Ceiling/Floor question for Rod

Read Rod's book cover to cover and have a question about adding mass to a floor with drywall. I'm referring to the method of adding drywall between joists in a basement studio ceiling. I notice that you want to 'seal' the edges and wonder if there are the same problems inherent in walls/doors that aren't sealed properly. More specifically, my joists include a bunch of HVAC venting that feeds the house above. So there would be gaps and areas that wouldn't be reachable to apply the drywall to. Would this be a 'wasted' step in this case? Would I be better suited to just use a hat channel/double layer of drywall (or Green Glue / drywall) combo with insulation above? Mark

MMazurek wrote:

Read Rod's book cover to cover and have a question about adding mass to a floor with drywall. I'm referring to the method of adding drywall between joists in a basement studio ceiling. I notice that you want to 'seal' the edges and wonder if there are the same problems inherent in walls/doors that aren't sealed properly. More specifically, my joists include a bunch of HVAC venting that feeds the house above. So there would be gaps and areas that wouldn't be reachable to apply the drywall to.

MM, I see this come up quite often - and personally I would remove the duct temporarily and get the mass added........ then replace the duct. It really isn't that big a job to do - duct goes in and out quite easily. Rod

Thanks for the quick reply, Rod. I picked up three books. Yours, Alton Everest's 'Acoustics Guide', and Alton Everest's newer 'Studio on a Budget' book. Yours has the most relevant and helpful info. The 'Master Guide' is certainly a 'must have' reference, and his other book was a waste of money. Thanks, again. I'm sure I'll have more questions after measuring and inputing everything in to the sketchup program.

Yours has the most relevant and helpful info. The 'Master Guide' is certainly a 'must have' reference, and his other book was a waste of money.

IMHO Everest/Mike Shea's "How to Build a Small Budget Recording Studio from Scratch" was also a bit of a waste of money. I will look out for the Master Handbook(?), though. :D Also bought Recording Studio Design By Philip Richard Newell at the same time. Excellent resource. Indepth stuff, but written so well that even I could understand it! And Rod's book: Excellent! as has been said here before. I'll say it again! :lol: Oh, and back on the topic: What would be the difference, isolation wise, between: 1. Drywall cut and added between the joists, with insulation then suspended/stuffed up against the drywall, and, 2. Drywall sheets attached to the bottom of the joists, with insulation between joists? (Though, in my case, without R.C. or clips...) Thanks, Geoff