Vocal booth - corners, construction material and plans

[cleaver]

Hello everyone

Absolutely love this forum. This is my first post so please forgive me if I've missed out any information that you need.

I’m at the design stage of a small (roughly 4’ x 4’) isolation booth. The booth will be for practicing rock singing but I might also use it to record occasional demo tracks. My goal is to be able to sing inside the booth without people hearing me on the outside (either inside my apartment or in neighbouring apartments). The booth also needs to be able to be disassembled and reassembled relatively easily as I seem to end up moving house every year or so.

I bought plans for a vocal booth from dawbox.com but didn’t realise that the plans are only for a single wall construction. From reading Rod Gervais’ book, I think a two leaf construction is the way to go for my needs.

I plan to have a 2 x 4 stud frame, with ½” MDF or plasterboard as the inner and outer walls, with R13 insulation in the air space. I plan to use that construction type for the walls, ceiling and floor. I'll also have some sort of acoustic treatment on the inner wall.

I have spent several hours searching this forum for answers to the following questions and I know they must have been covered somewhere else but I haven't had any luck:

1 – If I adopt a design like in my crudely drawn image (attached), what is the best way to join the corners, given that I’d like to be able to easily disassemble/reassemble the booth (ie, I wouldn’t want to use screws because of the damage to the MDF/plasterboard – but if I use bolts, where exactly should the bolts be used). I know that I’d have to caulk as well but I figure I’d just have to recaulk each time I reassemble the booth (not ideal, I know). Or is there a different way altogether that I should be looking at joining the walls?

2 – Should I use MDF or plasterboard (or one of each) for the two leaf walls? Or is there another material I should be using? I’m trying to keep cost at a minimum while still achieving my goal of not being heard outside the booth. I live in Perth, Western Australia.

3 – By any chance, does anyone know where I can get plans for a 4 x 4 two leaf iso booth? Happy to pay for the plans.

[Soundman2020]

Hi Cleaver, and Welcome!

I bought plans for a vocal booth from dawbox.com but didn’t realise that the plans are only for a single wall construction. From reading Rod Gervais’ book, I think a two leaf construction is the way to go for my needs.

Right. Single-leaf is limited by Mass Law, which isn't very useful for good isolation.

I plan to have a 2 x 4 stud frame, with ½” MDF or plasterboard as the inner and outer walls,

depending on how much isolation you need (decibels), you might need something thicker than 1/2" drywall. You also can improve isolation greatly by decoupling the drywall on the inside, either with resilient channel or with RSIC clips plus ordinary hat channel.

1 – If I adopt a design like in my crudely drawn image (attached), what is the best way to join the corners,

Not like the diagram you show! That short-circuits the leaves..

but if I use bolts, where exactly should the bolts be used).

Good question! Bolts are the answer, of course, but the issue is how to set things up so you can bolt the sections together without messing with the decoupling! I'd suggest attaching extra framing on the outside of the booth, at the corners, on top of the drywall, and bolting through that. It won't look pretty, but it will do the job. The issue then becomes: How do you seal/unseal the joint where the inner leaves meet at the corners? I guess rubber seals would do the trick, but it would take some careful design.

I know that I’d have to caulk as well but I figure I’d just have to recaulk each time I reassemble the booth (not ideal, I know).

You could do that, but rubber seals might be easier.

2 – Should I use MDF or plasterboard (or one of each) for the two leaf walls

I'd go with MDF or even plywood or OSB. Drywall is brittle, and wont stand up to much movement. It will suffer each time you try to move it, and won't last long at all like that.

- Stuart -

[cleaver]

Hi Soundman2020

Thanks very much for taking the time to provide such a comprehensive and helpful reply. You've given me a lot to think about.

No doubt I will be back when I come across further roadblocks!

Take care.