How to sound proof this room!
Discussion
I have a tiny room that I want to play my drums in - it doesn't have to be sound proof but I want to reduce the noise a fair bit!
What quick and easy steps can I take that will help? I was just going to cover the room in these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pro-Acoustic-Foam-Tile-Tre... (But realise I'm making the room even smaller!
Also anything else I can add? I need a poster or two so it's not so dull! And I guess a fan as it gets bloody hot in there!
What quick and easy steps can I take that will help? I was just going to cover the room in these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pro-Acoustic-Foam-Tile-Tre... (But realise I'm making the room even smaller!
Also anything else I can add? I need a poster or two so it's not so dull! And I guess a fan as it gets bloody hot in there!
My bloody next door neighbour knocked on my door at 3am last night! It's lucky I was still up playing my drums... 
Ahahaha! But seriously, having been in many recording studios in the course of my music career, the fact that pretty much all of the had acoustic foam tiles on all the walls, pretty much tells you what it seems you've already guessed with regard to noise insulation.
Also - if you do put a fan in there, it will probably be your biggest fan!
Oh, I'd better get me coat now...
Ahahaha! But seriously, having been in many recording studios in the course of my music career, the fact that pretty much all of the had acoustic foam tiles on all the walls, pretty much tells you what it seems you've already guessed with regard to noise insulation.
Also - if you do put a fan in there, it will probably be your biggest fan!
Oh, I'd better get me coat now...
To stop the lower frequencies getting out you need weight that moves, and by doing so it absorbs the sound energy.
There's plenty of useful and practical info on YouTube, especially if you specify drum room in the search.
As for the size of the room, anyway it can be increased? The walls are blockwork, could one of them be taken down and moved out a bit?
There's plenty of useful and practical info on YouTube, especially if you specify drum room in the search.
As for the size of the room, anyway it can be increased? The walls are blockwork, could one of them be taken down and moved out a bit?
A mate with a make-shift recording studio made up a timber frame with plastic covered insulation in it for each wall. This helped massively.
I've been in a tiny recording booth with similar tiles to what you suggest and on one occasion it made me feel horrendously sick, I think due to not knowing which way the horizon was and my senses being hit by loud music, so watch out for those weird patterned walls.
I've been in a tiny recording booth with similar tiles to what you suggest and on one occasion it made me feel horrendously sick, I think due to not knowing which way the horizon was and my senses being hit by loud music, so watch out for those weird patterned walls.
GetCarter said:
Put rubber tops on the drums or use brushes. 
This is the best advice. To be frank, to soundproof a room to a point that it's useful is very expensive.To the OP - You are right, foam tiles will deaden your sound, but not prevent it leaving.
Your best solution would be an isolation booth. Or at least a screen so you can limit some of the sound. They aren't cheap, www.clearsonic.com offer great solutions. They work well as you do not need to modify your room in anyway. However, unless it's a full booth, the end result may not be worth the cost.
It's probably cheaper to hire a practice room.
VEIGHT said:
Thanks for the advice!
Ok, I'm going to do the back wall as that backs onto next door. Bit of wood to make a gap then plasterboard then those tiles from Amazon.
Will let you know how I get on!
Btw, rubber mats and brushes! Not a chance! I want to make some NOISE!
Shedbuilders the lot of you Ok, I'm going to do the back wall as that backs onto next door. Bit of wood to make a gap then plasterboard then those tiles from Amazon.
Will let you know how I get on!
Btw, rubber mats and brushes! Not a chance! I want to make some NOISE!
VEIGHT said:
those tiles from Amazon.
Will let you know how I get on!
No need. I can predict how you'll get on. I am afraid to say, badly. Will let you know how I get on!
Those tiles offer nothing in the way of sound proofing. So you're wasting your cash
Instead of foam tiles, get acoustic rock wool - http://www.rockwool.co.uk/products/u/2011.product/...
Or the Sorber panels from clearsonic. Both these offer an actual Db reduction. Amazon foam tiles do not.
Edited by Jazzy Jefferson on Thursday 12th June 17:39
As others have said, very little you can do to actually "sound proof" the room. You need mass to stop sound leaving - double skinned walls with a number of inches of heavy, sense fibreglass insulation. Or lead.
Acoustic tiles, foam, heavy curtains etc etc may change and dampen the reverberation of the sound you hear in the room whilst playing (making it more pleasurable to play - that room looks like it sounds horrible atm!!), but from the point of view of someone stood outside listening, they'll make almost no measurable difference.
Acoustic tiles, foam, heavy curtains etc etc may change and dampen the reverberation of the sound you hear in the room whilst playing (making it more pleasurable to play - that room looks like it sounds horrible atm!!), but from the point of view of someone stood outside listening, they'll make almost no measurable difference.
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jul00/articles/faq...
A Good article on 'Soundproofing vs acoustic treatment' there for anyone who's interested.
A Good article on 'Soundproofing vs acoustic treatment' there for anyone who's interested.
Just by way of update (and thanks for the advice)
I decided to build a void against the wall that is connected to next door. I left a gap and filled it with shredded cardboard. Not sure why, just had a pile to get rid of and thought it might be a good idea
I used some expanding foam to fill the gaps.
As Jazzy said the foam tiles doesn't really help soundproof. It does however dampen the sound and also it sounds much much better inside the broom cupboard now!
I have stuck some carpet down and covered all the walls with the foam tiles and it is quiet enough I think, but no where near sound proof obviously. I just need to do the door as a lot of sound leaks from here I'm sure. Might get some sticky foam strips and stick to the door?
And Funk yes, I will wear earplugs!
Here is the nearly finished room (just need some cool posters on the wall!)
(not sure why they are the wrong way I think the image uploader is doing that?)
I decided to build a void against the wall that is connected to next door. I left a gap and filled it with shredded cardboard. Not sure why, just had a pile to get rid of and thought it might be a good idea
I used some expanding foam to fill the gaps.
As Jazzy said the foam tiles doesn't really help soundproof. It does however dampen the sound and also it sounds much much better inside the broom cupboard now!
I have stuck some carpet down and covered all the walls with the foam tiles and it is quiet enough I think, but no where near sound proof obviously. I just need to do the door as a lot of sound leaks from here I'm sure. Might get some sticky foam strips and stick to the door?
And Funk yes, I will wear earplugs!
Here is the nearly finished room (just need some cool posters on the wall!)
(not sure why they are the wrong way I think the image uploader is doing that?)
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