VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

[D Voice]

Any experience with using mineral (roxul, etc) as sound barriers - as far as the difference between 1', 2', and 3', etc?
Especially as it pertains to handling low frequencies.
I know the more the better (obviously), but how much difference does each additional make?

[Jack Daniel]

As a sound barrier, it's mildly helpful, but even at higher thicknesses (e.g., 4" and up), no insulation-like material will do much to block noise. As a sound treatment, it's quite good, esp when combined with dispersion (such as making panels of slightly varying thicknesses).

For blocking sound, it takes mass, and for blocking LF sound, it takes a smart combo of mass and separation from vibrating surfaces (i.e., the revered "floating room").

In my experience--and I don't mean to sound flip--the best anti-noise system I have found was moving to a quiet place. You can build your way out of a noisy environment, but it's not easy.
_________________
Jack Daniel
Narrator / Man About Town

[George]

if you really want to go down the rabbit hole, here is an extensive resource on absorption coefficients in terms of the product, thickness, and effectiveness at various frequencies:

https://www.bobgolds.com/AbsorptionCoefficients.htm

that will certainly help with absorbing frequencies without necessarily "sound proofing" and noise blocking. depending on your space, different thicknesses will help address different low frequencies so having that information is super helpful.

if you're looking to actually eliminate outside sound, the amount of space you have is going to determine whether or not you can build a traditional "room in a room" for that purpose. if space is too limited, do the best that you can with absorption in as quiet a space as you can, like jack recommended.

[todd ellis]

my window plug is 11" of recycled denim insulation in a 1x frame covered in a cheap cotton sheet.

it works wonders.
_________________
"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[D Voice]

[todd ellis]

it's a garden level room - so the ledge is 8". the frame is 2 boxes - one 8" deep and the outer, slightly bigger box is 3" deep. covered in a cheap cotton sheet.

it blocks LF pretty well ... i never hear traffic. i can even record when my neighbor is mowing his lawn ... mostly.

ps - don't judge my room. i've been busy ... and lazy.
_________________
"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[D Voice]

Thanks, Todd! They look really nice.

I am working on something very similar - but don't have nearly as much depth.

[D Voice]

...and I will have to remove them from the window daily (otherwise the AM sun will crack the windows as they're on the South-East side of the apartment), so I will end up doing them in three sections per window, rather than one.

[todd ellis]

you could put aluminum foil on your windows to reflect the heat. you'd look like a crack den, but ...
_________________
"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?

[JohnV]

[George]

i too love the john sayers forum. it is an absolute treasure-trove of some of the greatest minds in studio construction and it's been running for quite a long time. the search function leaves a bit to be desired but it's absolutely worth a run around the block there to find what you're looking for.

[D Voice]

[todd ellis]

i thought about hinging up as well ... using a hydraulic or gas spring on both sides & a magnetic catch at the bottom.

push in at the bottom - window plug opens like a DeLorean.
_________________
"i know philip banks": todd ellis
who's/on/1st?