Jammin Studio - Minimum Standards

[Elias]

Re: Boutique studios

Is that you, Sanjay? Yeah...Soundmix is a really condusive and nice environment for us (speaking on behalf of my band, LGF)...be it working on originals or an intensive gig practice :smt023 I'm sure the Fatskunks would agree on that too

So far, I've never seen Darren in a foul mood or something...you guys always come with smiles on your faces *lol* But really, the mixing and cd-burning services are life-savers when it comes to analysing our playing!

Kudos to Soundmix and every studio islandwide that gives everyone their own piece of haven to pursue their passion :smt038

 

[ChanMin]

sound mix is great!!
one suggestion.

can you guys please upgrade the staircase leading to your studio into an ESCALATOR thank you.
:twisted:

 

[Elias]

HAHAHA! Good idea! Can throw is a winebar in there while at it artyman:
Now I think Darren's gonna be in a foul mood... :lol:

 

[mikemann]

What kind of sound proofing for a mall room that cost $15K???

Actually, I have seen HDB flat room with the works sound-proofing done up and super heavey double layer door. Costed the owner S$40K to do that.

Best part is that you do not see anything special with the room other than it's fully partitioned up in carpeted walls.

 

[fluzzeee]

$40k 8O 8O realli alot!!! so much!!! it hard to believe.. i rather buy carpet and fix my room myself.. save money.. $40k can open a jamming centre.. with the very basic need.,

:twisted:

 

[mikemann]

It's not so simple. Its the things you can't see which cost the bulk of the money.

Lets go to the walls, there are at least 3 layers, about 1ft thick. Top layer is carpet, second layer is semi porus partition, followed by an air pocket, then rockwool to the solid partition (this is just an example, the pros could do it differently).

Then the flooring, also have about 3layers or more. Top carpet, then maybe solid wood, then a buffer (sponge like) layer then the concrete. For the drums you need a raised platform, which may involve a sandbag layer for thud absorbtion.

Ceiling could be some matierial to diffuse the sound bounce.

Then the door is special too, not to mention the rubber air tight lining. And the very thick door frame.

Yeah, the above is just a jist of what could be a full setup. I am just speculating on what is involved, the pros have their own secret formula to do it. S$40K is actually quite modest already.

 

[mikemann]

Yeah one more thing. Material costs could be just 25-40% of total cost. It's the workmanship involved. These kind of things you don't just call any chap pa lang construction worker to bang bang together. There is technology and craftsmanship involved, just like that thousands dollar guitar which ends up in your hand as a work of art.

 

[wangdexian]

Wah lau eh... this guy if kena HDB "old building tearing down exercise" darned heart pain...

Anyway... I wouldn't mind paying for great service and top notch equipment but what really annoyed me was the jam studio at Jurong East... really bad service like really cannot be bothered sia.... we reach the studio... she like see us liao... purposely lock the door... LIKE WHAT SIA... we first time go there already kanna until like don't know what hit us... then when she let us in... cannot be bothered again... leave us waiting... give us black face all the while we were being corteous and never rude... SUPER DUPER bad service. haiz.

 

[BlackMoo]

Well wee lee jamming studio isn't really that friendly either. Me and my band went there and the old uncle kept staring as if we owed him money. Lol.

 

[fluzzeee]

the bedok jamming centre better.. can eat mee watch tee bee.. sit and relax.. lo :lol: :lol:

 

[BlackMoo]

REELI!!! Where.... I wanna slurp on noodles while playing sandman.

 

[Grain]

g

Anyway... I wouldn't mind paying for great service and top notch equipment but what really annoyed me was the jam studio at Jurong East...

Aiyah.....!!! u mean Seng Chai.....
Expensive, lousy service yet ppl still go.
that place hv been surviving 4 almost 20yrs now. Then N Now, still e' same...
Roland Jazz Chorus n such...hahahhha
lucky for them, they r e onli studio/jammin plc in the west.
dats y they can afford to be damn f#%#%#in stuck up.
we'll see how much longer they'll reign in the west. heheeheheeh.....

back in the 90s, all songs metal n anything also can, then they got richer, u onli play songs they allow. metal, hardcore all cannot. they oredi 4gotten, that most ppl that jam there or used 2 jamm there, plays songs from Metallica to Slayer. but again all that was back in the 90s.

 

[mulyadi]

i agree with Mikemann. Even back in Indonesia, a medium-grade soundproofing costs quite a bit, and that is, considering that the workmanship and materials there are comparatively cheaper to that of singapore's.

Soundproofing a small room is not really worth it, as the soundproofing of the wall will be almost 1 feet thick, plus the need to raise a platform for the drumset, and moreover, the replacement door and the door lining itself. By the time you're done, you'll be left with an even smaller room. Unless you're intending to watch a movie with the volumes all up, without complains, then that'll be 'ergonomic' enough to move about. Yupz.

Actually, setting up a studio really costs a pinch. Just went jamming today, at G77, and their studio's considered one of the newest around, and they already began to have some of their stuff 'spoilt'...even for me, i heart pain.

Most of us want a big amp at jamming studios, 2pc 100 watt 1/2 stacks (4x12), good bass amp, good keyboard, good pa system, good this good that. When you really calculate, i think the good projection for breaking even will be around 1 year, considering the replacement you'll need, and stuff. Doesn't come cheap.

