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Soundproofing
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 5:30 pm
by stubby
I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this kind of thing but I thought, given the people that inhabit this forum, there might be somebody who could give me some technical advice on how to soundproof a room. I am building one in my basement. I've researched it a fair bit and think I know what I'm going to do but I thought it wouldn't hurt to pick the brains of somebody that has actually done it. If you know, and you're willing to share, reply to me off-list. Thanks.
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 5:46 pm
by jps
That's a pretty major subject. How do you plan on doing it given the research you have done so far?
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:27 pm
by jwr2
one way to build a sound proof room is to build 2 walls close together ... finish the outside surface with drywall and stagger the studs and snake insulation in the cavity ... the basic concept is a sound break ... sort of like a thermal break ... 2 things conduct sound through a wall air and structure ... the insluation stops the air from carrying sound and the staggered studs stop the structure from transmitting sound ...
Concrete works good for stopping sound except for impact sound ...
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:29 pm
by blackdog
If there is one place i know that won't be quiet about the topic of soundproofing and the such, it is this site:
http://homerecording.com/bbs/forumdisplay.php?f=20
If you register you can use the Search function, and there is endless information, and tons of people who make it their passion.
Good Luck!
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 7:05 pm
by stubby
I'm putting the room in a concrete foundationed basement. Two walls are foundation and the other two are internal walls.
I have put up 2 X 4 studs and I will then be packing these with a sound insulation (Roxul). On the studs, I intend to put a perpindicular channeling, which will create about a 1/4" inch dead air space. I was then going to apply two layers of drywall, with acoustic sealant on the seams for the second layer. I intend to do this on all four walls and the ceiling. On the floor, I am going to use a floating subfloor, then a finished floor on top (the floor is poured concrete).
I'm not looking to make it 100% soundproof. I'm a night owl and I often pay late at night. I don't want to disturb everyone in the house so I'd like a space that cuts most of the sound. Also, I do a little home recording-mostly sound clips to exchnage with bandmates in different cities but it'd be good to get a quieter room. And, I have a new guitar coming soon that will want to have its say, as loudly as it wants....
Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 8:12 pm
by dean712
Bill, you have email.
For the others, the most important single thing I have seen work is mass of drywall. Go with 5/8" layers instead of 3/8". It's a ***** to get in overhead, but it does the trick. The Steel S Channels are useful. The insulation is probably overrated. You can accomplish what you're targeting. Good luck!
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 9:31 am
by kevin
I did a lot of soundproofing in one room of my house. I used Auralex products -- including U-boats and SheetBlok. It's working very well. Auralex's "Acoustics 101" site is very informative and goes into great detail about how to achieve good sound control.
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 2:01 pm
by jps
There is a difference between sound proofing and sound control. Auralex products are for the latter.
Bill,
It looks like you have a sound plan for your room!
I'll keep quiet now, thanks.
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 4:00 pm
by stubby
Jeffrey - The sound puns in your posting had me howling!
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 6:57 pm
by kevin
Jeffrey,
I beg to differ. Auralex FOAM products are for sound control, but that's not all they sell. Take a look at the items I mentioned -- U-Boats and SheetBlok, and throw in some RC-8 (something I used but didn't mention before) -- then come back here and see if you can still tell me that I don't know what I'm talking about. Believe me, this is something that I researched for years and spent a lot of money and time on. If I had meant to say that I sound controlled my room I would have WRITTEN "sound controlled." My first sentance used the word "soundproofing" and I meant it. I was talking about Auralex's sound PROOFING products. U-Boats, SheetBlok, and RC-8 are all used to soundPROOF a room.
After I finished sound PROOFING my room using RC-8, SheetBlok, and U-Boats, I then sound controlled my room using diffractive and absorbative products such as T-Fusors, MetroFusors, foam wedges and LENRDs.
Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2005 7:16 pm
by kevin
One thing to also note is that soundproofing is sometimes technically referred to as "acoustical isolation".
Here are a few links to products I mentioned, all designed to improve acoustical isolation:
Discussion of the use of Resilient Channel (RC-8)
RC-8 product description
Sheetblok Sound Barrier
U-Boat Floor Floaters
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 2:20 am
by jps
Okay Kevin,
I was only familiar with the usual stuff you see advertized, the foam and that kind of stuff for control.
Now, lay off the booze!
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 3:00 am
by kevin
No booze. Just tired. Sorry if I got a bit harsh. I just knew all the products and work I did to control sound transmission in my room, so I was very sure of my statement.
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 2:32 pm
by jps
Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2005 4:51 pm
by doctorwho
According to McMaster-Carr (
http://www.mcmaster.com then search on "sound insulation"):
Sound is transmitted by pressure waves that move through the air in all directions. Reduce sound by using absorbers, barriers, absorber/barrier combinations, or dampers. These materials absorb or reflect sound and undesirable noises.
Absorbers reduce sound waves and convert them into heat energy. Use absorbers in areas that have hard, reflective surfaces. Most of the absorbers we offer are made of open-celled foam or dense fiber materials.
The average amount of sound absorbed by a material is represented by the Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) . The higher the NRC value, the more efficiently the material absorbs sound. A material with an NRC of 1 is the most sound-absorbing material you can get. NRC is calculated during testing in an acoustical laboratory.
Barriers reduce sound by blocking sound wave transmission and reflecting sound waves back to the source. Use barriers in passageways to reduce sound transmission to surrounding areas or to divide an open area. Barriers should be made of materials that are dense, nonvibrating, nonporous, and nonfibrous such as vinyl.
A barrier's ability to reflect sound back toward the source is represented by the Sound Transmission Loss (STL) . The STL is the difference between the sound level striking the barrier and the level of sound transmitted through the material. So the higher the STL, the better the barrier performs.
Absorber/barrier combinations give you the advantage of two noise-control products. Sound waves pass through the absorber where they are converted into heat energy. Any sound waves that then hit the barrier reenter the absorber which converts those remaining sound waves into heat energy.
Dampers reduce sound caused by vibrating surfaces. The damper material flexes slightly to convert vibration into heat energy so noise is deadened. Usually made of elastomer materials such as vinyl or PVC, damping materials are applied directly to vibrating surfaces such as ducts and mechanical equipment housings.
A damper's ability to reduce vibration is represented by the Damping Loss Factor (DLF) . The higher the DLF, the more the damping material reduces vibration and sound.
One other thing to remember is that sound energy decreases with the cube of the distance from the source (r3).
