BS: Sound Proofing A Rehearsal Room

Subject: Sound Proofing A Rehearsal Room
From: GUEST,John in Brisbane
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 10:05 AM

My 13 year old son is starting to make some serious noise as part of a lead, bass and drums trio. I would appreciate any advice as to how to soundproof their playing. (Convincing them to play softly is not a feasible option!)

I actually have quite some flexibility about where this room is located, but it would have to be part of the house.

Regards, John

Subject: RE: BS: Sound Proofing A Rehearsal Room
From: Morticia
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 12:30 PM

how big a job do you want to make of it John? Is this likely to last or do you need something that can be easily dismantled once he's moved on to something else, (like girls)?

Subject: RE: BS: Sound Proofing A Rehearsal Room
From: WyoWoman
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 01:46 PM

Well, there's always the "pillows in the drums" routine, and the mattresses against the walls. You of course want to put them in the basement, if you have one, in the corner farthest away from other houses or from work areas in your own home that require actual concentration.

And, difficult though it will be, you can work from the very beginning to get them to consider the possibility that they actually sound BETTER when they don't have all the dials cranked to "11."

And ... try to discipline yourself, because it will matter more and more as they get older, NOT to come down and scream at them to "TURN THAT CRAP DOWN ...." or "DO YOU ACTUALLY CONSIDER THAT CATERWAULING TO BE MUSIC!!!!????" Keep reminding yourself that this is their art and they deserve to express it as they need, and keep believing that if it's hideous (and it very well might not be), they'll flow out of it more quickly if you don't set yourself up as the handy-dandy parental stereotype impediment to their craft.

You'll actually love a lot of this. At least I did ...

WW

Subject: RE: BS: Sound Proofing A Rehearsal Room
From: MK
Date: 18 Nov 00 - 02:06 PM

If you can handle the look (and don't mind spray painting in one or multi-colors) egg crates, do the job very nicely. Go to a farmer's market or place where they sell eggs in bulk, and see if you can get the ones that are 12 inches square. Attach to all the walls, and back of door, (and optionally the ceiling) and you will be amazed at how much it deadens and quiets a room. If, you were re-doing a room specifically for rehearsals/recordings, then you'd want to purchase special insulation to put in a vapor lock beneath the drywall, with egg crates over top, and then the drywall. (I did this for my basement home studio which also doubles as my office, and even with 3 youngsters running around and making the kind of commotion that young kids do, I don't hear zippo from them when they yell, whine, or scream. Only if they jump or thump on the upstairs floor. (Sometimes I wish we'd eaten them when their bones were still soft. *BG) Good luck.