| This is by far the most asked question at | | | | cavities with a closed cell vinyl nitrile foam mat such as |
| Soundproofing America Inc. How do I soundproof my | | | | American Mat. This mat (generally ¼" thickness) |
| garage, basement, or a bedroom in my single family | | | | is adhered to the inside cavity walls as well as the |
| house or condo so my 4 piece rock band can practice | | | | studs and joists (if these areas are opened up) Keep |
| and record and not bother the neighbors. If I had a | | | | in mind that the American Mat is used to line the |
| dollar for every time I was asked this question, I would | | | | cavities only, not to fill them up. If thermal insulation is |
| be in the Bahamas right now, instead of writing this | | | | needed, use products such as rock wool, mineral wool, |
| narrative. | | | | cut wool fibers, or my favorite, Roxul. |
| Many factors need to be considered prior to beginning | | | | Roxul is a great thermal rock wool based bat type |
| your studio or practice room-soundproofing project. | | | | insulation that has great soundproofing qualities. If |
| Some of the questions you should be asking yourself | | | | thermal insulation is a requirement for the practice |
| are, what type of amplification will the band be using, | | | | room or studio, then Roxul is the way to go. |
| are the drums going to be acoustic and miked or are | | | | Now we come to a crossroads, it is time to determine |
| they digital. Are we going to be recording live late at | | | | if decoupling the walls using resilient channels or |
| night or are we going to be doing "line in" recording | | | | American Sound clips is a necessity. De coupling is |
| only? These questions and many more need to be | | | | used when impact transmission or low frequency |
| considered before the actual construction begins. | | | | noise is a factor. Impact would come primarily from the |
| If live recording and rehearsal are the plan, then | | | | drums (acoustic type) or the bass amplifier. However, |
| maximum soundproofing will be needed. The most | | | | if the band is using Marshall high powered amps (50 |
| effective way to soundproof a garage, basement, or | | | | watt Plexies with 4 X 12 cabinets for example) along |
| bedroom is to actually construct a room within a room | | | | with miked acoustic drums and an Ampeg bass |
| (see and download the booklet "Acoustics 101" this is a | | | | system, then decoupling is most likely necessary. |
| wonderful resource for the home studio builder. Their | | | | These methods and procedures will be explained in |
| ideas are solid and pertinent to and studio | | | | later narratives or can found by calling Soundproofing |
| soundproofing project. | | | | America on our toll free line. |
| The room within a room concept utilizes the sealed | | | | If decoupling were determined to be unnecessary, then |
| dead air space that is captured between the inner | | | | the next step would be to find a good barrier material |
| walls and the outer walls to help greatly with the | | | | such as American vinyl (which is a high grade mass |
| soundproofing endeavor. It is probably easiest to frame | | | | loaded vinyl barrier). This barrier could be stapled |
| the walls on the floor and then tilt them up into place | | | | directly to the studwork on a wall assembly or directly |
| thus making dry walling the outside of the walls much | | | | to the joists. This is a method that is used if cost or |
| easier. It is also highly recommended that another | | | | space constraints are factors. If the barrier material is |
| ceiling be joisted out for the room within a room, | | | | to be stapled directly to the stud or joist framing then it |
| however, this is oft times impossible due to space | | | | is essential that the seams be over lapped, caulked |
| constraints. In this case, the existing ceiling and ceiling | | | | (using OSI acoustical caulking compound) and taped |
| joists may be used as the ultimate ceiling for the studio, | | | | with either a lead tape or a heavy-duty seam tape. |
| provide that it is adequately soundproofed with | | | | These can also be had from American Soundproofing |
| materials such as the American vinyl or a combination | | | | Inc. |
| of American mat and American vinyl. I will elaborate on | | | | Once these areas are treated with the Mass Loaded |
| these materials, as we get further into this study. | | | | vinyl (MLV) then it time to decide whether or not it is |
| Once the walls are framed out and the right amount | | | | necessary to float the walls and ceiling to prevent the |
| of "Dead air space" is determined, then it is time to | | | | impact and heavy bass sounds from passing through |
| install the soundproofing | | | | the solidly barriered walls and ceiling. For more |
| The first order of business is to consider what needs | | | | information on ceiling and wall floats, please call the toll |
| to be done to the wall cavities prior to installing a | | | | free number. |
| barrier and finally the wallboard. I like to line the inside | | | | |