Building a studio

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www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member Since: Feb 07, 2005

Hello all, ok here we go, a few studio questions.

I am right in the middle of totally renovating our downstairs basement into a live room and control room. Everything is gutted out. I am using the old living room as a live room and a bedroom (which is directly off of the living room) as a control room (and the closet as a vocal booth).

Now to the questions.

I read in another thread about floating hardwood floors being very good. I already have the flooring so I can't do much there but I haven't bought the underlay yet. The flooring people tell me to use this black foam underlay because I am installing directly onto cement. Does this thin layer of foam under the flooring constitute it as "floating"? If not, I don't have the funds to pay for sub-floor to go under it so, is there a different underlay that I should purchase?

Auralex foam - I know that this stuff is the best but if I install it on an otherwise "untreated" wall will it still make a difference or are you suppose to soundproof the walls to get the desired results? I'm not going to double up the drywall or anything else.

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Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Jun 07, 2005 06:09 pm

Well, while what you are building is not a "floating floor" in the truest sense of the word, it is a decent measure you are taking. I kinda have to laugh it off when people talk about going to extreme measures for a floating floor in a basement project type studio as I have worked in many studio, project and professional, that have no such floors. I wouldn't spend a lot of time worrying about it.

On to the Auralex issue...Sound foam and sound proofing are two totally different things. Sound proofing keeps sound from outside from getting in and sound inside from getting out...the Auralex treatments, and other such measures, "tune the room", it has nothing to do with sound proofing, but, just making the room itself sound good by absorbing and reflecting frequencies to give the room a flat sound without exaggerated or or diminished frequencies.

Does that make sense?

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Jun 07, 2005 06:21 pm

Totally makes sense. It sounds like I'll be alright then and I can proceed with the reno as planned. I'm not worried about soundproofing as my neighbors are quite a ways away and I have a very tolerant wife.

If I was to do any soundproofing I would just do the vocal booth (closet) which would be cheap 'cause of the size.

Going into this project I was sure I knew what I was doing. Then because I'm so new to this I started second guessing myself.

Thanks dB

Jack of all trades master of ___
Member
Since: May 28, 2004


Jun 08, 2005 01:16 pm

Floating floor in terms of an architectural field is that the finish flooring material NOT fixed to the floor...

So if you lay down whatever underlayment whether it would be poly, rubber, or a foam compound then say if you were to use interlocking laminate or wood flooring material...Your floor would be "floating"...

All floating means is "no adhesive"

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Jun 08, 2005 02:26 pm

...or think of it as "decoupled". Actually adhesive is preferable to screws or nails, because they tend to transfer vibration from one surface to another, which is what you're trying to avoid when soundproofing. Nailing a piece of sheetrock to a 2x4 stud will effectively couple the two materials together and make them freely transfer vibrations. It's recommended that you use as few screws and nails as possible, and use adhesives where possible. Of course, who would trust the structural integrity of a room built with as few nails and screws as possible? Not me!

"sure its soundproof, I just wouldn't stand in it!"

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Jun 08, 2005 06:21 pm

dB, I understand what you are saying about the difference between soundproofing and sound treatments but wouldn't Auralex's effectiveness be different in a room that is soundproofed?
I guess what I mean is, does a soundproofed room keep more of the sound in the room? Wouldn't you need more sound absorbtion for a soundproofed room because of this?

I would think that soundproofing bounces the soundwaves back into the room but maybe the walls actually absorb the sound. Either way the amount of foam required would vary depending on the soundproofing (I think).

...just curious 'cause I have to order some and I want to make sure I purchase enough (shipping is a killer). They (Auralex) have an interactive calculator where you select the room type. I'm wondering if the type of room that you select from assumes that the room has already been soundproofed.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Jun 08, 2005 06:32 pm

I see what you are saying, and honestly, it makes sense, but it's not necessarily true. Most of sound proofing is controlling the ever-traveling bass end of the sound. This is actually accomplished by trapping the bass between a couple wall, still removing from the room.

edit0r
Member
Since: Aug 17, 2004


Jun 08, 2005 06:57 pm

Maybe you could put your amps and drums on boxes?

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