Soundproofing a Soundstage?

Hi All, This is my first time posting here – was re-directed from the RAMPS forum. The film facilities where I'm working at as sound engineer were recently bought by bigger filmmaking company and the new owners want to build six new sound stages 30 m x 50 m large each. The best construction for the purpose would be to go with as thick as possible concrete walls but this will significant increase the construction work time and cost and is limiting somehow the total dimensions and structure of the stages. The solution is to use much lighter and versatile metallic constructions but then the sound problems come. The idea of the construction is to use heavy metal double-T elements as framework and sandwich-like metal panels made from PVC-coated galvanized sheet iron with polyurethane isolation between the metal irons used from both sides of the walls with air-gap between the panels. Now, I have shot in different metal warehouses and they sound terrible as expected but what about these new panels? - They don't ring as the usual sheet irons do. Do you have any experience with them? What if we put some mineral wool panels on the walls and ceilings and also between the metal panels in the air-gap? Will this construction (or suggest other, please) provide the needed sound proof for a sound stage? The location is in a suburb so, no big traffic noise just the production cars/trucks outside. Your advice will be highly appreciated! Regards, Ivo

Please start here: http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=7572

Hi Aaron, Thank you for the links – very nice and useful general information about recording studios and control rooms! Didn’t find anything about soundstages for shooting movies, unfortunately. Any experience, tips, suggestions or links about my particular question? Thank you, Ivo

Ivo - metal wall construction with double or triple drywall layers is the normal practice for shooting stages - the inner walls are then treated with a layer of rockwool (or equivalent) that is usually covered with a wire mesh to hold it in place. cheers john

Hi John, This is the practical answer I exactly needed! Thank you very much – great site!!! Regards, Ivo