blankets for sound proofing?

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x5150

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hey my 1st post. Just got into recording this week. bought two sm57's and a yamaha mg 12/4, running into an old soundblaster live, using Cool Edit.

Anyway wondering if blankets around the room do any significant sound proofing. Got a lot of complaints already and need something pretty cheap but effective.

I saw this on ebay

blanket on ebay

and was wondering if anyone has used it or thinks it will or won't be good enough. Thanks.
 
if you do a search here, you will find that there is much more to "sound proofing" than blankets or room treatment. There is no cheap way to accomplish this. You can signifigantly deaden the sound with some fairly cheap steps but it is still not as easy as buying blankets and what not. Do a search and check it out.
 
well yah i know real sound proofing involves rebuilding ur walls with special insulation. I'm not gonna go there till I buy a house. I just need to get it down to a level of maybe loud tv, dog barking, unhappily married couples bitching. Wanted to know if thats possible without taking down the walls.
 
i bought moving blankets on ebay and i love them for recording i use with mic stands to make a vocal area that is dead and i put over guitar amp wehn im recording. They will help some but i dont use them to try and cut back the sound levels just to make stuff dead like for vocals.........

they are a good cheap way and will help but not sure how much for ya :o
 
Rebuilding the walls is what gets it down to the "loud TV" volume.

Unless you're just recording a loud TV... Then, any wall will do. :D
 
What you need to do is simple. Construct an entire room within the one you're in now and have ass loads of mass between the two. Oh and add another layer of drywall to the originall walls and two sheets per side for the newly framed room. And don't for get heavy insulation for the new walls and well..... Ok so I'm being a dumbass and I know it, but I'm just trying to show you what it would really take to make recording volumes acceptable to your neighbors. Now acoustic treatment you could do, but it wouldn't do a single thing for isolation.
 
A bomb shelter would do you good...


Think about it, it kills two birds with one stone (hopefully not litterally).
 
Let me re-phrase my question. If you were my neighbor with all ur home studio knowledge, would u tell me yes buy the $150 dollar blankets then u can play , or no save ur money they aint gon do jack. Keep in mind I dont turn my amp (peavey 5150 120 watt head) passed vol 1 when I play.
 
I'm with the "Jack" option...the blankets won't do "Jack" for sound proofing. For "Jack", you'll need some serious construction or, you might look into an isolation cabinet or a THD Hotplate...that is if you want "Jack". It's all about the "Jack". That's not to say "She's" got the "Jack", but if "She" went up the hill with the "Jack" she might come down tumbling after. :o

Jack.
 
and add another layer of drywall to the originall walls and two sheets per side for the newly framed room.
Wrong. That will make a four leaf system which will actually make it WORSE :rolleyes: The BEST bang for the buck assembly is a TWO leaf MASS AIR MASS system with one leaf decoupled from the other. That can be accomplished in various ways. However, there is many many details, and is impossible to cover in a short reply.
If you are really interested go here and READ READ READ. This stuff is NOT intuitive, and lack of understanding the nature of sound transmission and propagation will ultimately drain your budget and time for nothing.

http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=f8f186822f24bb012e5d73978154c7ca
 
I hate to disagree with Rick (Hell, I hate to disagree with anyone), but a second layer of drywall makes a fairly dramatic difference. Been there done that more than just a few times. The thicker the better.

I'm certainly not an expert on acoustics, but I've designed and overseen construction on several rooms. I always consult with professional acousticians before putting up the first stud. And the general consensus among several (including a consultation with John if I'm not mistaken) is that a second layer will work wonders. And after hearing it, I agree.
 
John,

> I hate to disagree with Rick (Hell, I hate to disagree with anyone) <

I hate to argue too, but I think this is just a case of misunderstanding and you're both saying the same thing. If a picture is worth a thousand words, the little gem below surely qualifies. (Click the link.)

--Ethan

walls.gif
 
I hate to disagree myself, but thanks Ethan. As to adding drywall on BOTH sides of the interior framing, I rest my case. And btw, I never said adding a layer WON"T help, but in this case...well, check the numbers. Even if you do add a layer to the interior leaf, Mass law predicts a theoretical MAXIMUM of 6db improvement in transmission loss. If you are trying to keep 110db drums from transmitting through an envelope, and you add a layer to a wall with an STC of 43, guess what? ;) :rolleyes:

I always consult with professional acousticians
I'd drive a Mercedes instead of my truck too, but like they say, how much dough ya got? :D
 
putting up blankets will help with flutter echo and other early reflections problems (ie: deaden the room), but they won't do ANYTHING in terms of keeping sound from passing from room to room (or apartment to apartment). as others have stated, mass and air are the only things that will do that.

instead, have you thought of maybe purchasing a SMALLER amp? something like a fender champ, or maybe one of those newer epiphone ones might work wonders. me thinks trying to record a 120W 5150 in an apartment is an exercise in futility or at least frustration--and possibly a short ride to eviction.


cheers,
wade
 
Oh, I disagree, guys. Moving blankets will do plenty.

First, drape the first blanket over your amp. Make sure that the amp is covered on all sides.

Repeat the first step with all other blankets. The more the better. :D
 
Actually, you are onto something. This guy needs to forget about soundproofing his entire room, and try making an iso box of some kind. Maybe out of a closet or something?
 
Reggie said:
Actually, you are onto something. This guy needs to forget about soundproofing his entire room, and try making an iso box of some kind. Maybe out of a closet or something?
What about some sort of soundproof chest that the amp could be placed in? Surely there'd be a way to still allow a cord or two out?
 
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