How Much Isolation Can One Expect?

Construction is finished. My vertical walls are screwed right to my joists (didn't know about iso-clips back when I did it). I do however have double layer rock, green glue and isomax clips in the ceiling. My isolation between live room and upstairs is WAY better than it "was". I can NOT hear talking upstairs or even my young kids fighting with each other! But what I CAN hear, is someone pounding on a floor tom - while I'm upstairs (right above the pounding drum). But I'm not sure just HOW much isolation one can get from double rock, green glue, isomax clips and R19 insulation - between 8" joists and thin burbur upstairs. My isolation between control/live rooms is even better. Really better! While someone pounds on that same floor tom, I can have a normal conversation (at NORMAL speaking levels). I can hear the drum - no question, but it's quiet enough that the signal coming from the monitors will be louder than the bleed-through noise. I'm blaming any bleed-through on the sliding glass doors. They're from a salvage yard, pretty old and the weather stripping seems a little worn. Am I getting correct or close to correct results? Anyone else have any test-info they'd like to share? I haven't seen too many posts on this... (although I haven't really searched :roll: )

This is what I have set my level of expectation on for the room I am building now. In general my room (upon completion) is 2 layers 5/8, green glue all around, double framed 2x4 wall assembly with 2 layers 5/8 on both sides. R30 in all of ceiling. r19 in all walls. 10x12' of independantly framed ceiling, 10x12' of ISO clip w/furring channel ceiling, 3, ~18x24'' (basement) windows covered with doors made from mdf & 2 layers w/glue.. 1 3x6.5' doorway. I'm away from my recorded readings done through my radio shack thing-a-ma-bob... But, I too will be doing the floor tom test. Bass guitar at playing level And full band rehearsal. Now, I am hopeful that I will increase the TL through some of th elower frequencies, but I think the 150-1500 frequency range, and I suspect that the low end sounds you are hearing upstairs will remain somewhat strong... Did you do a baseline test prior to construction? Or even just before putting up the ceiling? That's the sort of thing that can help you quantify this. - I will mark this thread to post my results after completion as a crossref.. how was your "vacation" anyway? efficient construction?

"your isolation is only as strong as your weakest point." I'd go check those sliding doors and make sure they're shutting tight and are isolating as much as the rest of the wall. I found it a lot easier to install traditional doors and adding mass or just buying the insanly heavy ones that I currently got and just re-install the rubber seal. Airtight and big mass... My walls are 2 layer 13mm gypsum with noisekiller (GG), 90mm stud with 90mm insulation. All is buildt on a floated wooden deck, works like a charm. The second wall is 120mm concrete with an additional airtight door, can't hear much of anything going through that, maybe some really low thump from the kickdrum, it's barely audible and definitely not heard during sessions. Couldn't have done it without help from the guys at this forum.. a :arrow:

Hey Brad, Do you have double layers of sheetrock and GG on your walls? Or just your ceiling?

TomM wrote:

Hey Brad, Do you have double layers of sheetrock and GG on your walls? Or just your ceiling?

Just ceiling and "sliding-glass-doors" wall.

I am getting pretty good isolation between the live room and the control room, even with my wimpy doors that have the windows in them. I don't have any numbers to share (yet), but the isolation is much better than I expected, and as you have mentioned, I can hold a "normal", quiet conversation when someone is wailing away on the drums on the other side of the glass. I can also take my son's HUGE boom box, with the bass enhancement button pushed, and crank it up to the point of hurting my ears, and I cannot hear it AT ALL between the live an control rooms!!! Pretty cool!!!

doublehelix wrote:

I cannot hear it AT ALL between the live an control rooms!!! Pretty cool!!!

(*nudge-nudge*) See... All that hard work WAS worth it, aye?

BradJacob wrote:

doublehelix wrote:

I cannot hear it AT ALL between the live an control rooms!!! Pretty cool!!!

(*nudge-nudge*) See... All that hard work WAS worth it, aye?

Well... I suppose! ;) Problem is, while I have been working away busting my butt, colleagues of mine are happily recording away in their studios. I am really at the busting point, which I am sure you can relate to. I need to get this beast finished so I can push the little red button again! Hats off to you my friend for getting your place completed. Still waiting for the pictures however... :)

doublehelix wrote:

Hats off to you my friend for getting your place completed. Still waiting for the pictures however... :)

I have one side of my rack all set up - and I was getting sounds just a little while ago. My ADATs are in place and I need to test my Pro Tools later today. Tomorrow, I have to bring the other rack up online and then clean up. Practice (band) is Thursday, so like the guys on these DIY shows - I have a DEADLINE of this Thursday night. Pix will up shortly. Another couple days.

For me - (an update after paging through the threads in the last few weeks..) the isolation has been more than I expect. I have not taken readings because I've opted to do work instead, but I have music playing down there and I can barely make out the low frequencies at performance volume.