Sirens On Main Street!

[Cult_Status02]

I'm building my studio on Main Street on the second floor...problem is (I think the cops are just bored really) for the last 3 days there seems to be a siren either fire or police at least once an hour. My problem is that I need to know what I could do to actually keep somthing that loud out of my tracking room and isolation booth...the booth is actually the closest to the window. What sound proofing technique will have the best bang for its buck? Thanks much, I'd hate to give up my location just because of the sirens. Thanks for any help in advance.

 

[mud]

Lol get yourself a gun n shoot out thier siren...alternatively change venue, there aint a lot you can do to get rid of that sound mate as they are built to be heard for miles.

 

[emergencyexit]

I recorded at a semi-pro studio a couple years ago that was right across the street from the fire station in cambridge MA. As you would expect, being cambridge there is not only a lot of traffic (this being mass ave) but there are a lot of sirens coming from their neighbors. Yet I spent 10 hours for 2 days in that studio and heard not even the tiniest bit of noise. They charged $30 an hour to record which I'd say is about the price of most basement studios. I didn't get around to asking about their facility because I was actually recording my band, but I'm pretty sure if they can do it (two 20-30 year old guys) then others can too with out having to move locations. Just my random talking but maybe you won't just loose hope because of it.

I guess with not much knowledge I'd have to suggest a lot of money going into building rooms inside of rooms. How much can you spend on this? It sounds like in your situation you have to do it right.

Ben

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

I'm building my studio on Main Street on the second floor...problem is

Second floor huh? Without knowing the particulars of the existing construction, I would submit that unless you have ample funds, any construction aimed at stopping the transmission of siren noise will be extremely expensive, and under some conditions(existing structural), may be highly improbable. If I were you this is what I would do.

In order to make some construction determinations, you MUST know the transmission loss of the existing construction. This means MEASURING the sound level BOTH at the exterior of the building and simultaneously at the interior. This can be done with a Sound level meter. However, if you aren't experienced or knowlegable in the physics of sound transmission and propagation, you are stabbing in the dark. Hiring an Acoustical Consultant can save you time and money, and may actually give you the means by which to make critical decisions.
Once the consultant makes an analysis of the environmental noise and existing transmission loss, then you have a QUALIFIED database on which one may DESIGN a suitable solution based on RATED assemblies. Remember., IF, which I think is probably the case, this is in a COMMERCIAL building, you are required by law to obtain a building permit, which in turn requires various design documents to be submitted for approval, such as electrical, HVAC, egress, structural calcs, plumbing and other code governed subjects. This is NOT an easy undertaking, as commercial building construction, ESPECIALLY recording studios are highly subject to BID approval. My best advice to you is to FIRST talk to your Building Inspection Department for basic information related to your project. Submitting plans for a commercial studio is a highly complicated and daunting proposition, as meeting stringent fire, structural, safety regulations, not to mention construction method and material spec documentation, is an excercise in frustration for the unexperienced, if not total project rejection. Hence my BID suggestion. Good luck with your project. If you have specific questions, just give a holler.
fitZ

 

[Cult_Status02]

Thanks guys. Emergency, that actually does give me hope. And Rick, you know too much! Haha. Well, the sirens I hear are through shitty windows that are going to be replaced...I think maybe with the new windows, and that fact that it's basically a whole room inside another room, that I may have luck. I guess just perhaps putting more insolation and that sort of thing...If that doesn't work...lots of foam on both sides of the walls! lol.

As far as the regulations and all that good stuff, I believe it's all being taken care of by the land lord, so that's good. I keep ya updated on how this works out, and get some pics up. Oh yeah, here's a shitty pic of how the room started...all that stuff was already in there, so I just finished gutting the whole thing and I start construction really soon, anywho, here's what I started with.

 

[apl]

Here's a useful article.

 

[apl]

You could record a cover of "Riding the Storm Out."

