Today we are living in an era of technological advancement.
Things are changing rapidly and drastically.
Many old concepts about personal space and work areas have been majorly changed.
Not only that, but the nature of work has changed over time.
No one can predict how far this change will lead us.
Like in old times, there was only one medium of broadcast: TV.
Whereas, now we have a lot of different platforms for transmitting information, education, and entertainment.
To enable these platforms to work effectively, man is working on finding helpful tools.
So today, we’ll discuss in detail how one can soundproof a room for recordings.
Difference between soundproofing and acoustic treatment
These are two seemingly same techniques, but they have different meanings.
They are often used interchangeably.
Soundproofing means controlling the sound and creating barriers for sound to travel in and out, to have a lesser and more controlled noise level.
Whereas acoustic treatment of a place means we want to control the reverberation and echoes created by the sound to have better sound quality.
Both these concepts, with little difference, work side by side.
Why soundproof room for recording
Today, the concept of recordings and telecasting has improved due to media, particularly social media advancements.
Now recordings are done for diverse purposes.
Some examples include music, educational purposes, and social media platform recordings.
In this regard, the importance of a peacefully soundproof recording room increases to a much higher level.
Soundproofing of a recording room is necessary due to the following reasons.
● To have a peacefully focused workplace
Obviously, no one can work in a noisy and distracted environment.
Especially when you are recording educational stuff, a peaceful climate is highly needed.
Otherwise, you can’t concentrate on your thoughts and the idea to be delivered to the students.
That’s why your recording space should have a calm and focused environment.
● To minimize inside and outside noise
Soundproofing of a recording room is done to minimize inside and outside noise so that you can focus on the basic theme and idea of the program you are recording.
Only then the end product is successfully produced.
● To minimize the effect of the echoes
In a soundproof recording room, the depreciation of echoes is really targeted.
The end result may be pathetic when the echoes are recorded and mixed with the original sounds.
The effect of echo should be minimal to have a clearer and more professionally acceptable sound.
● To make your work professionally sound
We will discuss all the techniques to give you an idea about how to make your recording work professionally sound.
Basic treatments used in soundproofing a room
● Filling gaps
We always have to start from the basics.
And in the case of the room, also try to find the existing problems, which are gaps and holes, before going into advanced treatment.
● Damping material
Damp and thick materials are always good options for soundproofing a room.
They are cheap, easy to use, and better in results.
● Doubling of walls
Doubling the walls and ceiling of the recording room is a very good and permanent solution to the noise problem.
Ways to soundproof your recording space, some easy steps
So now let’s discuss in detail some of the methods to soundproof your recording room.
● Finding suitable space
Mostly you do not want to rent a special place where you can do recordings and have to use some available corners in your home.
Then choose a room with no or less numb of windows.
Your equipment and instruments are only beneficial when you have a nice closed space with a minimum noise level.
A walk-in closet can be one of the best options.
They are compact and closed little rooms serving your purpose best.
Avoid having a room that shares walls with a laundry area or washrooms to have an extra edge.
● Acoustic treatment of the room
Acoustic panels are designed to absorb reverberation and echo within the room.
They aren’t installed to stop the sound waves from travelling in and outside the room.
But as they are made up of damp material, it absorbs sound waves within the room. In this way, sound quality rises.
They are also available in different colours, thus enhancing the area’s beauty.
If they are installed by a professional, they help minimize the noise.
● Filling the gaps
This is the very basic step towards soundproofing a recording room.
Some unseen and ignored holes and cracks may be there in the walls of the room.
Firstly carefully identify these places and then cover them with either weatherstripping or sealant.
There could be a remarkable difference in the voice quality once you complete this step.
● Blocking the door gaps properly
You are lucky to have a thick, solid door in your recording space.
This kind of door will naturally facilitate better sound quality.
But if your recording room has a light and hollow door, it will not be able to stop sound waves.
A lightweight but thick blanket can help solve the issue.
Thoroughly cover the door with that banket, and it will be properly sealed.
This is a very effective remedy to lessen the noise.
● Weatherstripping of the windows
If there are windows in the rooms, don’t forget to seal and block holes and little spaces.
Weatherstripping is the best way.
It can be either done with rubber or foam.
● Wall-to-wall thick carpeting
Like any other floor, the floor of the recording room is also made up of tile or marble-like tough material.
These tough materials tend to bounce back the sound waves with an even higher frequency with which they are created.
A thick wall-to-wall layer of carpet will be a very effective solution to the problem.
It’ll make the floor soundproof by absorbing the sound waves.
● Adding a second layer of drywall to an existing wall
This is another expensive but much more effective remedy to reduce noise.
This is a lengthy and expensive method, but it would be a permanent solution to your problem.
Especially when you own the place, you can take such steps without reluctance.
Adding layers means you are adding mass to the existing structure.
That is how you create an extra barrier for the sound waves.
If the space between the walls is stuffed with sound-absorbant material, it’ll reduce the noise and improve the sound quality within your recording studio.
● Installing studio foam bass traps
Bass traps are another useful item to install in the recording rooms.
They are energy absorbers.
They absorb low-frequency sound waves and thus drastically reduce the reverberation and echoes.
Thus help create good sound effects.
Ideally, they should be installed in every corner of the room to have clear and accurate sound.
Conclusions
With the discussion above, we conclude that the soundproofing of a recording room is not very different.
All the techniques, whether traditional or nontraditional (technical), are almost the same as for soundproofing an ordinary room or a closet.
In today’s time, more and more population is engaging themselves in the field of online social media stuff.
They are creating some very useful and productive stuff in education and entertainment.
This process would be very smooth in an uninterrupted, noise-free environment.
We have tried to discuss almost all the techniques, from very basic (like filling up the cracks and holes) to the installation of advanced materials (bass traps and acoustic panels)
Now you can decide according to your need and budget.
FAQs
1) What is the effect of heat on soundproofing?
The heat definitely affects the density of the soundproofing materials.
With lower temperatures, the molecules come together, creating higher density and vice versa.
2) How much space do the soundproofing materials take?
Soundproofing materials like dense carpets, thick curtains, acoustic panels, or bass traps are good noise eliminators.
They take very less space and give higher benefits and value for money.
3) What about ventilation in soundproofing a room?
Unfortunately, you have to compromise on ventilation in a soundproof room to some extent.
Air is the root factor in travelling sound waves, which is why you can’t achieve desired results without compromising the room’s ventilation.
4) What is the use of rubber in soundproofing?
Rubber is a very effective material in soundproofing.
It has amazing soundproofing qualities.
By adding mass, it prevents the sound waves from escaping and entering.
5) Does regular foam work for soundproofing?
Only tightly knit, closed-cell foam works for soundproofing.
Regular foam generally can’t work.
The dense foam creates a markable difference in noise reduction and echo absorption.
6) What is the best material for walls in a music recording room?
Acoustic and insulation goams are installed in the walls of the recording rooms.
Also, the fiberglass insulation method is applied to the walls.