Okay, this is my first post here. I’ve read quite a bit of the stuff on the REFERENCE sticky as well as the basic explanation of terms used. Here’s the situation (and I’m sorry if I have to be a bit ambiguous about some of the details, but certain things aren’t known yet):
I teach at a university and, after many years of trying to get a space for a recording studio, some has finally been allocated. The performance room will be about 17 X 15, and there will be a control room that’s about 10 X 15. We can probably shave a couple feet off the width of the control room to make the length of the performance area 19 X 15 (and then the control room would be about 8 X 15).
The height of the ceiling is unclear. This is because the second floor is about 18 feet above the first floor (and we’re on the first floor), but the building is a library that was renovated to be an academic building (classrooms and offices) about two decades ago so the ceilings on both floors were set at 9 feet with drop acoustical tile ceilings. We know we will be able to go higher than 9 feet, but we’re not certain exactly how high right now.
Anyway, the studio is in a corner of the building and, unfortunately, there is a classroom that runs parallel to one of the longer walls. It is essential that we block as much sound as possible from going into the classroom, and it would be great to actually be able to record a drum kit in there while class was in session.
Budget is another thing that’s unclear at the moment, but the folks who are managing the renovation (about a fifth of the building is being renovated – the studio is a relatively small part of that) are aware that a recording studio is going to have some special needs as far as soundproofing materials and construction. I don’t really have to worry about labor costs because the university’s construction team will take care of the project. Materials, however, are a different story. I’m quite confident the university would be willing to pick up the tab for AT LEAST 3 thousand (dollars) in specialized materials, but I plan to ask for much more (lower five figure range).
I’ll have other questions as well as time goes by, but by Monday March 12 I have to present a list of materials needed for proper construction of the room, and the main dilemma right now is how to stop as much sound as possible from going to the classroom.
I was wondering about construction techniques and materials, and I was particularly wondering about Auralex SheetBlok. What do people think of it? Are there cheaper alternatives? I know it would need to be used in combination with other layers, but how effective is it?
Any insights would help. Sorry I can’t be more specific about ceiling height and budget. I’ll have more on those as time goes by.
Matt
Studio Will Be Next to a Classroom
Originally posted at johnlsayers.com, topic 8353.
I just wanted to bump this. The wall I'm talking about will be just under 17 feet long and about 10 feet high.
Again, there will be a classroom on the other side and we need to construct the wall to block as much sound as possible. I'm assuming this will take a double wall, but suggestions as to how many layers of what on each wall would be helpful. I would like to be able to hit sound levels of near 90 dBSPL in the performance room and they'd barely be able to hear anything (and maybe wouldn't hear anything) in the classroom.
Hi Matt, check out Rod Gervais's book on constructing a small studio properly. it has the questions you have asked, answered, and lots of other questions you have yet to ask, also answered... 8)
http://www.amazon.com/Home-Recording-St ... 37-8514224
also, do you have an accurate floor plan you could share?
This is a quasi-floor plan from microsoft paint. Since drafting it, the decision has been made to slightly angle the wall seperating the control room and performance area to help reduce standing waves (though we will, of course, have a good deal of absorption on the walls). The double wall that runs the length of the studio is about 26 feet long. That's the one that will run parrallel to the classroom wall.
Would this strategy work? After doing quite a bit of reading and posting on some other sites, I'm wondering if the strategy for creating a double wall I've attached to this post would work. Sorry it's a bit crude, this was done with Microsoft paint.
you'll get a quadruple leaf instead of the desired 2 leaf wall... so remove the plywood on both insides and attach the sheetblock between the two gypsum layers.
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Thanks for the response. Just so I've got you right, do you mean I should remove the fiber board between the gypsum layers and put sheetblack there and then remove the plywood from the inside layer?you'll get a quadruple leaf instead of the desired 2 leaf wall... so remove the plywood on both insides and attach the sheetblock between the two gypsum layers. a :arrow:
Nooooooooo, don't use mass loaded vinyl. It's a ripoff!!!
Yes, indeed, buy Rod's book.
--Keith :mrgreen:
heh did I expect tHAT one was coming or what?... Keith, take it easy on those "anti aurakex" bulletts you got lined up for target practise... have you tried any of their products?? no disrespect man, just curious how you came about that conclusion...
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I actually don't knock Auralex as a whole... My criticism of them has mostly been limited to their U-boats product...
In June 2005 in the "Mason Industries' FSN Floating Floor Concrete Slab Test Data" thread, I wrote:
- I took the Auralex U-boats off my list because of their lack of published specs and their subsequent deafening silence on the subject when pressed for more information. As a result, I've taken EPDM off my list as well: no specs, no proof: no use.
- EDIT: I just found this document, which does provide more information. Unfortunately, it is not linked from the product main page or the U-Boat Spacing FAQ or the U-Boat Weight Support FAQ. In fact, the latter link illustrates my "no specs, no proof" point the best. :?