What specific materials do i need to soundproof my home recording studio?
Author: admin Category: Home Studio Soundproofing
It all depends on your budget and how elaborate you want to get. Professional studios spend a lot of money on soundproofing.
There are two purpoese of soundproofing 1) to inside sounds from getting outside the studio 2) to keep outside sounds from entering the studio. Most studios try to accomplish both, since drums and loud amps can disturb neighbors at the musicians most creative moments, and nobody wants the sounds of yelling neighbors, sirens, pounding on doors, megaphones from angry cops, etc. from getting into recordings.
Seriously… A couple of cost-effective methods would work. There is the "building within a building" which works well. Build an actual room inside your garage using sheetrock on both sides of the walls with insulation in the center. This is fairly effective most of the time. To ensure that sound doesn’t make it through via "coupling," make 2×6 walls (using 2×6s at the ends) and stagger 2×4s with the studs in-between - using thicker insulation than as well. This method works wonders and is often used between apartments to block sounds.
Another way, is to double up on sheetrock, maybe putting some soft material in-between the layers.
Now the best (and most expensive) methods are using sound blocking and absorbing materials like auralex. There is this stuff called sheetbloc or something like that and it is supposed to have sound-blocking properties that exceed lead foil (which, by the way is excellent at blocking sound). I haven’t tried it because of cost.
Beyond that, I have heard of lots of creative ways to record. I’ve known people to use closets (full of clothes) as vocal booths. The bathroom is excellent for recording electric guitars because of the roomy sound. Full basements are naturally soundproof (except to the upstairs rooms). Don’t try egg cartons - they don’t work. Staggered random layers of wood is effective for cutting standing waves. Stacked cardboard works also, but then you have a fire hazard. Stay away from materials that are fire hazards. The list could go on. Personally I doubled up on my outside walls, using Hardirock on the outside layer of my studio. I have used office panels to absorb sounds inside the studio. You can usually find those at military or government surplus places and used office furniture stores (sometimes even at yard sales). Those do an excellent job. It’s all kind of hit or miss though. Good luck and have fun, but don’t expect it to sound like the pro studios. Those guys spend hundreds of thousands on soundproofing.
February 16th, 2010
insert foam inbetween the walls to absorb the sound waves also carpet your walls to deaden the sound there to begin with
References :
February 16th, 2010
There are alot of manufactures out there but this company is a place to start.
Soundproofing a room can be difficult without the right materials and Knowhow.
This company can show you what you need from basic soundproofing to complex
Good Luck
References :
http://quietsolution.com/index.html
http://quietsolution.com/html/quietrock.html
February 16th, 2010
It all depends on your budget and how elaborate you want to get. Professional studios spend a lot of money on soundproofing.
There are two purpoese of soundproofing 1) to inside sounds from getting outside the studio 2) to keep outside sounds from entering the studio. Most studios try to accomplish both, since drums and loud amps can disturb neighbors at the musicians most creative moments, and nobody wants the sounds of yelling neighbors, sirens, pounding on doors, megaphones from angry cops, etc. from getting into recordings.
Seriously… A couple of cost-effective methods would work. There is the "building within a building" which works well. Build an actual room inside your garage using sheetrock on both sides of the walls with insulation in the center. This is fairly effective most of the time. To ensure that sound doesn’t make it through via "coupling," make 2×6 walls (using 2×6s at the ends) and stagger 2×4s with the studs in-between - using thicker insulation than as well. This method works wonders and is often used between apartments to block sounds.
Another way, is to double up on sheetrock, maybe putting some soft material in-between the layers.
Now the best (and most expensive) methods are using sound blocking and absorbing materials like auralex. There is this stuff called sheetbloc or something like that and it is supposed to have sound-blocking properties that exceed lead foil (which, by the way is excellent at blocking sound). I haven’t tried it because of cost.
Beyond that, I have heard of lots of creative ways to record. I’ve known people to use closets (full of clothes) as vocal booths. The bathroom is excellent for recording electric guitars because of the roomy sound. Full basements are naturally soundproof (except to the upstairs rooms). Don’t try egg cartons - they don’t work. Staggered random layers of wood is effective for cutting standing waves. Stacked cardboard works also, but then you have a fire hazard. Stay away from materials that are fire hazards. The list could go on. Personally I doubled up on my outside walls, using Hardirock on the outside layer of my studio. I have used office panels to absorb sounds inside the studio. You can usually find those at military or government surplus places and used office furniture stores (sometimes even at yard sales). Those do an excellent job. It’s all kind of hit or miss though. Good luck and have fun, but don’t expect it to sound like the pro studios. Those guys spend hundreds of thousands on soundproofing.
References :