[Dynagroove] Re: Soundproofing????

[Will Yardley]

Orlando Rios wrote:
[this is kind of OT; i've set the Reply-To address to my own, so please
respond off list unless you think your comments will really be of
general interest to the community]

> My friend and I want to look into sound proofing his garage.  Any info
> on materials and know-how would be very helpful.  hook a brother up if
> you can. thanks :o)

this is a really difficult thing to do properly (it's also fairly
expensive). i would suggest going to the library and searching through
back issues of home recording magazines.

a few things to consider (this is kinda OT, so let's keep further
discussion off-list):

1) acoustic foam does NOT reduce the amount of sound coming in or out
by a great amount. the primary function of acoustic foam is to treat a
room, not to reduce leakage one way or the other.

2) bed foam or eggcrates are NOT acoustic foam, even though they look
similar.

3) treating a room is a lot more complex than "stick up a lot of
acoustic foam".

4) air is your enemy. sound is vibration, so if you can keep air from
getting in / out as much as possible, that will help.  windows, doors,
and other openings are the main place where sound is going to get out.

5) physical contact is also your enemy.  a well isolated studio has a
second room literally built inside the first, but with minimal physical
contact. for instance, the floor might be floated on neoprene biscuits,
and the walls would be constructed so as to have little or no contact
with the outside walls.

this is the Right Way to do things, but might require more money, time,
and effort than you are willing to expend.

6) high density materials like sheet lead and special acoustic board
(not the kind you get at home depot) are your friend.

a quick google search turned up this page:
http://homerecording.about.com/library/weekly/mprev98.htm
search for "studio construction" - there's an 8 part series.

i haven't read this, so i can't vouch for its quality.

there are some good books on this subject as well.

for specialty items, you might check out:
http://www.markertek.com/

they have acoustic foam, sheet lead, and lots of other recording /
broadcast type stuff.

-- 
William Yardley
GnuPG public key: http://infinitejazz.net/will/pgp/gpg.asc