I gotta get my neighbors off my back

We are a three pice band starting out in the Lowell, MA area, but unfortunately can't seem to find the time to practice because my neighbors always call the cops for noise disturbance. I have a 20'x40' basement, concrete slab floor, two perpendicular slab walls, and two perpendicular half slab, half framed walls. What is the best, and least expensive, way of soundproofing to keep the neighbors off our back? I heard about using carpet padding on the cieling and walls. Does that relly work? The acoustics don't need to be great, becuase it is only for practice. I do have the possibiblity of building some framed walls around a smaller section of the basement (maybe 10'x25'). Any quick pointers would be a huge help. Scott Amos

Greetings & welcome to the site. If you haven't done so yet, take a look under the construction forum and read through the reference area at the top of the page. Lot's of good info, and will probably answer lots of questions or make you more confused :? Aaron :D

Good soundproofing isn't going to be cheap, and cheap soundproofing isn't going to be good. Carpet padding and laying mattresses up against the walls will make the room sound a little better inside, but won't keep sound from getting out. You'll most likely end up framing up around that smaller room you mentioned. If you've got neighbors who are that edgy, build a room-within-a-room and be done with it, and you won't have to worry about it anymore. The construction forum will tell you all you need to about it. The other thing you can do is get them involved just a little bit... when you get done with the room, let them know you're going to be playing down there and ask them to help you test it out by listening for it and letting you know how much they can still hear. That way they know you're trying.

Why don't you check out the UMASS Lowell campus - could you possibly use one of the three recording studios on the campus???? Maybe for cheap money or something. - Nick (from cape cod)