[unconventional]

Hello, got some walls up for my studio. Not really a studio but more of a sound proof room. Now I'm not going to be cranking my rectifier in this room, but just a 14x18 room in the basement where I can go and have some peace and not listen to bitching about noise from wife.

So originally I was going to build walls within walls, but this is costly and would cut down the room size. I have not a lot of money to do this.

So, what I was told, after the framing is done, which it is, is to have the insulation up and then put carpet under layment on the walls before the sheetrock. Don't know how or if this would work to cut down on sound.

My other question is flooring. Was thinking of hardwood, but that to me, would seem too echo like. Carpet would seem to deaden the sound. What do you think would be a happy medium for this?

[courtney2018]

I would use foam cubes/panels to cover the entire walls and ceiling. A windtunnel that I used to test in had the test section covered with 1 ft. thick foam cubes and it was dead as hell in there. You could probably get away with using egg-crate foam...lots of it. Put that over the Sheetrock. That should deaden everything in there. For the floor carpet would be best for absorbing the sound, but if you want it to look really nice wood floors, or laminate wood floors, would be good.

[unconventional]

Yeah, have you ever checked out the price of the egg crate stuff?

These assholes charge you $200 for a 1'x2' piece.

So, I like your idea, but was thinking about that shit that you put on your mattress instead. Paint it purple and I'm good to go, LOL.

[DomitianX]

Screw a bunch of cheap foam mattresses to the walls once they are up. Scour craigslist and garage sales for old bunk beds or something. Not the most elegant solution, but it works.

[Desecrated]

Originally Posted by unconventional

Yeah, have you ever checked out the price of the egg crate stuff?

These assholes charge you $200 for a 1'x2' piece.

So, I like your idea, but was thinking about that shit that you put on your mattress instead. Paint it purple and I'm good to go, LOL.

That never really works that good, in most cases you only remove some high freq and have all the bass left, and it sounds even worse.
It's worth the money to buy stonewool and build your own basstraps and such.

[Matt Crooks]

DO NOT USE CARPET IN OR ON THE WALLS!!

First and foremost, it is a fire hazard. If there's a fire in the room the entire wall will be engulfed in flames very quickly.

Second, it doesn't really help with the sound if it is on the walls. It will kill all the high end ring, but it will not do anything for the low end, so it will sound very boomy. Someone will be along shortly to say that they put carpet on their walls and it made everything sound better, I can assure you it did very little. It will help with fultter echo in the hgh end, but that's it.

Third, it does nothing, zero, zip, nada to stop sound traveling through the walls.

A lot of acoustics is counter intuitive, and if you go with what "you think" will work, you'll wind up with a room that sounds worse than if you had spent no money or energy on it.

Soundproofing is impossible. You can however reduce the amount of sound that escapes from your room. The only way to do it is adding mass to your walls and making sure that there are no open gaps. For the money, the best thing to do is put up multiple (2 or 3) layers of 5/8" drywall on the walls, making sure to caulk all seams - including those at the floor and ceiling.

For more information check out the forum John Sayers Productions .

For making it sound better in the room, make some DIY OC703 panels, and put them up on the ceiling and walls in a checkerboard pattern. Treat the corners first. Check out Bass Traps Acoustic Panels from Ready Acoustics or GIK Acoustics.

[Matt Crooks]

Originally Posted by unconventional

Yeah, have you ever checked out the price of the egg crate stuff?

These assholes charge you $200 for a 1'x2' piece.

So, I like your idea, but was thinking about that shit that you put on your mattress instead. Paint it purple and I'm good to go, LOL.

It is a completely different type of foam. The "egg crate" matttess top thing is not acoustic foam, it will not work. At least it is fire rated, but that is the only good thing about it.

Originally Posted by DomitianX

Screw a bunch of cheap foam mattresses to the walls once they are up. Scour craigslist and garage sales for old bunk beds or something. Not the most elegant solution, but it works.

THis is the same as carpet, it will kill the high end but that is it. Plus it is a fire hazard as well.

Originally Posted by Desecrated

That never really works that good, in most cases you only remove some high freq and have all the bass left, and it sounds even worse.
It's worth the money to buy stonewool and build your own basstraps and such.

QFT! If you put a tiny bit of work into it, you can treat your room well, for not much money. You'll get broadband treatment (so that the sound is even) and it will be Class A fire rated, so if someone drops a cigarette on it, or a tube amp over heats, or a wall outlet sparks, it won't catch your treatments on fire.

[unconventional]

Guys, we're talking about a $1000 budget for the whole room. When I mentioned carpet, I meant this. Studs, then that foam stuff they put under carpets that make the floor plush, then drywall. That's what I meant. I would not put carpet on the walls. What you guys are talking about would probably cost a lot more than what I have aside for this room. I'm looking for cheap ideas here. Real cheap, which is probably going to end up being this just being a standard room.

[TimSE]

u talkin about drum recordings ya? and basically anythin loud? if so then u will need shit on the walls

i use drum machine and direct guitar/bass recording cus i only do it in my room for demos - and as a result have never found the need to do all that ^^^

check aournd for them foam pads u can buy
i remember seein loads on the bay that were alot cheaper than most other places.

[Matt Crooks]

Originally Posted by unconventional

Guys, we're talking about a $1000 budget for the whole room. When I mentioned carpet, I meant this. Studs, then that foam stuff they put under carpets that make the floor plush, then drywall. That's what I meant. I would not put carpet on the walls. What you guys are talking about would probably cost a lot more than what I have aside for this room. I'm looking for cheap ideas here. Real cheap, which is probably going to end up being this just being a standard room.

DO NOT put that foam in your walls... it DOES NOTHING for sound transmission loss. Even if it were free, it is not worth it. You'd be wasting your time completely. Also, I know that no one wants to think about fire hazards, but remember the fire at the Great White show in Rhoad Island? It went up so fast becasue they had non fire-retardand foam on their walls. 100+ people died.

Not to be a dick, but did you even look at the links I provided? On the ready traps site, Ready Acoustics, LLC - Afforadble, Durable, and Stylish Acoustic Products - Bass Traps - DIY! Solutions - Mounts - Insulation , you get 12! DIY bass traps for $325. 12 traps would be more than enough for your room.

Two layers of drywall in that room should be under $500, which, in addition to the 12 traps, would still leave some money for wall to wall carpet.