I'm building a music studio in my basement, and my goal is to isolate it
as much as possible (at reasonable cost) acoustically, both to keep
sound from leaking in during recording, and (more importantly) to keep
loud instruments (like drums) from seriously bothering the rest of the
house.

I already have a rough idea of how to deal with the walls: staggered
2x4 studs on a 2x6 baseplate, so that the outer and inner drywall aren't
acoustically coupled via the studs, cavities filled with a heavy
insulating material of some kind (suggestions?)

The ceiling is another story -- I could imagine suspending some kind of
false ceiling slightly below the joists and packing some kind of loose
and relatively dense material above that, but what? And how should the
false ceiling be constructed and suspended in order to give me the best
bang for the buck? Things I ideally want to avoid, by the way, are
insulating materials that are flammable or that contain nasty rock or
glass fibers. Maybe some kind of flame-retardant cellulose pulp?

Also, there are heater ducts all over the basement ceiling, and it would
be nice to figure out a way to keep these from piping sound between the
studio and the rest of the house, without actually having to relocate
them. I'm guessing that if there is no actual opening from a duct into
the studio itself, then packing insulation around a duct will help keep
it from transmitting much sound out of the studio. Comments?

Last but not least, cost *is* an object -- I'd rather have 90% sound
reduction for $1000 extra than 99% for $5K extra.

thanks,

Grant

Grant wrote:

I already have a rough idea of how to deal with the walls: staggered
2x4 studs on a 2x6 baseplate, so that the outer and inner drywall aren't
acoustically coupled via the studs, cavities filled with a heavy
insulating material of some kind (suggestions?)


A separate stud wall is even better, but it depends on what is on the other side
of each wall.


The ceiling is another story -- I could imagine suspending some kind of
false ceiling slightly below the joists and packing some kind of loose
and relatively dense material above that, but what?


Good thinking.

And how should the
false ceiling be constructed and suspended in order to give me the best
bang for the buck? Things I ideally want to avoid, by the way, are


Resilient channel (RC-1 works well provided it is properly installed. Many here
will give you advice on that!


insulating materials that are flammable or that contain nasty rock or
glass fibers. Maybe some kind of flame-retardant cellulose pulp?


Recent rest results show that blown-in cellulose provides very good sound
absorption there, BUT the horizontal orientation makes it difficult to
implement. I usually recommend R-11 or R-19 fiberglass placed in ALL cavities.

Also, there are heater ducts all over the basement ceiling, and it would
be nice to figure out a way to keep these from piping sound between the
studio and the rest of the house, without actually having to relocate


Perhaps the best way here is to leave them as-is in the cavity behind the drywall
ceiling. Only, for the ducts that feed the basement studio, make those of
flexible material so that breakout reduces the amount of sound they will feed to
the house duct system.

them. I'm guessing that if there is no actual opening from a duct into
the studio itself, then packing insulation around a duct will help keep
it from transmitting much sound out of the studio.


That's about right.

Last but not least, cost *is* an object -- I'd rather have 90% sound
reduction for $1000 extra than 99% for $5K extra.


You may do the math!

Angelo Campanella

--------- www.CampanellaAcoustics.com ---------

"I have simply studied carefully whatever I've undertaken, and tried to hold a
reserve that would carry me through." - Charles A. Lindbergh.

"Once you have known flight, you will walk gazing at the sky because you have
been there and wish to return." - Leonardo Da Vinci

Check out http://www.soundproofing.org/ for some ideas.

I agree with most of what you are planning. I suggest using acoustical
insulation (available at most home centers) and the isolation channels for
mounting the ceiling.

You are wise to consider the furnace pipes, I would guess they are going
to be a big problem. I suggest a two part job. Isolate them as much as
possible. Also consider adding a non rigid section and a section with a
sound absorbing interior, to reduce the sound on the problem runs.

--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math


"Grant" wrote in message
...


I'm building a music studio in my basement, and my goal is to isolate it
as much as possible (at reasonable cost) acoustically, both to keep
sound from leaking in during recording, and (more importantly) to keep
loud instruments (like drums) from seriously bothering the rest of the
house.

I already have a rough idea of how to deal with the walls: staggered
2x4 studs on a 2x6 baseplate, so that the outer and inner drywall aren't
acoustically coupled via the studs, cavities filled with a heavy
insulating material of some kind (suggestions?)

The ceiling is another story -- I could imagine suspending some kind of
false ceiling slightly below the joists and packing some kind of loose
and relatively dense material above that, but what? And how should the
false ceiling be constructed and suspended in order to give me the best
bang for the buck? Things I ideally want to avoid, by the way, are
insulating materials that are flammable or that contain nasty rock or
glass fibers. Maybe some kind of flame-retardant cellulose pulp?

Also, there are heater ducts all over the basement ceiling, and it would
be nice to figure out a way to keep these from piping sound between the
studio and the rest of the house, without actually having to relocate
them. I'm guessing that if there is no actual opening from a duct into
the studio itself, then packing insulation around a duct will help keep
it from transmitting much sound out of the studio. Comments?

Last but not least, cost *is* an object -- I'd rather have 90% sound
reduction for $1000 extra than 99% for $5K extra.

thanks,

Grant

For anyone into the studio/home studio acoustics:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/acoustics/


Suitable isolation & absorption are discussed in depth,
Endless valuable data in links & files sections, and much more.

Ido