How to Build a Soundproof Booth

The door is a common weak point in a wall, and making sure you have a soundproof door in place will ensure proper isolation of your booth. Install our purpose-built soundproof studio door to get the soundproofing performance you need. When installing the door, you’ll need to make sure you double stud the rough opening.

Our heavy, airtight door prevents sound from leaking in or out of the booth and provides the foundation for effective sound isolation. For more on how to soundproof a door, read our article.

Many recording booths include a window to maintain visibility between the booth and a control room or adjacent space. Standard glass windows transmit sound easily, so a soundproof window system should be used instead.

The Tru Acoustics Soundproof Window uses laminated glass and an insulated frame designed to reduce sound transmission with three levels of soundproofing. For your soundproof booth, we recommend the STC 56 with an angled insulated glass unit. This allows visual communication while maintaining the booth’s acoustic isolation.

Effective soundproofing requires isolating the wall structure so sound cannot easily travel through into surrounding rooms. One of the most common methods is installing RSIC-1 Sound Isolation Clips. These clips decouple drywall from the studs and reduce vibration transfer through the wall assembly. Here’s how it’s installed:

1. Screw the RSIC-1 sound isolation clips into the studs
2. Snap in 25 gauge hemmed edge detail hat channel to the clips
3. Install 5/8" thick drywall onto the channel, leaving 1/4" around the perimeter
4. Seal perimeter and outlets with acoustical sealant
5. Add a second layer of 5/8" drywall for extra performance. Be sure to properly seal this layer as well

This decoupled structure significantly reduces sound transmission compared to standard drywall installation. If the booth is being built inside an existing room, don’t skip this. Remove the existing drywall and install the RSIC-1 clips.

Once the booth is isolated from outside noise, the next step is controlling reflections inside the booth. Vocal booths should aim for a target RT60 of 0.5 seconds or less. This means covering a large portion of interior surfaces with acoustic absorption. Materials such as Acoustic Pro Fabric Wrapped Panels help reduce echo and improve recording clarity.

You should cover all surfaces as is possible for your setup: all walls, the ceiling, behind the microphone position, and even the back of the door.

For additional treatment options, see these other recording studio acoustic materials.

Proper acoustic treatment ensures recordings sound dry and controlled instead of echoey or boxy.