Where's the best place to get resilient channel?

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laptoppop

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OK, I'm going to use resilient channel to add a layer of wallboard to an existing room to reduce the sound transmission in and out of the room.

What's the best kind to use?

Where can I get it the cheapest and quickest?

Thanks!
-lee-
 
You won't find it at Lowes or HomeDepot. They won't even know what you're talking about. Find out who the local construction guys buy sheetrock from. Call that business and ask for RC1 resilient channel. Comes in 12' lengths and should cost about $1.10 or so each.

DD
 
Is RC1 the same as the sound isolation clips/channel that I see on a couple of sites?

I see the RC8 stuff on the Auralex site: http://www.auralex.com/sound_isolation_rc8/sound_isolation_rc8.html

and I see the RSIC-1 clips on a couple of sites such as
http://www.silentsource.com/rsic.html

I think the RSIC-1 clips might be made by PAC International. (http://www.pac-intl.com/rsic.htm) They look very interesting - I don't know if they are any better than any other resilient channel though.

I just don't know what I'm looking at or looking for. It appears some resilient channel has screws directly in the bottom of the channels that the wallboard is attached to (see http://www.soundproofing.org/infopages/channel.htm), while other channels are attached to clips that have rubber washers to isolate them even further. Offhand, the isolation seems like it would be better with the clip system, but it could also be a good bit more money.

Help! What should I get, and where should I get it?
I'm in the southern California area, by the way.

Thanks much,
-lee-
 
I've done searches on this stuff too, and I think you've found the only info on the entire net.

Don, is that price per 12' piece ? Cause the RC-8 stuff they want $.73 a FOOT for -

Those neoprene isolators that use hat type channel are $5 EACH!!! When you cost that out, it makes the RC8 look cheap.

When I finally get that far, I think I'm gonna use steel studs and the hell with the RC.

Keep in mind that putting RC on top of an existing standard wall with more sheet rock over that, is considered "triple leaf" construction and is not recommended. Re: the following -

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/acoustics/message/5148

Better to remove the wallboard on one side, put down the RC, then put two layers of sheet rock back. Steel studs are flexible enough to take the place of the RC, so it's not necessary, just expensive. Wood studs are stiffer, so need the RC to decouple the second "leaf" of the wall from the first one.
 
I'm working my way through those messages over on Yahoo -- but the biggest question that I don't find an answer to yet is...

Is it *BAD* or just not as good to use an additional layer of drywall using resilient channel with an inch or so of insulation over the top of existing drywall?

If *bad* -- why? (Acoustically speaking)

Thanks,
-lee-
 
I found it at a local drywall supply place, after being sent there by the friendly folks at Lowe's. I'm not sure where you are, but this place is in Southern Ohio.

I would look around for a lumber yard that the contractors use, and start there. People are pretty good about sending you in the right direction if they can't help you.
 
Lee, I'm still working thru the "why" - I think what's going on, is that if you have what's defined as a "triple leaf" wall, you end up with two springs (air masses) between 3 leafs (wall surfaces), which, since air can be a pretty stiff spring, actually makes for BETTER coupling thru the wall than if you used the same amount of mass it takes to make 3 leaves, and made two thicker ones with only ONE air spring between.

The main problem I've had with digging thru all this is Eric's English - My Dutch is non-existent so I've got no right to bitch, but still it's hard sometimes to figure out what he's saying. That's too bad, because he's far and away the smartest guy on that board where acoustics are concerned...

I tend to just accept his statements where I can't quite follow the logic, and will use two thicker panes of glass instead of 3 thinner ones for windows, same for walls, ceilings, etc -

The thing that's still confusing me though, is what happens when you build a room-in-a-room? I would think that the outer walls plus the inner ones would be a Quadruple leaf system, which as near as I can tell is even MORE of a no-no... Steve
 
Ahhhh. *BUT* John Sayers specifically said to pack the area between the old wall and the new wallboard mounted with RC with insulation. Wouldn't that tend to mitigate the spring effect and add mass without the huge expense of tearing the current wallboard down?

