Here are some handy DIY soundproofing tips that every musician should know about. Start by reading this article, then watch the videos below for demonstrations on how this is done.
If your neighbours have stopped speaking to you since you bought your new drum kit or trumpet and your family and friends are at their wit’s end then it may be time to think about soundproofing your music room.
Soundproofing a room is not an easy task so be prepared to spend quite a bit of money on it. If you don’t have anywhere else to practice and want to avoid the wrath of people living in close proximity then it may just be worth it.
Sound proofing a room is a similar process to insulating it because sound travels in the same way as air. The best way to achieve sound proofing is to effectively build a room within a room with a chamber between the inside and the outside wall.
There are a number of different ways to soundproof a room depending on how big your budget is and how professional the result needs to be.
Soundproofing Walls
The more layers that are applied to your floors, walls and ceilings then the more soundproof your room will be. Two popular materials that are often used when soundproofing a room are Green Glue and soundproof vinyl mats or tiles. Green Glue is a noise proofing compound and sealant that you can buy in stores. Layer your walls with a covering of Green Glue followed by one or more layers of soundproof vinyl mats or tiles and remember to seal the seams with Green Glue. If there are any cracks or gaps in your soundproofing layers then sound will escape through them.
Soundproofing Ceilings
To effectively soundproof your room you will need to drop the ceiling down and then layer it with soundproof tiles. The easiest way to do this is to attach plain wood strips to the length of the ceiling about 2ft apart and then attach a layer of drywall to the wooden strips. Use Green Glue on the drywall where it attaches to the wood and also to seal any gaps. Next attach a second layer of drywall onto the first and use Green Glue to seal all of the seams.
Soundproofing Floors
The floor of the room must also be soundproofed in a similar way, again layers are the key. In order to really keep in the sound produced by large floor standing speakers you will need to use heavy roofing felt and mass-loaded vinyl layered over the floor. Make sure that you alternate the direction of the tiles from horizontally to vertically as you layer to make sure that there are no seams that are repeated to make a gap for sound to escape through. When you have finished layering, finish the flooring off with a heavy, thick carpet.
Soundproofing Windows
Double glazed windows are best for soundproofing as they are airtight. To stop any sound escaping from around window frames you need to make sure that all the windows are thoroughly draught proofed and sealed using weatherstripping or Green Glue. If there is quite a lot of noise coming through the window you can also cover the window in soundproof mats or pieces of Styrofoam.
Soundproofing Doors
For effective soundproofing you should install a solid-core door to your music room. If you have a large budget for soundproofing the room then using two doors is the best option. You should install one door that opens outwards and one that opens inwards to block out maximum sound. Make sure that the doors fit snugly into the frame and seal all the edges.
Using thick, heavy curtains and lots of soft furnishing will also help to absorb some of the sound. Gone are the days of angry neighbours banging on the walls or silent treatment from your friends and family, you’re ready to get practicing in your soundproofed music room.
These videos are a step by step series showing each stage of building a soundproofed "room within a room" as discussed above:
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