By Serene Luo

WHEN legal executive Alawn Koh was scouting for a flat with his wife three years ago, he stated two conditions - it must have enough space for children and to accommodate his music.

The 32-year-old has not yet been given the former - but he has fulfilled the dream of installing his own music studio at his five-room point-block flat in Bedok South, where he writes and records music.

Though no one keeps track of how many studios there are in HDB flats, there is a steady following within online forums. Some audiophiles spend tens of thousands of dollars to build their own mini studios for jamming or recording at their abodes.

Technology has made such additions much more wallet-friendly.

Producer and mix engineer Joel Chia, 24, who converted an unused bedroom in his Hougang HUDC flat into a professional-looking studio for $30,000, said audio equipment manufacturers have started catering to low- to mid-range consumers-turned-producers since the early 2000s.

But not all welcome the home studios. Mr Koh had to cease his jamming sessions when his new neighbour downstairs complained about the noise levels.

'I went to do a sound test there, by standing in her flat and asking my wife to crank up the volume upstairs. I couldn't hear much, but I guess she has sensitive ears,' he said.

Corporate communications executive Seng Woei Yuan, 31, who set up a studio in his Bukit Batok executive apartment, said he has not received any complaints yet, but has thought of a way to pacify the neighbours if they do cause a rumble.

'I'll wake up early and buy them roti prata for breakfast, and try to explain to them.'

Passionate about his music, Mr Seng used to record tracks for his band's album by using his master bedroom and adjoining toilet as a makeshift studio.

'My bandmates played in the bedroom, and I trailed the wires under the toilet door so I could listen to what was being recorded by the microphones,' he said.

He finally gave up the idea because the toilet got too stuffy to stay inside for long periods, he added. He then converted the study in his marital home into his present studio.

To keep costs down, most studio owners-to-be do their own research and even try some DIY.

One wall of Mr Koh's room is covered with handmade sound absorbers made from felt and picture frames bought from furniture store Ikea.

'The professionals will laugh at me,' he said with a laugh, referring to his do-it-yourself techniques. 'But it works so far.'

And to make sure noise is kept to a minimum, he even purchased heavy double doors at industrial estates.

When the doors are tightly shut, almost all the music is blocked out - in fact, the family's clock chimes can still be heard over the muffled beats.

Former civil servant Willy Tan, 31, who often goes over to Mr Seng's flat to play and record as part of the same band, said it makes financial sense to build a home studio.

'It would have cost a lot renting a studio outside, considering multiple takes and all. This way, we own the equipment too.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times.