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

And Rick, you know too much! Haha

Well, its what I DON"T know that bothers me

As far as the regulations and all that good stuff, I believe it's all being taken care of by the land lord,

You believe? How does one apply for a permit when he DOESN"T even know what he's building?
Cult_Status02, I think you are very naive and are fooling yourself, that is if you REALLY want to stop the siren noise from entering the mics. Insulation will ONLY help a little, but requires MASS and lots of it in order to do its job, which is basically absorb hi and mid frequencys within the stud cavity and dampen the drywall. Other than that, it offers very little in the way of sound transmission loss.

If that doesn't work...lots of foam on both sides of the walls! lol.

Thats rediculous. Foam does absolutely nothing for transmission loss. Besides, if THAT doesn't work, you've already wasted time and money And after the fact retrofitting of work that does nothing in the first place is throwing bad money after good.

I think maybe with the new windows, and that fact that it's basically a whole room inside another room,

Wrong again. Your room within a room" is nothing but partitions, with the framing structurally TIED to the existing structure. This is NOT a room within a room. All you've done is partition off space. You could put 5 layers of drywall on BOTH sides of the framing, and sound would simply flank via structural transmission through the existing floor, cieling and new framing tied to it. I guarantee it.
In order to build a TRUE room within a room, it must be a complete DECOUPLED envelope, floated on resiliant isolators and isolated sway bars. When building a project such as this, it would help if you READ how to go about this first, instead of flying by the seat of your pants. Unless you're Bill Gates and have lots of money to burn. If you ACTUALLY interested, say the word and I'll post some links to info that will REALLY help you. Otherwise, send me the money you will waste, and you keep the time as I can see from the picture you are already on that path.

 

[invisiblenemies]

At least you're all set in the chair department.

 

[Cult_Status02]

...Fucking Chairs, there all dead now!!!!

And Rick, you get really upfront when you want to .... It's good and hurtful at the same time. What I mean as far as the landlord taking care of it. Basically I can do anything I want to the room, there are a lot of connections going on here with people, so I get to skip a lot of shit.

Now as far as really being interested, I am and am not. I've read some stuff, but I'm not that particularly picky. This is only a temporary place about a year, I'm going to do it as good as I can, and do it better the next time. I just don't have the know how or patience to really learn a bunch more stuff. Thanks for your help guys, but I think I'm just going to do what I can...the sirens will just have to be something to work around. I'm not gonna put hundreds more into stopping the sirens and then end up with shoddy monitors.

Thanks anyway guys.

 

[RICK FITZPATRICK]

And Rick, you get really upfront when you want to

Well, what can I say ....your the one that asked, not me. I just tried to tell you the truth, so if thats to much to handle, well, so be it. At least I tried, which if you think about it, is what you came here for, no? Anyway, good luck with the project. Oh by the way, hope the sirens sound better on good monitors

 

[My Name]

Could you rearange your studio so that the sirens will not be bleeding through into the mics?

At least the noise will not be going to tape...

 

[sixways]

Its a cool as name for a studio though...

Sirens on Main Street.

6

 

[Cult_Status02]

Well, what can I say ....your the one that asked, not me. I just tried to tell you the truth, so if thats to much to handle, well, so be it. At least I tried, which if you think about it, is what you came here for, no? Anyway, good luck with the project. Oh by the way, hope the sirens sound better on good monitors

Oh by all means, I appreciate it! I was just being goofy . You are very helpful.

After thinking about it, it may not be such a problem, as most of the sirens are happening in the afternoon (2:00pmish) and I'm usually going to be recording at about 5:00pm, so it may very well be something I can just "work around." But I will make it a point to position my mics in the opposite direction though, for a "just in case, so not as much gets picked up" scenario. I'm mostly just worried about it on vocals, in which case I may be able to lower som frequencies get rid of some. I don't guys but I'll definatly post some pictures and sounds when it's done.

And you know, 6, that would be a good name! However, I already have a name "Illegal Tone Recordings," my band is called "Evil Illegal " so that's kind of where it came from. And before the studio, I was planning a label and it was going to be called "Illegal Tone Records," IT Records for short. Like "it records" the song, get it? hahaha.

Alright, I'm done

Oh yeah, and if you do listen to my band's music on the above link, those aren't the good ones.