Account
Quote
Cart
Professional Recording Studio Soundproofing
Author: Eric Zuck
Last Updated: July 10, 2024
Read Time: 6 Minutes
Professional Recording Studio Soundproofing
Author:
Eric Zuck
Last Updated:
July 10, 2024
Read Time:
6 Minutes
Author: Eric Zuck
Updated: Jul. 10, 2024
Read Time: 6 Minutes
Building a professional recording studio requires planning and precision. Professionally engineered spaces should be natural sounding and accurate acoustically. No random car horns or dogs barking. No hearing the salespeople on the other side of the wall. And no hearing the HVAC, plumbing, or electrical doing it’s job in the background.
We understand how sound works and can help you design and plan a space that will meet whatever needs you have.
Building a professional recording studio requires planning and precision. Professionally engineered spaces should be natural sounding and accurate acoustically. No random car horns or dogs barking. No hearing the salespeople on the other side of the wall. And no hearing the HVAC, plumbing, or electrical doing it’s job in the background.
We understand how sound works and can help you design and plan a space that will meet whatever needs you have.
Building a Professional Music Recording Studio
Both the soundproofing and acoustics are integral parts of a recording studio, and a professional studio treats both in specific ways. Before we dive headfirst into some of the strategies we use when soundproofing your professional recording studio, there are a couple of key questions that need to be considered before designing or building a recording studio.
- What is your goal for the space? Who will be using it?
- What are the physical characteristics we’re working with? What are the dimensions? Do you have drawings and photos? Where is the space located? Is there existing HVAC or electrical?
- What kind of budget are we working with?
This background information allows us to save you time and money while providing the best services possible. For a full list of considerations, like room shape recommendations for best acoustics, reach out to us to begin a conversation about your space!
Soundproofing a Professional Studio
If you want your professional recording studio to be the cream of the crop, you can’t cut any corners. We help with all levels of “professional” ranging from a semi-professional home studio (high 50s STC) all the way up to a professional recording studio (60-70 STC). Whatever your goals, you’ll need to plan ahead and invest in the best performing materials for the job. We’ve done the work for you on the front-end so you can ensure you’re getting the best solutions for the high requirements of a studio. Let’s run through the focus areas one-by-one for soundproofing!
| Soundproofing Category | Best Product for a Recording Studio | Online "How To" Guide |
| Door Soundproofing | ||
| Window Soundproofing | ||
| Wall & Ceiling Soundproofing | ||
| Floor Soundproofing |
Step One: Soundproofing Doors
The doors to your professional recording studio are weak points that will allow a lot of sound to pass through if they are not treated properly. For a professional studio, you need a professional door. It’s time for you to meet the Sound Lock Soundproof Door, our professional studio door with an STC rating of up to 56!
This heavy-duty door is as beefy as an interior door gets. It’s also highly customizable, as we can make it in any species of wood, can come with a soundproof view window, and arrives ready to stain or paint. So if you are not messing around with the soundproofing of your professional recording studio, this 300+-pound door is your best option!
Step Two: Soundproofing the Studio Windows
Whether you plan to use a two way camera system or windows, every professional recording studio needs a visibility between the control room and the recording space. For a view window, it must be completely soundproof so that no airborne noise travels between the two rooms.
Our Tru Acoustics Soundproof Window is designed specifically with professional recording studios in mind. This window is engineered with various designs for an STC rating of up to 56. We manufacture the Tru Acoustics window with a easy-to-install snap-in system that makes installation on the job site a breeze.
Step Three: Soundproofing Walls, Floor, and ceiling
For a professional recording studio, you need to have a plan to soundproof all 6 surfaces of the room. We recommend starting from the studs, and building an entirely new wall unit with soundproofing in mind. You will need to insulate between the studs; otherwise, the space will be hollow and allow more sound to pass.
