Soundproofing

digiology

Hi, I want to use my attic as a band practice room. Im most concerned with soundproofing the floors and the side walls (between our neighbouring houses).
The main obsticle has been finding materials in Ireland (preferably Cork) in particular mass loaded vinyl (MLV) for underneath floors.
Also, Im not sure what I should use to stop sound from escaping through the roof, any thoughts?

Teddyhandsome

Is your house detached??? If not don't even consider having live band practice in your attic space. Take that from an acoustic consultant specialised in that area for over 10 years.

crosstownk

Teddyhandsome wrote:

Is your house detached??? If not don't even consider having live band practice in your attic space.

I'd have to agree. I'm in a band and the noise factor is well beyond what you could hope to dampen no matter what magical solution you choose (unless all the band members use headphones!).

digiology

Teddyhandsome wrote:

Is your house detached??? If not don't even consider having live band practice in your attic space. Take that from an acoustic consultant specialised in that area for over 10 years.

Hmmm well no its not. The idea was to only practice during the day while most people are at work and hopefully wouldn't mind the noise too much at that time anyway. Luckily we have no bassist so we're not THAT loud, that might change however. My neighbours use their attic for storage only so there will be a whole floor between us also.
You do sound confident that this won't work though I'd hate to spend all that money and get complaints the next day!
We had considered building a concrete shed out the back and sound proofing this, that would be sooo expensive, I might have to wait until the propery market crashes and builders will work for nothing!

annieee

We're building a block shed out the back garden. I have the same problem and I thought about using the attic but it's just too difficult to sound proof. Also I need it for nights not days so that makes it worse again. You could get a wooden shed if it's just for practice. A friend has that and it's pretty good but he doesn't leave his equipment in it.

We are trying to build our shed on the cheap-ish. Employing a brickie and then someone to lay the foundation and flooring concrete. Then friends are helping out with the roof and insulation.

Best of luck with it.:D

digiology

cool, let me know how much it sets you back so I have an idea. I would expect that a wooden shed would be awful, worse than a sound proofed attic for all nieghbours except to those on either side.
Does your friend have it sound proofed and everything? I can't imagine that stopping much sound

antoinolachtnai

Sound carries through the roofspace. In my house (old terraced house) a party inthe upstairs next door sounds like it is on the other side of a door, whilst a downstairs party just isn't nearly as noticeable. this is despite the fact that the roofspaces are separated by block walls. I'm no expert, but I'd say it would carry a lot further up there than if you just set up outside in the back garden. At least if you did that, the neighbours could close their windows.

crosstownk

Sound also carries through solid fixtures - and this is the single biggest problem. In a semi-D there will be 'conducted' sound - i.e. from the rafters into the blockwork and on into the rafters of the other house. AFAIK, the only way to get around this is to have all surfaces floating with adequate sound absorbtion materials in between. Live band jamming in an attic space of a semi-D is a crazy notion - bassist or not - acoustic drums alone will cause a massive din.

Air, while being a good conductor of sound, is not the best. Metal and wood are excellent conductors - just put your ear to a wooden table and tap with you finger - much louder.

Whatever about the garden shed idea, do take Teddyhandsomes advice and don't go for the attic option - I know Teddyhandsome and he is an expert at this stuff - he also plays in a band so he understands your situation.

digiology

hmm interesting, I was going to go all out on the soundproofing, the only thing that makes me think it'd be ok is that we could probably practice there without the soundproofing provided it was between 1 and 6. I'll probably try that first

The tiniest concrete shed would set me back alot, might have to start saving.

Thanks for all your help people!