Sound, Sound, Sound

[MRhet]

I know that these kinds of things have been discussed before (probably lots of time -- at least on the old board). I don't want people to feel as if they need to write lots of stuff they've written before -- but perhaps some good references and a comment or two.

I'm fortunate that it looks as if I will have a house I can use for practice and rehearsal. Right now, I have band rehearsal space elsewhere (though we maybe losing that in the next year). But I have no good place for personal practice.

Anyway, this house will be able to be used for both. I can change stuff -- but I don't think I will get the wife's permission to do crazy stuff.

I want to mask the sound for two reasons:

1. Not disturb the neighbors --(I'm the neighbor on one side -- but the other side is about 50 feet away or so.)
2. Not advertise instruments to the ne'erdowells

Reading stuff online gets pretty confusing fast because everyone has a different opinion and they are often contradictory.

Again -- don't feel the need to write a book -- but if I had some good references, or a couple of good ideas -- that would be great.

Thanks,

m

[moose]

There can't be different opinions, because only one thing works with soundproofing: the combination of mass with air gaps. That's it. It doesn't matter what other opinions there are. You can't do it with egg crates, old carpets, odd scraps of wood, or anything else - anyone who says you can is a clown.

You have to figure out:

- where your nearest neighbours are (how much air separates you);
- how the sound reaches them (airborne, transmission through floor and walls);
- what reduction in volume you need (which will depend on when you want to play, ambient volume outside at those times, and you should also have a conversation with the neighbour too);
- what your budget is.

Soundproofing isn't cheap and it isn't easy. Getting serious reduction is so "not cheap" it will make your eyes water.

The basic rule is room-within-a-room, with the correct materials and construction techniques. You can't cut corners. You will need to treat doors (you may need to install double doors) and windows, plug every gap (behind electrical sockets, around pipes, everywhere). You can spend $10K on materials but if you don't do it properly and take time to plug the gaps, you may as well not have bothered. Figure on losing up to 18" on each dimension.

If you want to play loud at 3am, be prepared for some serious expense.

[MRhet]

Yea -- I guess the opinions come into conflict when they talk about how to do those things.

We won't be playing at 3:00 am, so not worried about that. But we would play in the evening -- we would normally play until 11 or so.

I could potentially do a room in a room (and I understand the reasons for that) -- though the wife would require some serious payback, and the space isn't huge as it is.

I've read about doubling up on drywall with green glue in between -- that struck me as interesting, but probably better suited to reducing the noise from a loud stereo than drumming.

I don't mind spending some money (within reason) -- but I can't make the house into a studio.

[moose]

I've read about doubling up on drywall with green glue in between -- that struck me as interesting, but probably better suited to reducing the noise from a loud stereo than drumming.

Yes, that works for most people's home theatre needs. A drum practice room will need more. It's a rhythmic (one hopes!) pounding sound with masses of low end that is far more annoying than listening to Saving Private Ryan with the volume at 11.

I don't mind spending some money (within reason) -- but I can't make the house into a studio.

This is why the other questions are important. You may find that the combination of distance to the neighbour, your hours, and the level of ambient noise and the setup (maybe there's no window or if there is one it doesn't face the neighbour, maybe the construction is brick and breeze rather than wood) is such that only -20 or -30dB will be enough to get you to a level that keeps everyone sweet. That's easier and cheaper to achieve than needing -50dB or even -70dB. See if you can borrow or rent a SPL meter.

Basically, you need to figure out where you are now before you can plan where you need to be.

[chris perra]

Check out rigid fiberglass,.. if you completely cover your walls and ceiling with it, doubling up in the corners, you'll get the most treatment without massive construction...The main thing is the low frequency reduction you need, and rigid fiberglass does a great job.

[moose]

Rigid fiberglass is for sound treatment, not soundproofing, isn't it? Bass traps, acoustic panels and the like. Not the same thing at all.

[chris perra]

If you get 2 inch thick panels and cover the walls completely it will work pretty well for bass reduction.. It is primarily a treatment product but It'll be the best thing you can do without room inside a room or double drywall/green glue action.. Of course construction methods would be the best to do but if you can't lose the space or don't want to do construction It's an option..

[Julián Fernández]

Sorry but no, rigid fiberglass won´t help on sound leakage problems...
The only solution is adding MASS (which is most cases is more layers of gypsum or wood).
Spending a lot of money on OC703 just to find that you´re almost where you started (besides having a really dead sounding room) is not a good scenario.
btw, 2" panels are not considered "bass traps" but broadband absorbers...

Check www.johnlsayers.com for more info!

[Josiah]

imo its pretty pointless to try and retro an existing domestic room... but..

are you talking about a basement or above ground room? does the room have windows? a basement is doable, above ground at best your just going to be treating the room and knocking the sound down a notch or two - but by all means it will be audible outside. if you have a window, build a "box" to plug it when your playing for instance.

bout the most you can hope to achieve is knock the higher end out and deaden the room as much as possible. acoustic panels, foam, etc can do wonders for that. but as mentioned "sound proofing" requires mass, air gaps, and really an entirely different wall construction then you see in houses.

things like hanging heavy blankets on the walls are great, both for the immediate frequency absorption and the air gap between the wall. though the effect is going to be more noticeable inside the room then the results outside the house. get the drumset off the ground, sound loves to travel via contact, some decent pallets and carpet will get you going on that for the cheap.

read up on your local sound ordinance laws, hopefully you arent moving into an HOA area as well.

ive successfully had a drum room in 2 houses in dense urban area's without issue just treating the room

[chris perra]

I agree, construction is the best way to go,.. But without construction there's only a few options,.. rigid fiberglass is one of them that does reduce sound quite well,.. It's not the same level as air gaps, resilient channeling, room inside a room construction,.. But to say it would leave you almost where you started is not accurate...