soundproofing (Full Version)

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shadevarr -> soundproofing (12/11/2006 12:19:55 PM)

I am going to be moving into a townhome and I just found out that my neighbor works at the office for the complex. I tend to play heavy at times so I need solid sound proofing. Suggestions?



PONYSEEKER -> RE: soundproofing (12/11/2006 12:36:19 PM)

Carpet samples or foam egg crate glued to plastic board sheets (very light) that are normaly used for bathroom walls and a white noise generator (basicaly a loud fan) would make for removable sound proofing.



MasterFireMaam -> RE: soundproofing (12/11/2006 12:37:25 PM)

Thick fabric and/or foam on the walls is best for soundproofing (I studied acoustics). Things that make the wall very rough, like carpet or the eggcrate foam, are good. Hanging layers of fabric and tapestries work as well. Actually, human bodies are an excellent absorber, too. ;-)

However,

You need to check with your local fire codes. Some places will not allow you to hang things bigger than x X y on the wall due to fire hazards. You could ask you neighbor about it (since they work in the office) Just tell them that sometimes you like to watch movies really loud and you don't want to disturb him/her.

Master Fire



shadevarr -> RE: soundproofing (12/11/2006 12:46:06 PM)

Thanks! I was thinking something along the lines of a large tapestry and maybe some thick curtains that I can draw close along that wall when play starts.  I thought the egg crates weren't that effective at blocking out human voices?



PONYSEEKER -> RE: soundproofing (12/11/2006 12:55:22 PM)

Carpeting is better than egg crate but the egg crate is a lot lighter and uglier.  You can purchase some cheap molding that is made out of pressed cardboard that can screw into the wall where it meets the ceiling with only a couple of screws that way its easy to remove and reattach without screwing up your walls (especially if its a lease) and you can attach sticky back velcro to the molding so you can velco the egg crates into place.  A fan or something else that produces white noise will then scatter the sound as apposed to dampening it.  In other words your neighbors would be able to hear something they just would not be able to tell what it was they were hearing.



shadevarr -> RE: soundproofing (12/11/2006 12:59:26 PM)

So between carpet on the walls, 1-2 fans and music I should be good?



PONYSEEKER -> RE: soundproofing (12/11/2006 1:05:56 PM)

Yes, but remember that its not that they wont be able to hear anything its just that they wont be able to tell what it is they are hearing.  So you might want to pick music that has a lot of base and steady rythem... the lower tones will make it past the soundproofing better to make them think its all music... without the music it will spark their curiosity too much and they will try to make an attempt at figuring out what it is you are up to.



shadevarr -> RE: soundproofing (12/11/2006 1:37:31 PM)

Good thing my scene playlist is mostly Godsmack, Disturbed and Korn then :D



Petruchio -> RE: soundproofing (12/11/2006 2:06:30 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: MasterFireMaam

(I studied acoustics)


MasterFire, listening to screams doesn't count as studying accoustics!



mistoferin -> RE: soundproofing (12/11/2006 2:45:30 PM)

If you call a recording studio they may be able to tell you where you can buy or order the acoustic tiles that they use. They would most likely be a bit more decorative and less likely to attract attention than foam, carpet or egg crates on your walls. They will probably also be less effective. Cost, however, may be an issue as they may be a bit pricier.



cjklyn -> RE: soundproofing (12/11/2006 2:55:39 PM)

In my punk days we lined the walls of our rehearsal room ( in reality the dining room) with old matresses....it worked well...but made the room so small, we were practically all sat on the drum kit!



shadevarr -> RE: soundproofing (12/11/2006 3:19:37 PM)

I understand the financial aspects so trying to balance the dollar with effectiveness and aestetics gets tricky. I looked into the tile and it would be a pain to mount it on sheet rock, kinda the same with mass loaded vinyl.



Voltare -> RE: soundproofing (12/11/2006 3:45:05 PM)

    Curtain Rods hanging from the ceiling should be a heck of a lot easier.  Use them to support plywood boards (though have the plywood support it's own weight, and use L or T supports on the base.)  Set them, maybe six inches away from your walls.

