Sound Proofing

There are many different objectives when it comes to sound proofing you can either help prevent sound from leaving a room and/or prevent sound from entering a room.

To Prevent Sound From Leaving a Room

The first thing to look for is any highly reflective material (ie. a tile floor) ideal situation is carpet or to put a rug down in the room you are using. the next problem to look at is the door. Check and see if its a solid or hollow door this will make a big difference in the sound blockage it provides.

You can use weather stripping (found at your local hardware store) to help seal the air gaps in the door. there are also these draft stoppers that you can find to mount to the bottom of the door giving the same effect of rolling up a towel and stuffing it at the bottom of the door.

To Prevent Sound From Entering a Room

You need to check your walls to see how insulated they are and what material they are made with. That cheap wood panel style wall from the 70's is crap for blocking sound its almost like having paper walls. thick insulation with plastic stapled down with a layer of drywall is the ideal room to work with. now close the door and listen for any interfence sound in the room usually a vent or a window.

You can solve the vent problem by shutting off your furnace and fan during recording sessions. Don't worry, the power from your amps and sound equipment will keep you warm in the winter for the time of the recording session.

In the summer you may have to deal with the heat in the studio, and shut your air conditioner off to prevent that airy sound your household vents produce. To get rid of the sound through a
window go to your local fabric shop and buy a four inch thick foam block to put in the window.

Tips to Get Better Recordings

  • You can wrap your microphone stand with carpet or rags to stop reflection of sound off of the metal on the stand.
  • You can use panty hose to slip over the microphone to help prevent clicks and hiss from vocals.
  • If you are able to have your computer in another room or away from where you are recording. they are very noisy machines even if you install a quite fan.
  • If you can find a school that is willing to part with their old stage curtains, they work great to hang around the walls of your recording room for sound deafening.

For the Best Sound Proofing Money Can Buy

If you have the dough to throw around or have great handy man skills building a room within a room would give you the best soundproofing results.