UnderBlock Rubber Underlayment on the Floor
Everyone always wants to forget the floor! If you build soundproof walls and a soundproof ceiling, but skip the floor – all you’ve done is left one of the 6 surfaces of your room open as a potential flanking path. Use our UnderBlock rubber underlayment to ensure your floor is soundproof.
RSIC Clips, Green Glue, and Soundproof Drywall
A sound isolation clip system is your best option for hitting the high STC ratings required by a recording studio. We will help you design your wall to meet your exact STC requirements using a combination of the specialty soundproofing materials we stock for use in all our projects. Depending on your STC requirements, we will likely be combining multiple products together – such as sound isolation clips, Green Glue, and soundproof drywall.
IMPORTANT: Soundproof the HVAC System and Penetrations
Any penetrations into your recording studio are potential flanking paths for sound. A Second Skin expert will help you plan ahead to ensure you have a soundproof HVAC vents and system as well as any other paths for sound into the studio.
Getting the Perfect Acoustics in a Professional Studio
We've got the best acoustic materials to perfect your recording studio. Whether you want colorful acoustic panels like PolyZorbe™ Vivid Acoustic Panels, or high quality acoustic foam that doesn't yellow and is class A fire rated, we've got you covered!
Acoustic PANELS for Recording Studios
Our full line of acoustic panels can cover any aesthetic and any budget! From our best selling Timberwool™ wood fiber panels to our PolyZorbe™ polyester panels, there's an option for everyone!
Acoustic FOAM for Recording Studios
We know, we know. Acoustic foam is the crème de la crème of recording studios, and we get it. Foam has been the leading industry standard as long as time. Unfortunately, there is a lot of cheap polyurethane foam out there that's prone to yellowing and is highly flammable. That's why Second Skin acoustic foam is class A fire rated melamine foam (a.k.a. the good stuff!).
For most wall coverage, our foam linear wedges, foam pyramids, and foam anechoic wedges are crowd pleasers. If you have lower frequencies to control, our deep wedge foam is a great option. Of course, our foam bass traps are the heavy lifters in the bass department.
Not sure which one to choose? Give us a call to discuss your project!
Recording Studios Ceiling treatment
Many professional recording studios will have ceilings between 10 and 15 feet high, leaving plenty of room for acoustic materials on the ceiling. If you need help picking out the right one, hopefully the below helps; otherwise, reach out to us, and we'll steer you in the right direction.
Acoustic Clouds
If you want to hang top quality acoustic clouds, we high recommend PolyZorbe™ Vivid clouds for 12 color options or standard PolyZorbe™ clouds for even higher NRC. If you want to keep with the acoustic foam theme, Mela Mute™ comes in a wave shape hung as a clouds. Acoustic clouds give you a top-performing absorptive product that will help partially cover a reflective ceiling.
Acoustic Baffles
If you've got a bit more room, installing an acoustic baffle system can go a long way toward giving you a fun design without compromising on sound quality. If you're looking for those 12 color options in baffles or thicker, more absorptive polyester baffles, look no further! If you want to hang class A fire rated foam, we have Mela Mute™ egg crate baffles and Mela Mute™ wave baffles available.
Acoustic Ceiling Tiles
Some studios will have a dropped ceiling. Don't make the mistake of installing standard ceiling tiles. Second Skin acoustic ceiling tiles (ACT) are an excellent, cost-effective way to improve the sound quality of a space with a dropped ceiling. PolyZorbe™ Vivid tiles can help you match the room's aesthetic. Otherwise, keep a wood theme going with Timberwool™ ceiling tiles.
Speak to a Professional for a Professional Studio
We’ve got the know-how and the materials to dial in any type or configuration of recording studio rooms having developed acoustical design plans for vocal booths, isolation rooms, drum rooms, live rooms, control rooms, and more!
Depending on the type of music you’ll be recording and the types of rooms you plan to have, we can get you exactly what you need for a pristine recording and listening experience. Just reach out to a Second Skin expert to get the conversation started!