Tips for Soundproofing Your Studio

Thanks to the constant advances in digital technology, anyone can record at home and anyone can put together their own studio. But while many settle for low-quality hardware and place it in the closet or bedroom, there is another way — make perfect soundproofing in a separate room and enjoy sound mixing and mastering! In the article, you will learn the basic details about soundproofing and tips on how to do it quickly and efficiently. Read also how to Get Sound Back On My HP laptop.

What Is Soundproofing?

So, soundproofing a room is the main stage in processing space for a studio, which allows us to contain sound waves where we want to hear them, and prevent them from spreading at our discretion outside our premises. The good news is that it works both ways: by isolating a room, you can prevent outside noise from being generated in it, but you also shield the room and prevent sounds from disturbing people outside. Find the latest sound-proofing tips here

Expert tip: if you only have one wall that is adjacent to your neighbor’s apartment, then it is tempting to soundproof only that one. However, this is useless. Remember the solid-state sound rule: if you insulate a surface without insulating other surfaces that come into contact with it and therefore transmit vibrations to it (such as other walls, floor, and ceiling), your insulation efforts will be almost nil.

Soundproofing main functions

Before getting into the home or studio soundproofing, let’s Complete roofing solutions the basic functions of isolation. Considering facts about the solid-state sound rule, the main functions include:

  • preventing the penetration of external sounds;
  • protecting neighbors from our noises;
  • absorbing or scattering sound waves;
  • avoiding the vibration of the sound barrier.

This way, the main purpose of sound insulation is the reflection of sound, and the maximum prevention of its penetration into the room. The “purer” sound, the easier it will be for an engineer to work with it later — the property of soundproofing will affect both the complexity of the job and its final quality.

Methods of Soundproofing

In general, the problem of qualitative soundproofing can be solved by several methods, which differ in their cost, efficiency, and materials. The main options:

  1. Complete soundproofing.
  2. Partial soundproofing.
  3. Source of noise soundproofing.

But keeping in mind the solid-state sound rule, only the first method is suitable for creating an excellent soundproofing studio. It`s perfect for rooms in an acoustically polluted place (for example, radio and television broadcast rooms in office buildings or a recording studio in a residential building). As a rule, soundproof structures are installed on the walls, ceiling, and table, special doors and windows with the tightest closing valves are used.

How to Soundproof a studio

For high-quality noise isolation, you need to choose the right soundproofing materials. They must absorb the noise of surfaces that have a cellular, fibrous structure. All materials are characterized by a high sound absorption coefficient. The best options that are suitable for both home and professional studio insulation:

  1. Foam rubber — the material absorbs sound up to 95%, it is quite affordable and is sold in most hardware stores. Now you can even find foam sheets on the self-adhesive membranes.
  2. Tecsound membrane — a thin layer of about 1 cm can reduce noise by up to 28 dB. Not compatible with concrete, so a special underlay is required.
  3. Isoplast — reducing noise up to 27 dB and providing additional thermal insulation. However, it has a drawback: this material is flammable.
  4. Mineral wool — noise absorption coefficient can be up to 99%. You need to choose the material with the maximum density and thickness in order to achieve an excellent result.
  5. Cork membrane — with a minimum thickness of 3 mm, such material can remove sound up to 18 dB. Ideal for small spaces with little sound pollution.

Some experts recommend combining different materials. For example, the installation of soundproofing material on the walls is carried out first with mineral wool or foam rubber, and then on the floor and ceilings, using isoplast, Tecsound, and cork membrane.

Conclusion

To summarize, soundproofing is one of the most essential steps in creating a top-notch studio. This technique will allow both to release the room from unnecessary noise, and to prevent the propagation of sound outside. It is better to carry out the complete soundproofing since only this approach will allow achieving the most “pure” sound according to the solid-state sound rule.

The modern market offers a huge amount of soundproofing materials, including foam rubber, Tecsound membrane, isoplast, mineral wool, and cork membrane. Well, the best choice would be a combination of materials — for instance, mineral wool and foam rubber or isoplast and cork membrane.

Leave a Comment