Wall Construction Tips For Sound Isolation in a Home Studio

When I first moved into my house, I excitedly calledare 2x6 boards, with regular 2x4 studs placed 16
over the guys to come and have a practice sessioninches apart on each side. The layering is staggered,
in the basement. I had previously lived in a condo, soso the studs end up being about 8 inches from each
practicing there would be impossible, or veryother, but the important part is that each wall does
unenjoyable. The basement of the house had aboutnot touch the other wall. The only way vibration can
4 feet of ground surrounding it, and the upper partpass through is to go through the 2x6 at the top an
was a regular wall with windows in it. I figured itbottom, so just by having that transfer is cut down
wouldn't be much of a problem, and since there wasdramatically. Next step would be sheetrock - lots and
so much dirt around the bottom part of the house itlots of sheetrock! The only way to stop sound is to
would help absorb some of that vibration. I was deadabsorb and isolate it. The staggered wall helps to
wrong!keep it isolated, and multiple layers of different sized
As soon as we started, my neighbor notified me thatdrywall help to absorb it. Each side of the wall has 3
he could hear the loud sounds at his house, aboutlayers of sheetrock, at different depths. Standard
300 feet away. Disappointed, we stopped. The soundhalf inch, as well as 5/8th inch board (which was very
was going right out the thin glass windows and, thereheavy!). Sheetrock layers should alternate, so first
was nothing I could do until I made some bigbatch vertical, next batch horizontal, etc... You can
changes. The noise from the back side of the houseput as many as you like, and the more the better.
wasn't as bad, but there was still a window that letI used clear silicon on the studs before applying the
vibrations pass through easily. I had always dreamedfirst layer of sheetrock, and sealed it on the top and
about building a sound proofed room in my house, sobottom. Buy a bunch of these containers, you're
I set off on a mission to do so!gonna need a good amount - they will help keep the
I thought about building a room within a room, butpieces from vibrating against each other, and do their
that might be overkill for what I was looking for. Ipart in reducing transmission. You can also pick up a
wasn't worried about sound passing into the rest ofproduct called Green Glue which is designed for this
the house, just outside. I decided that I would build aexact purpose.
wall closing off the back part of the basement, andThere are many ways to accomplish the task of
treat that as much as I could to stop the sound. Isound isolation and absorption, and another good
would also build an angled wall in front of themethod is mounting the sheetrock on special hangers
windowed wall to help fight standing waves, and stopthat keep it from touching the studs. Ceilings hung by
vibration from passing through directly to the wall.wires, and floors resting on special pads can also be
Design of larger wallutilized to even further the affect.
To help keep transfer of vibration from passingIn the end, I am now able to play with the full band
through the large wall to the windows, I utilized aand not disturb my neighbors - a job well done!
staggered stud approach. The base and top board