 

[gordonzz]

REELI!!! Where.... I wanna slurp on noodles while playing sandman.

no lah.. he meant the uncle there..sit at the counter eat noodles.. lol.. shiok

anyway.. i dont really like wee lee though.. be it aljunied or bedok.. bedok okay la.. maybe i go for many years oredy.. sort of noe the uncle there so quite okay.. okay with it lah.. but the amps.. PA.. etc.. sucks sia.. if u nv bring ur own guitar go.. dont jam better :lol:

aljunied the stuffs is way better.. i like the laney amp though but the uncle sibei irritating... the PA system nv on volume.. no sound from mic only.. i switch it on.... he stare stare outside machiam i doing what ..den i go stare at him back with the 'not happy wan fight' look :evil: :evil:

going mikeman's studio today :lol: my drummer booked already :lol:

 

[Grain]

dfghdf

sorry to say Wee Lee, seng chai, Boon n all the establishd studios, the ppl there sure can be damn stuck up cos no matter what, ppl still jam at their plc. and they dont care cos they monopolised all the music rental industries here.

wat to do...

 

[SoundMixPro]

Thank you...

Thank you Sir. I really do appreciate the last part about respect for the studio.

Hi guys,

Yes....yes.....I do see all the WANTS list..... Big space, good equipments, friendly operators, cool aircon, fresh smell, accessable location....blah...blah..

Firstly, I have to tell you this, it's very very simple.....ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY FOR IT?????? I'm not talking about $15/hr or $18/hr. I am talking about $30/hr to $50/hr..... IF YOU REALLY WANT BOUTIQUE JAMMING STUDIO>>>>>>YOU GOTTA PAY FOR IT!!!!

Let us talk about a simple analogy. You go to the hawker center, basic sanitation standards, no air con, minimum service standards met (thank God for strict SG standards). You can still get a GOOD tasting meal including drinks for $5/= or less (eg. char kuay teow + fresh sugar cane juice).
You go to a mid class resturant, yes better surroundings and service, but you spend $50/= for still the same (ie. A GOOD MEAL)
You go to a high class resturant, 5star surroundings and service, but you spend $150-$300/= for the still the same (ie. A GOOD MEAL).

You can use the same relation between having a meal and a jam session.

So my contribution is this, be very grateful to the people who are providing Jamming studios in singapore, because they should be charging between $25-30/hr for the current standards you are having for at $15-$18/hr.

Heehee......not to mentions people who charge even cheaper (hint...hint...) and provide the same level of standards. We are mainly doing it for our passion in fostering local music upbringing. If not, it's really not worth the money made.

I shall not dwell into the operator grouse on nightmare customers and never ending bills.

So please respect your jamming place by being On-time, care for equipments, don't over-crank or anyhow whack, have simple discipline in the studio. No operator will stop their customers from having a good time, cause a happy customer is a returning customer. But there is a line to be drawn between having a good time and horse playing around.

Regards,
Mike
Mikemann Music Studio
(Still cheapest starting $8/hr)

 

[mikemann]

Re: Thank you...

Thank you Sir. I really do appreciate the last part about respect for the studio.

Hi,

Cheers mate. I also studio operator what. So I understand too.....heehee....

Actually after a while you know how to differentiate what kind of customers you are having (age group related).

If you need anything fixed just look me up, I'd be glad to help you check it out.

Regards,
Mike

 

[thor666]

i have to agree on the part about respect for the studio.

that day went garage studios for jamming... my drummer found the 2 cymbals - hihat and ride cymbal - both had major cracks. (about 7cm breakage from the end) They couldn't be played properly or sound nicely anymore.

the owner was so pissed off. apparently a metal band before that had done the job. the previous drummer's drumming was apparently atrocious because the cymbals had been in working condition before that

i feel sorry for the owners at garage because they are one of those that truly open a studio just for the passion... don't think they've broken even all this while... and they gotta cough up money to cover for damages? pretty tough on them.

 

[shred5]

A funny line from a studio owner:

"Guitarist nowadays, they like to turn the volume knob all the way until 11 even though there's none!!"

Hmmpphh.. Something to ponder..

 

[felfirez]

Hey. I think my band and I saw that broken cymbal too. We recently jammed there. Kinda sad, really. Garage's a nice place to jam and da guys there are cool.

While I was working at Alvron studios, a guy there told me that he once caught this fella whacking the drum's cymbal with the mic! 8O Like what the hell man?! Some even tried to steal stuffs from the studio, eg. Guitar straps, stuffs lying around the studio, even a damn screwdriver. Talk abt maintaining. :?

Then there's another thing. Newcommers. I caught a guy plugging the bass guitar into a guitar amp before! Luckily he had not started playing. Had he started... :roll:

If all the studios in SG increase their rental price to $20/hr, then it's totally understandable. But reallity its hard to do that as majority of jammers are teens, still schooling, using pocket money for jamming sessions. If u ask me, I think da guys running these studios are most understanding when comes to their customer's needs. And for that they get my utmost respect. :wink:

Where would raw music be without them? Kbox?