Help, Keeping sound from entering my studio

[SCSound]

Here is the problem.
I just opened a studio, and every thing sounds great the only problem is the building is right beside a busy highway and i am getting a lot of sound from that. i have tried every thing that i can think of, I think that the sound is entering through a door that is on a cinder block wall. I do not know what i can do about this but i have to figure something out soon. if anyone can give advice on how to deaden the sound it would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks
SCSound

 

[DDev]

This is not going to be easy to fix. Before anyone can provide any recommendations, though, we are going to need to see some level of detail for your studio (ie. what you can figure out for how the room is constructed, floorplan details that show where you think your weak link is, distance from the doorway to wherever you setup mics, etc). Also, it will help if you can estimate the level of the sound that is getting into the room. If you have an SPL meter, measure the level outside the door, then measure just inside the door (with door closed) to get an idea of how much attenuation you currently have and how much more will be needed.

Darryl.....

 

[fitZ2]

You opened a commercial studio without doing a NOISE analysis?
hmmmmm...
Traffic rumble, if that is the problem, can be VERY DIFFICULT to isolate. Usually, this is structurally transmitted via the floor/foundation to the walls, and usually requires a floating ROOM WITHIN A ROOM to isolate. But like Darryl says, we would have to know all the details, and even then it might take an acoustical engineer to truly determine the cause/solution. Even though concrete block, transmission though concrete travels FASTER and even BETTER than other types of construction as it is solid, and therefore does not absorb. Airborn noise is another animal all together, which I'm sure these walls attenuate better than stickwall, but again, without hearing it, it would be hard to say.
Regardless, it sounds as if you are facing some serious construction if my intuition is in tune today. Tell us more.
fitZ

 

[traveen]

Without trying to be rude, I would seriously consider the fact that you opened a studio without thinking of that in advance, and that would be a sign that you should learn more about recording before opening a studio.
Then, after ignoring that, the second sign would be not knowing how to fix the noise problem.

Anyone who "opens" a studio, should have knowledge of both those problems.

 

[SCSound]

With out trying to be rude back. I must first address the fact that though i said i opened a studio what i meant is i cunstructed a studio that will be open soon. it is not your place to run your Damn mouth about how much you think i know about sound because i dont know you and frankly dont want to and you could be one of the world best producers but you being a Jackass will not get you any where. Is it just me or is a forum a place where you ask questions and post comments for others to respond and help you out. I know how they say to solve this problem but it is not working.



SCSound

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Rude or not, they're absolutely correct.... those are issues you should have thought about before choosing the location for your studio.... you can count on one thing needed to solve it -- money - a lot of it... it's going to be an expensive problem to fix, especially after the fact.

 

[mshilarious]

If you're REALLY lucky, the door just needs some weatherstripping.

A bit less lucky would be a new solid core exterior door with good weatherstripping.

Somewhat unluckier, but still pretty lucky, would be installing a second door, to make a little airtrap.

Neither unlucky nor lucky would be to construct a decoupled interior wall inside the cinder block wall.

Cursed would be if, after building that wall, you discover the noise is coming through the floor and the ceiling too.

So what have you tried so far?

 

[traveen]

Sorry SCSOUND, from the information I read, it looked as if you opened a studio, and then found it was noisy, and didn't know how to fix it. If you read your first post again, what else could anyone think?

My point was and IS, if you know enough to open a studio, then the information people are giving you here should be redundant here on a HOME RECORDING forum.

If you are a professional, then you should already know the things being mentioned here, plus you would never have put it there without testing, as was mentioned by someone else.

I was not "running my mouth", you asked for advice and I offered it where I saw the real problem, which wasn't noise, but experience.

So while you do not want to know me as you perceive me a jackass, I think my advice is still sound and probably right on the spot.

 

[vestast]

Hey wait... You're only 18 ! Damn you've got darnold beat in the youngest studio owner catagory....

 

[SCSound]

I have put a second door on which helped however it did not stop the problem. I am considering putting another wall up and possibly changing one of the doors because one is not very tight. any other suggestions

SCSound

 

[DDev]

I have put a second door on which helped however it did not stop the problem. I am considering putting another wall up and possibly changing one of the doors because one is not very tight. any other suggestions

SCSound

Since you still haven't provided any details of the the building, here are my other suggestions:

1. Move.
2. Build a separate building around the existing structure.
3. Tear out the existing interior and construct it properly.

There IS NO SIMPLE CHEAP way to reduce the transmission of exterior noise into a structure, PERIOD. That is what everyone is trying to tell you. All the seals and heavy doors in the world won't give you any appreciable gain in noise reduction.

I hope that doesn't come across as harsh, it is just reality.

Darryl.....

 

[SCSound]

Thanks for all of the help but i got it taken care of

SCSound

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Thanks for all of the help but i got it taken care of

SCSound

Oh, so you gave up the studio then, eh?

 

[SCSound]

actually no i did not give up on the studio. I put celeing tile on the wall and that eliminated all of the unwanted sound. So i will put some pictures up soon so that you can take notes. so i will talk to ya later eh?

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Ceiling tile is not useful as a sound isolater in any way (although it can absorb some room reflections)... but glad you seem to think it worked.......

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

I put celeing tile on the wall and that eliminated all of the unwanted sound. So i will put some pictures up soon so that you can take notes.

 

[fraserhutch]

Ain't that a hoot.
I do have a pen and paper ready I'm waiting with worm on tongue (or is that with baited breath?)

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

Ceiling tile is not useful as a sound isolater in any way (although it can absorb some room reflections)... but glad you seem to think it worked.......

Oh wait.... he said "celeing tile"... maybe that's different than ceiling tile and actually does have some magical sound-absorbing properties...

 

[SCSound]

All that i am saying is that before i could here the sound and now i can not. And that is good enough for me.

SCSound

 

[Blue Bear Sound]

All that i am saying is that before i could here the sound and now i can not. And that is good enough for me

[voice of Jon Lovitz] Good for you, Jack!!!!