not a practical idea here. I think improving the acoustics inside will reduce volume outside but you'll still hear it.


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Post subject: Re: Turning a garage into a Jam Area
Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 1:26 pm
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A drum area. Some friends and I would jam all the time and one of the best things we did is put the drummer in his own little room and cut a window so we could see each other. This helped with ear fatigue in a big way. Also, he could really get into it without blowing everyone else out of the place. You could do this cheap with foam or heavy blankets.

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Post subject: Re: Turning a garage into a Jam Area
Posted: Fri Oct 18, 2013 1:42 pm
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brotherdave wrote:
Concrete slab floor? If so then you'll want to put something non-conductive on top of it. Astroturf or similar works, even a cheap area rug. Anything. Better would be a slightly raised plywood floor carpeted, but that blows the budget to kingdom come.

Soundproofing can be as expensive as you want. Instead of soundproofing I'd possibly concentrate more on improving acoustics inside by hanging some heavier curtains or something like that. Garage interiors as a rule have terrible acoustics. Concrete floor, concrete walls, metal garage doors, all reflective.

Electrical service was brought up, it should be up to code for sure. Beyond that if on concrete then ground fault interruption outlets are very advisable.

"It isn't the heat it is the humidity." Humidity is probably worse. Amps themselves aren't really all that heat sensitive but humidity causes rust and isn't good for speaker cones either. Heating, cooling, condensation, heating, cooling, condensation. Not a good pattern.

Ideally a slightly raised wooden floor, insulation in or on the walls, some AC or other humidity controls are all good ideas. Total soundproofing is cost prohibitive but good insulation and hanging heavy curtains around will help. Especially to cover overhead garage doors which not only bounce sound back but pass lots of it outside. Total soundproofing is like building a second building inside the first building. That is not a practical idea here. I think improving the acoustics inside will reduce volume outside but you'll still hear it.
so, it does have a concrete floor, and unfinished walls. I did see some fairly inexpensive soundproofing foam, would it do a better job than a thick rug? I would definitely put down a rug and a dehumidifier.


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Post subject: Re: Turning a garage into a Jam Area
Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 12:18 pm
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I'd do the carpet first. Playing electric on concrete is never a good idea.


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Post subject: Re: Turning a garage into a Jam Area
Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 12:49 pm
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I'm following along on this because I have the same idea.

What I'm taking so far is a big curtain in front of the garage door and one over the windows to the outside would be huge.

Thinking of getting a Marshall half stack one of these ol' days so as much soundproofing as possible would probably be a good thing to keep the neighbors happy.

Floor is concrete but I have rugs where the amps are set up. Never heard that concrete was conductive. Is that the case?


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Post subject: Re: Turning a garage into a Jam Area
Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 2:03 pm
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When you say the walls are unfinished, do you mean the building is not insulated? Fibreglass bats are pretty good sound insulators. That would be the first step IMO. If the building is in fact already insulated and drywalled you might want to consider applying fibre-wall to the walls rather than foam, assuming you mean spongy foam and not styrofoam. Spongy foam will be a better insulator but it will also remove virtually all of the natural reverb out of the space. I've tried fibre-wall type products before and they do deaden some of the natural reverb in a space but not nearly as much as foam. You don't want to make the space too acoustically sterile. If I were doing such a project I would coat the ceiling and the side walls and the area on the street wall that surrounds the overhead door but leave the o/h door itself and the wall facing the house bare.

Here's a link to one of those kinds of products. You may find something similar at Home Depot or similar store. It requires a special roller with a sparse but stiff nap. In my experience you want to stretch the product as far as you can putting on as light a coat as you can manage. I won't look good while you are applying it. You'll think it's too thin but once it's dry you'll be happy you went thin.

http://www.fibredecor.com

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Post subject: Re: Turning a garage into a Jam Area
Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 5:48 pm
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You might want a small PA system... especially if you plan to incorporate singing along with instrument playing. But the PA is good for running instruments through as well. Get one loud enough to keep up with the drum kit unless you are using an electric drum kit with adjustable volume.

Also some guitar stools... long jam sessions are a bear if you have to stand the whole time.

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Post subject: Re: Turning a garage into a Jam Area
Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 6:09 pm
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Highline wrote:

Never heard that concrete was conductive. Is that the case?


Concrete retains water, absorbing it from the ground and from the air environment. The concrete isn't conductive but the water it harbors is conductive and creates a direct path and a quite large one to ground (earth). I won't play electric on bare concrete. The quality of the ground it can create will vary depending on the moisture content of the concrete. When standing on damp concrete you are grounded and being grounded is 50% of the formula for getting shocked or electrocuted. I just consider it an unnecessary risk and I won't do it. Rubber backed carpeting is good.


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Post subject: Re: Turning a garage into a Jam Area
Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 8:56 pm
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If you were to completely foam in everything - and seal up everything- be aware- once you and 4 or 5 other people are in there for more than an hour or two you may find yourself getting sleepy or fatigued-- because you have sucked all the oxygen out of the room . Not good.


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Post subject: Re: Turning a garage into a Jam Area
Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 9:11 pm
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A Reach-in Cooler and/or a Kegerator are always nice !! :D

cheers!

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