Turtlerock Forum

New Pony Music Complex building plans..

Thought we'd share the plans to our new premises soon to start construction. Our mission is to create the ultimate Music Complex - Recording and Rehearsal Studios as well as our Pro Audio / Musical Instrument Retail Store and PA & Production Hire business.

Rick O'Neil is the Acoustic Design Consultant for the project and we have so far found his help and knowledge to be extremely invaluable to us.

Click the link and let us know your thoughts.. (further plans and detailed cross sections etc in .pdf form available from this link)

http://www.ponymusic.com.au/newcomplex.htm



The main issue we had when designing the building is having 5 rehearsal studios in the same building as the recording studio hence the method of construction we have chosen. Floating floors throughout, multi layered walls etc. Once the walls go up we will be able to further assess the internal acoustics of the studios.

The factory is secured and the lease is signed - We are currently sourcing Builders, Tradesmen and Materials to begin construction so if you can help in any way please contact us asap.

We will follow the whole construction process with photos and information as we build.

Acoustic Design Consultant - Rick O'Neil from Turtlerock Acoustics www.turtlerockmastering.com

Look forward to your comments...
Cheers
Geoff Mison & Damien Young
PONY MUSIC.

Is the control room bigger than the live room? What's the reasoning behind that?

Peter Knight wrote:Is the control room bigger than the live room? What's the reasoning behind that?

Yeah said the same. Geoff likes and finds he has bands in the control room while tracking. Everyone works differently. I know a few other engineers who work this way band in control room. live room only drummer. Works for them.
Personally I prefer the band to be in a room together and for me not to have to run the studio monitors all day at 100db in front of my ears while tracking. Everyone works differently I think that is one thing grads from JMC/SAE do not understand. What your teacher says might not work for you.

The control room and live room sizes are not set in stone until we build the walls, we are most likely building the outer shell of the recording area and then deciding on the size of each at that stage. We will also have tie-lines into 1 or 2 of the rehearsal studios (which will be similarly acoustically treated) so we have the option of utilising extra live spaces when we require. I've always found control rooms are where 90% of the action takes place and where you can have up to 10+ people in the control room at one time so the bigger the better. Also found most people like to be in the control room whilst tracking (obviously drummers not included in this!) whilst their amps are in the main room. Iso-booths will also be added to the live space along with acoustic treatment after the outer shell has been constructed. we are planning on flying Rick back down at that stage to consult on that aspect of it.

the live room is conveniently the same size as the rehearsal rooms ( and thats big folks) it makes the maths, the build and the material spec much easier ( therefore cost effective)
the control room is bigger still , and of course there are all those other rehearsal rooms to use if needed

the live room will be a great drum room with smallish set of 4 closets for amps and stuff and a set of gobos to shut the room down for vocals and acoustic guitars
so the normal mode of operation is to track live but keep the drums and whatever is played well and then get on with the overdubs

there are no fantasys about orchestras or 20 piece brass sections or norah jones dropping by with the dave brubeck quartet to cut an album in a day
this is a complex in the melbourne boon docks for local bands

the control is really big and as big as we can make it , if they had another 3 meters i would have taken that as well,
the ceiling height of the complex is closer to the moon then the earth so the rooms will all take advantage of that .
there is nothing in australia like what we are building

this business (pony) seemed to have a pretty strong set of ground rules and history of trading and the major income is currently the rehearsal rooms , the studio will shape and grow as they invent the best business model for it .
the warehouse is probably about the best "raw space" i have ever seen to put a studio in, as good or better then mine .

its an exciting project to be part of.

Ah right, I was looking for the ceiling height on the plan but couldn't see it.. how high are the ceilings?

Good on ya for making it wheelchair friendly.

internal height of all the studios is 3.5m.. if you look at the .pdf plans there are side views also which show heights etc.

As for Wheelchair access, yes this was taken into consideration as well as the loading of gear etc. In over 9 years of running a similar facility I don't think we've ever had a wheelchair in the place.. but it's there if someone needs it!

I did sound for a function up at Pepper's in the Blue Mountains the other week. Jackie Orszaczky was playing. Totally loved it. Anyway, he had guitarist playing with him and he was in a wheel chair. First time I'd come across that situation. He had to be lifted up on to the stage.

thanks for everyone's comments. We are keen to hear from anyone who knows suitable builders, electricians, plumbers etc. As soon as we get in some quotes we can start construction!

hi all,
looking for some great deals on materials now!! send us your tips or ideas if you have any.. plaster, pine, yellow-tongue, material etc...

Fowlers Auctions often have packs of timber lining for sale or auction at a bargain price. New Zealand Remu is very nice for a smooth grain natural look. Cypress Pine is great for a more figured look but is more flammable. There is (or was) a place in Dandenong on the Hwy, left just as you enter town from the south that has cheap yellow tongue and particle board. Wear a mask when cutting the MD board as it it full of formaldehyde!

just found this post again...... its interesting to see how it starts, and how it ends up......

have a look at these plans, and look at what we have actually built.....(different factory aswell)

http://ponymusic.com.au/Pony-News/New-C ... nstruction

the plan is near the bottom....

also here http://www.turtlerockmastering.com/foru ... c&start=30

damien