Music City is serious about sound, so music studios are plentiful. Read on to learn why you need soundproofing for your recording studio and what services can help you achieve that goal for your space.
The Importance of Soundproofing
Recording music is a lot harder than it sounds. If you’re at all familiar with the process, you probably know that studio soundproofing is important for capturing high-quality audio, but do you know why that is? Recording audio of any kind, whether it’s vocals or instrumentals, calls for a high level of control in the room — the same goes for mixing audio. That’s why soundproofing is also referred to as isolation.
Soundproofing works in three ways: it keeps in sounds you want to record, prevents echo, and keeps out sounds you don’t want to record or hear during mixing. Soundproofing materials like acoustic ceiling tiles absorb sound waves, keep them from transmitting through the material, and prevent them from bouncing back off the interior of the room. Echo is a huge issue when recording and mixing, as it can give a very muddy quality to the audio you’re trying to hone. Keeping your sound contained via soundproofing provides a richer, fuller sound, since you aren’t leaking audio from the room. In that way, soundproofing also keeps other parts of the building quiet, which can be useful if you have offices or shared space around your recording studio.
What Are Acoustic Ceilings?
Acoustic ceiling tiles are a particularly useful tool in soundproofing a room, especially one that’s already built. While there are ways to soundproof walls and ceilings during their construction, many spaces are not built with this in mind. Retrofitting a recording studio using acoustic ceiling tiles is much more affordable. Acoustical ceiling tiles are often referred to as drop ceilings, as they are installed beneath the actual ceiling of a room. These tiles can be used to cover an entire ceiling for maximum soundproofing or simply tiled in panels at regular intervals to optimally absorb sound. Soundproof acoustic ceiling panels can come in many forms and materials, providing you with aesthetic choices and budget options. Pick from materials like wood, metal, or fiberglass when you work with Ozburn-Hessey on your acoustic ceiling installation, as we offer a variety of Armstrong Architectural products.
Other Soundproofing Tips
Acoustic ceilings are great for recording studios, but there are four walls that need soundproofing, too. That’s where acoustic foam panel wedge wall tiles can come in handy. Acoustic foam is a soft, squishy material that’s great at absorbing additional sound. Since acoustic ceiling tiles are the best way to absorb sound, these work well as supplemental soundproofing. While you can use these panels on your ceilings, they are much less effective at even the highest-budget option than acoustic ceiling tiles. Acoustic tiles can actually also be used on walls if configured and installed properly. When it comes to providing the best additional sound insulation for a recording studio, you can’t go wrong with acoustic foam panels for your walls and doors.
If you’re ready to explore soundproofing for your Nashville recording studio, work with the best contractors Music City has to offer: Ozburn-Hessey. Give us a call today for a free consultation and estimate to see exactly what our expertise can do for your studio.
