John Sayers' Recording Studio Design Forum Archive

I live in a 2-story duplex and want to make a small editing/mixing space in an upstairs bedroom (15x12x10). I used to live in the unit next door so know from experience that some low freqs transfer through the firewall between the units. To be extra considerate of my neighbors, what can I do to reduce LF transmission? Floating a new floor is out as I'm a renter.

It's really difficult when you're renting, since LF isolation is so unforgiving; before we get started, I need you to follow ALL the bold points here

http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4061

that apply to your situation and that you have knowledge of; especially the parts about how loud you intend to mix, type of music, type of speakers, which wall (relative to neighbors) the speakers will be on, preferably a floor plan sketch, etc - the more we know, the better the chance of a solution... Steve

I'm just planning this, having just moved in from the other side of the duplex. I live in Austin, I know where to buy materials and I can spend up to $1,000 on construction. I have a bountiful supply of 2" 703. I monitor at 80-85 db (usually at 82) with Dynaudio BM15s powered by a Hafler 9505 and Minimus 7s powered by an Alesis RA-100. I don't know the new neighbors, but I can hear them having sex thru the wall and the floor on my side actually shakes when they do. That gives you a good idea of the quality of construction! I can locate my mix position on either side of the room, whichever will be less obtrusive to the neighbors. I own sand-filled speaker stands and can also buy those Auralex platforms that further decouple and dampen speakers off the floor.

Let me know if you need any other info.

Hunter, if your building is THAT flimsy I'd be scared to death to even WALK across the floor, much less add any MASS to anything - have you considered the option of MOVING to a place better suited to your needs, or is that out of the question??!? Steve

Hud here again (that's Hunter Thompson in my sig). No, I moved in here over the holidays and just two weeks ago my studio partner announced he'd sold the place, requiring me to vacate by the end of this month. So moving ain't an option until the end of the year. That's why I'm pinched to do something in the spare bedroom described in my previous posts, regardless of the flimsy construction. Maybe there's no appropriate solution, but I thought I'd seek some ideas on this board. Thanks in advance for some suggestions.

Not a lot you can do without adding mass, which might just fall through the floor; maybe you could record the sex sessions, and play it back for the horny couple if they bitch about YOUR noise (Oh, and buy some Auralex MoPads and a few pieces of rockwool/cloth covered; put your speakers on any wall BUT the common one, put a couple pieces of rockwool behind them, set them on the mopads, and shove your couch up close to the common wall; find where the studs are (tapping on the wall when the deep throat duo isn't home will do this) then stand some of the rockwool panels up against the wall behind the couch, and shove the couch up against the panels to hold them in place.

This will damp the wall panels a bit, probably cut the transmission BOTH ways a little.

More than that, get some really good headphones (no, I'm NOT recommending this to mix on, but might help minimise the "war" aspects for OTHER parts of the production process... Steve

Anything more would require massive construction, with nothing to support it; other than that, I hope the 10 months goes by quickly for ya (no joke, just don't know what else to offer) - good luck... Steve

Thanks, Steve, I appreciate the tips. I already make good use of my Senn HD600s at home, I just don't want to make any critical mixing decisions on phones.

Hud