In between the plywood and the wall, take newspapers (five or six sunday papers and a slave or two's hands), wad it up, and chuck it between the plywood and the wall.hang cheap black fabric or old gothic style curtains (or whatever suits your mood - my girl would drizzle over the plain plywood, I think.)

Assuming you had to buy everything, it might cost you less than a flogger.  Around 35$.

HAVE a fire extinguisher handy!  That newspaper can be dangerous.



shadevarr -> RE: soundproofing (12/11/2006 4:26:10 PM)

hmm, that sounds interesting but I dislike additional fire hazards. Keep the suggestions coming since I am starting to get a good picture of what I want to do with that wall.



behindmirrors -> RE: soundproofing (12/11/2006 4:35:15 PM)

Some things to try (and, how we soundproofed a recording studio at home on our drywall- the foam tiles work wonders!):
http://www.soundsuckers.com/ceilingtiles.htm
http://www.soundsuckers.com/foams.htm#foams
http://www.acousticalsurfaces.com/
http://www.industrialhygieneusa.com/illbruck-sonex/acoustical-soundproofing.htm

These of course have quite an expense tacked on to them...we would see what we wanted and try to find it on ebay or through friends whenever possible.

For windows, we got really heavy velvet and made curtains- velvet to the inside, polar fleece inside, velvet outside- sandwiching the polar fleece around the velvet. Also works well as a blackout curtain.

Hope this helps, and good luck-
behindmirrors.



Dominantshore -> RE: soundproofing (12/11/2006 9:17:20 PM)

Wanted to post a quick thanks for the sound proofing Ideas.  I have started the construction of a dungeon in my home and really don't care to involved the neighbors when its put into use LOL :P So this was very helpful as it was on my mind when mulling over the asthetics as well as acoustics
Thanks
Craig



emdoub -> RE: soundproofing (12/12/2006 12:03:47 AM)

For sound damping, the egg cartons work really well.  But you're not trying to damp the sound - you wanna kill it.

As in any insulation, multiple barriers are the trick.  A layer of styrofoam sheet, a layer of polyurethane, a layer of cotton batting, a layer of cardboard, a layer of egg carton backs, a layer of thick tapestry - all together, probably about 1-1/2", but should stop most sounds, and look like a tapestry-covered wall. 

Remember what sound is - shock waves through air.  If you can break those waves up, you can kill the sound.  Fiberglass insulation works pretty well, too.

OTOH, you can tell the neighbor that you two like noisy games on occasion, and ask them to let you know if you're too loud - it may save you a complaint if a test run doesn't go as well as it should.

Midnight Writer



Voltare -> RE: soundproofing (12/12/2006 2:24:04 PM)

Midnight Writer's exactly right - the more layers, the better.  That's why I suggested fabric, plywood, and newspaper.  Music will help distort what they hear (as mentioned.)

Ballgags might help a bit, depending on if your partner is a screamer or not. 

Upholstery fabric stapled on the walls might do the trick, as would a roll of fire resistant insulation material covered by said curtains.

A nice christmas card with twenty bucks might go a long ways too.



shadevarr -> RE: soundproofing (12/12/2006 3:05:03 PM)

Yeah, I was thinking of some foam against the sheetrock, covered by plywood and then a very big tapestry with drapes that I can close over it to disrupt the sound more and yes, she does get quite loud but that is expected from an opera singer.



Zensee -> RE: soundproofing (12/12/2006 7:34:54 PM)

Is it a common wall you are trying to sound proof or one adjoining a public space like a hallway? Like MW says, trapping the sound behind a baffle will deaden the room but the sound can still escape your place. To prevent that you ideally need an absorbent or reflective surface which extends to and seals against the ceiling, floor and adjoining walls, as a lot of sound can simply get around the airgaps along the edge (crack open a window and see how much difference that makes to the volume and clarity of the sound on the other side).

If hall noise is your main concern a cheaper compromise might be to make a baffle box that seals tightly over the entry door, as that is where the majority of the identifiable sounds escape. Combined with camouflage (music or slasher movies) and diversion (excuses) these may be enough to affordably improve your privacy.

Z.



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