-lee-
 
well I've gotta say I've not heard of the triple skin effect but that guy sounds like he knows what he's talking about. Personally i would have thought that the insulation in the cavity between the drywall with the RC would reduce the spring effect.

BTW I've seen a lot of control room windows with triple glass :):)

cheers
John
 
Of course, now I'm wondering if the cheapest best way would be my original plan of adding a layer of plywood and then a layer of wallboard. I'm thinking that the combination of adding mass with the dissimilar layers would give decent effects -- and sure be easy to do.

-lee-
 
Knightfly - yeah that was $1.10 for each 12 foot section. It was cheaper than I thought it would be. I think I ended up using about 150 pieces of this stuff. I think I still have some pieces left. If so, I'll see if the manufacturer and part number is stamped on it.

DD
 
(I see others read the acoustics yahoo group as well)

knightfly - I'm Dutch, and I'm having problems understanding what he means sometimes too :) AFAI understood he even suggested quadruple glass ???

John - don't know if you know Eric Desart. I only recently 'met' him in a few acoustics groups, but his name pops up alot. He co-designed the galaxy studios here in Belgium, the largest studio we have (*very* advanced, claiming the world-record in isolation between rooms, 100,7dB -> www.galaxystudios.com)


Herwig
 
That Galaxy Studios looks impressive - note it was designed by Eastlake Audio (and Tom Hidley I presume)

I wonder why you would want 5 control rooms looking onto the one recording space?? Mind you in that situation you would want 100db isolation wouldn't you.

cheers
John
 
John Sayers said:
That Galaxy Studios looks impressive - note it was designed by Eastlake Audio (and Tom Hidley I presume)

I wonder why you would want 5 control rooms looking onto the one recording space?? Mind you in that situation you would want 100db isolation wouldn't you.

cheers
John
Click to expand...

The only reason I can think of is if you had a lot of mixing/mastering work, as opposed to tracking work, but you still wanted the flexibility of all of the control rooms being able to be used for tracking some of the time.

-lee-

Update: I went to the site and poked around. It looks like several (3?) control rooms look out onto the huge recording chamber (can you say orchestra?), but each of them also have their own recording areas and vocal booths too. In other words, this is one BIG facility!

I'm going to slink back to my one room mixing chamber now.....
 
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DD, I'd be most interested in a part# on the RC - I've seen RC-1, and Auralex calls theirs RC-8, not sure what the diff is - read somewhere that some so-called Resilient Channel ISN'T very (resilient)

That price sounds more in line with the "Z-strip" we use between vertical courses of T1-11 plywood siding, to keep the rain from getting behind the lower course. Sure hope it's good stuff -

Herwig, I saw something about Eric commenting that one of his suggestions would amount to a Quad leaf system too - I wish this stuff would get just a LITTLE more confusing, so I could just give up... Steve
 
I wish this stuff would get just a LITTLE more confusing
Click to expand...

OK Steve, lee, DD, Herwig.......here's my take on it, Galaxy that is........after a bit of thought ;)

So you are a No 1 Studio Designer, and someone wants you to design a room with 3+ control rooms looking into one recording space with the possibilty of each control room using this one room *WITHOUT* sound interference between rooms. i.e you can be mixing Death Metal in one control room and recording flute and harp in the main space.:eek:

I doubt that the No 1 Studio Designer would share a credit for acoustical design UNLESS they felt the requirement beyond their point of guarantee. Fair enough. :)

So Eric and his Professor were brought in and they designed and guaranteed the isolation specs.

Full Credit to them.

cheers
john
 
guys, guys ... I just received an email from amazon.de that my Everest handbook is underway... I will retreat from this board and social life for about 3 weeks now and will return as an acoustic jedi.

may the fibreglass be with me :D

:totally confused ripping his hair out whilst chanting old Celtic ritual songs:


Herwig
(btw been to galaxy. incredible place, great sound and stuff, but didn't like atmosphere/people. I'll prefer any other studio over theirs. That and the fact that it costs a fortune )
 
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