Business guide David Bresnahan:
Since you are reading this article, I am going to assume that music is your passion. Understanding your love of music, I am going to reveal the necessary steps for building a home recording or practice studio for $500 or less. If you have sticker shock, think about the alternative of renting a small to medium studio for $50 to $90 an hour or a larger high-end studio for $90 to $200 hour. As you see, investing a small amount upfront will save you thousands over the course of your music career.
Before beginning your project, you must understand the basics in soundproofing and acoustics:
Absorption: The absorption of sound waves across the human hearing range. Using the proper acoustic materials will enable you to tune your room to produce great sound on the inside. If you are converting an existing, laying carpet is one of the easiest ways to provide absorption for your floor. Carpeting will absorb high frequencies, but will not be effective in absorbing low frequencies, such as bass.
Isolation: If you live in a multi-unit dwelling or home with your parents, isolation will likely be your most important consideration. Whether you have your speakers pumping, or are rehearsing with your band, keeping the sound from seeping out of your home studio will be a consideration. The cheapest way to acquire the best in absorption is using a 1 or 2 lb. vinyl barrier.
Diffusion: Spreading the sound within a room will enable you to achieve the best listening and recording environment. With poor diffusion, sound can accumulate in certain areas of the room, giving you a distorted sound in these spots.
The materials needed to properly build your home studio should include:
Egg crate Studio Foam 1 or 2 lb. Vinyl Barrier Adequate Carpeting
Through its Soundproof FoamT brand, American Micro Industries offers egg crate foam, faced acoustical foam, vinyl barrier material, melamine foam and other budget conscience soundproofing and acoustical materials. At the touch of your fingertips, you can view pricing and order online 24X7 at http://www.soundprooffoam.com. You may also call their friendly and knowledgeable product specialists to receive answers to your questions or place your order by calling 1-800-558-2058 toll free Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM ET. Finally, email sent to [email protected] will receive a prompt and courteous response.
If you have existing drywall in your room, you should apply furring strips to the wall using nails. This step is very important, as you need air space between the vinyl barrier and the drywall to properly isolate sound. Once you have the vinyl barrier up, you can either add another layer of drywall or apply the egg crate studio foam. Keep in mind that if you apply the foam directly onto the vinyl barrier, the existing wall will have a " flimsy" feel. This usually goes unnoticed, but if you are looking at building your studio from an economics standpoint, you will quickly overlook this small detail.
To apply the egg crate foam, should use a spray adhesive or Velcro dots. Spray adhesive is more long-term, and while Velcro dots are also designed for long-term use, they still allow for easy removal in the future.
In conclusion, adding a vinyl barrier and egg crate studio foam will allow you to build a quality home studio at a fraction of the cost of more expensive methods, or the cost prohibitive studio rental.
Where to buy:
All of the products mentioned in this article are available from American Micro Industries at http://www.soundprooffoam.comor by calling 1-800-558-2058.
Relevant Soundproofing Links:
http://www.howtosoundproofaroom.com
http://www.acousticalfoampanel.com
http://www.acousticalceilingtiles.com
http://www.americanfoamgroup.com
Jesse Barron is a marketing analyst with American Micro Industries and understands the needs and concerns of musicians endeavoring to build their own home recording studio, practice room or listening room