Home recording studio wiring method

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jeremysterling

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I read archived posts about clean recording studio power, so I'm good with the 15KVA iso xfmr and 24 space subpanel the customer is supplying. However, in most recording studios the receps are flush mount? The archived posts did not mention any reasonable surface mount alternative to plastic boxes and NM cable. The customer wants no holes in the drywall, seemingly ruling out the obvious best "iso groud" install of plastic boxes and NM cable. The customer is OK with 1/2" PVC, but isn't there something better looking, like plastic plugmold or something of that nature?
 
I just did a home recording studio and I used plastic plug mold. The Ho didnt want any holes in the sheet rock either. Between the double 5/8 sheet rock, 5/8 fiber board, sound insulation, and 3/4 wood paneling I would say the room lost about a half a foot all around. In my opinion and for what he was using it for it was all way overkill.
 
tonyou812 said:
I just did a home recording studio and I used plastic plug mold. The Ho didnt want any holes in the sheet rock either. Between the double 5/8 sheet rock, 5/8 fiber board, sound insulation, and 3/4 wood paneling I would say the room lost about a half a foot all around. In my opinion and for what he was using it for it was all way overkill.
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This is similar to what I'm up against. Studio is a purpose built addition. Size is 20' X 35' with a theatre taper. My lighting switchlegs are roughed inside the wall and stubbed out in NM cable ( for a future surface mount pancake). The HO thinks the dedicated receptacle branch ckts should each have their own non-metallic raceway, and I want it to look good. The HO wants eight quads = eight 1/2" PVC conduits running the length of the studio? 1/2" PVC is flimsy and I think it would vibrate against the wall even with overkill strapping. I will do what the HO wants, but I would like to offer him a vibration free install.
 
They pay a lot of money for that double dry-wall with green goo between the layers and maybe a flex mounting system to the framing! So lots of rooms use dummy columns, soffits or panels to hide AC outlets, can lights, A/V wiring and HVAC ducts.
 
jeremysterling said:
1/2" PVC is flimsy and I think it would vibrate against the wall even with overkill strapping.
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The NEC requires a strap every 3' with 1/2", 3/4" & 1" PVC see Table 352.30(B)

I will do what the HO wants, but I would like to offer him a vibration free install.
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A thin bead of latex or silicone caulk on the back side of the PVC before you put it up will stop the PVC from vibrating against the wall. Of course the conductors may still vibrate inside the PVC.
 
Speedskater said:
They pay a lot of money for that double dry-wall with green goo between the layers and maybe a flex mounting system to the framing! So lots of rooms use dummy columns, soffits or panels to hide AC outlets, can lights, A/V wiring and HVAC ducts.
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Yes, HO is using green goo and flex framing. There are no architectural embellishments to hide the recept's conduit.

iwire said:
The NEC requires a strap every 3' with 1/2", 3/4" & 1" PVC see Table 352.30(B)
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Thanks, the NEC already requires strap overkill on PVC, something I did not know because I usually throw dirt on it.

iwire said:
A thin bead of latex or silicone caulk on the back side of the PVC before you put it up will stop the PVC from vibrating against the wall. Of course the conductors may still vibrate inside the PVC.
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I like the caulking idea. So you would not recommend to the HO some type of wiremold install?
 
mdshunk said:
The Wiremold 400 is sort of the non-metallic version of 700, and Wiremold 800 is sort of the non-metallic version of 2000. Not exactly, but close for perspective in your mind's eye. Here's a list of all their non-metallic raceway/box systems: http://www.wiremold.com/publigen/perimeter/index.asp?cid=3 It's pretty comprehensive.
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Marc, I did look at the wiremold products, and I am thinking the conductors would vibrate inside the wiremold as much as the PVC. The customer is expecting dedicated PVC conduits, so unless my boss steps in, I'll run PVC.

Thanks for everyone's input
 
mdshunk said:
What are they recording, anyhow? Gnat farts?
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After reading the archived posts on recording studios, the ability to accurately record and reproduce the sotto voce yet disturbingly melodic gnat fart can be ruined by ground loops, emf, intermodulation distortion, and a bus driving down the street.
 
Speedskater said:
A little bit OT but I just saw a paper on in-wall boxes:

NRC-CNRC
Effect of Electrical Outlet
Boxes on Sound Isolation
of Gypsum Board Walls
http://irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/pubs/ctus/ctu27e.pdf
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Nice white paper, thanks.

Speedskater said:
A little bit of duck-seal should quite the wires down.
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Yeah. a couple bricks of duct seal at least!

Speedskater said:
But if they are playing loud enough to shake the wires, nobody will hear it.
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The HO told me a story about a singer who, ten years after the release of her record, heard a telephone ringing faintly in the background of her song and severed all ties to the recording engineer.
 
jeremysterling said:
Are you saying it's way overkill or that studio installs are tony?:D
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Well considering how much money he spent on all this fancy materials and the lousey job he did ( cause he did the work himself) not to mention the fact that there are two cheap charlie windows in the room and he installed an air conditioner on the wall with the conpressor right outside the window. I would say for what he needs it for its more of a pet project than anything. Definatly not worth the 30,000+ grand he spent on it. Especially with a newborn baby and the fact that he is basically a part time musician for hire.

Far be it from me to say that all recording studios are overkill as I am not an expert in this field. But Im sure they serve their purpose. All in all though I did learn a good deal about studios. Im not the proud type, I feel one can learn from anyone and this dude was a proffesional musician so he knew what he was talking about when he taked about resonace and the need for clean power for his tube amps and such. But he really should have hired a proffessional carpenter for the real work.
 
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jeremysterling said:
The HO told me a story about a singer who, ten years after the release of her record, heard a telephone ringing faintly in the background of her song and severed all ties to the recording engineer.
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Interesting tidbit:

There was a small earthquake during the filming of the original Fantasia. You can see wiggling during the Ave Maria part near the end of the movie.
 
Since we've moved on to theatrical facts-
In the original Wizard of Oz recording you can see a lighting man fall to his death in the background of one of the scenes.
 
LarryFine said:
Interesting tidbit:

There was a small earthquake during the filming of the original Fantasia. You can see wiggling during the Ave Maria part near the end of the movie.
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From the IMDB

The filming of the final "Ave Maria" sequence was plagued by mishaps. To achieve the effect of moving through the scene, several panes of painted glass were used. The whole setup was over 200 feet long, and had to be redone three times. The first time the wrong lens was placed on the camera, and the subsequent film showed not only the artwork but the workers scurrying around it. The second time around, an earthquake struck the studio, and the shot was once again scrapped. The next morning, the shot was redone, the film was shipped to the lab, processed, and couriered to the premiere in New York where it was spliced into the final print with only four hours to spare.
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