If you’ve come this far, congratulations! We’ve covered a lot of ground, but if you’re hungry for more, you can check out the additional resources I’ve provided below.
But before that, if you haven’t read Soundproofing Series #4: Advanced Structural Soundproofing Solutions yet, I suggest you go back and do so!
Additional resources for further study and research
To effectively reduce the noise in your studio, you will have to employ a combination of several methods and materials, the most significant of which we’ve covered in this series. But there are other things you can do which are a bit beyond the scope of this article.
What we’ve mostly focused on are solutions that fall into a more budget-friendly category. Although they can only do so much, they will serve as valuable foundations for your future soundproofing efforts.
If you have the opportunity, I strongly suggest consulting with an experienced acoustician in your area, preferably someone who designs acoustic solutions professionally. This gives you the opportunity to have them visit your room and see what you’re dealing with firsthand.
If that isn’t an option, or if you prefer a more DIY approach, here are a few links to some advanced information and techniques you may want to use at a later time. These are just a few of several excellent resources out there, but they are ideal starting points for anyone serious about soundproofing.
I have no current affiliation with any of these sites, but I have invested quite a bit of time and money with each one over the years. They all provide actual free acoustic consultation beforehand with no obligation to buy.
Soundproofingcompany.com focuses on proper building techniques first and then recommends materials you could use for new builds and renovations. They sell brackets, caulks, damping products, and more. Their prices are even better than Amazon’s. I always ask for Ted White, who has saved me a lot of time and money over the years. If you are building a new room from the ground up without help from an acoustician, Ted would be my first call.
2. Acoustics 101 – Auralex.com
This site has tons of excellent info for learning more about acoustics for your room.
This is another fantastic education-rooted resource for acoustics info and products. I consulted for them 21 years ago, and although not currently affiliated, I can attest to their integrity and level of customer support. Ted Hunter is my go-to guy there, and he is my first choice for all things related to audio equipment.
Sweetwater can even facilitate a free room acoustics analysis through its affiliation with Auralex. Apart from connecting you with acoustic product providers, Sweetwater can help you compare different pre-made acoustic treatment solutions for controlling reflections in your room.
I’d also like to mention two excellent resources for learning the specifics of how to build and treat an acoustic space properly:
1. “Master Handbook of Acoustics” by F. Alton Everest and Ken C. Pohlmann
2. “The Audio Expert: Everything You Need to Know About Audio” by Ethan Winer
I own them both and have referred to them extensively while designing my most recent studio space. Although both these books detail the mathematics behind the science of soundproofing, they are both very easy to read, and the concepts are readily applicable to your situation.
My personal projects
I recently built a new studio space for creating immersive audio content (Dolby Atmos 7.1.4). I started with an unfinished basement space, but because it is directly underneath a bedroom, I had to isolate the studio completely. I opted for a “room-in-room” construction for this particular project and documented the process extensively.
I am still catching up with my postings, but you can see what I’ve posted so far here. I also list several additional resources and go into a lot more detail about various aspects of the build, which may prove useful to your own projects.
That concludes our five-part series on soundproofing your recording space. I realize that it’s a lot to take in, so give yourself time to read through each chapter and digest the information at your own pace. By the end of the series, you will hopefully have a broad overview of soundproofing and know how to go about treating your own space.
Good luck, and may you have many happy‒and quiet‒recording sessions to come!
– Alexander E. Jenkins
