Can I soundproof a walk-in closet to make a music practice space?
December 13, 2020 6:22 PM Subscribe
Amateur saxophone player moving from a house, where I could practice without bothering anyone, into an apartment. I'm very aware that people are working from home and want to maintain good relations with my new neighbors, but also want to be able to practice regularly. Can I soundproof my walk-in closet to the extent that not-too-loud regular sax practice at reasonable hours won't be likely to disturb anyone?
One of my New Year's aspirations (resolutions is probably too optimistic) is to practice regularly, meaning something like 1-2 hours a day most days. If I can't do this at home, I'll find another solution, but that would be difficult -- there are no nearby practice spaces for rent that I've been able to find, and I don't have a car, so getting to such a space would add an hour's commute by public transit.
I'm talking about mostly mezzopiano-level scales practice -- I'm not going to be blasting Careless Whisper. But there are tone exercises that are necessarily loud, though those only take a few minutes each session. I have a mute for the sax bell, too, which might slice off a couple of decibels.
In the past when I lived in an apartment I would practice into a clothes closet, and no one ever complained. But it was a very small building (only three other units), and this was before COVID so people were mostly at work during the day when I was practicing.
I'm wondering if I can install some kind of soundproofing in the walk-in closet. Of its four walls, only one of the narrow ones abuts another apartment, but the floor and ceiling are shared with the apartments below and above. I've been looking into acoustic panels, but it looks like those are more for preventing sound reflection than for effective soundproofing.
I'm considering the e-Sax as an alternative, but since I play both alto and tenor I would have to get two, and they are expensive.
So, is there any kind of paneling I could install in the walk-in closet that would reduce the noise to "reasonable for an apartment building" levels, for most people's values of reasonable? Other creative ideas?
One of my New Year's aspirations (resolutions is probably too optimistic) is to practice regularly, meaning something like 1-2 hours a day most days. If I can't do this at home, I'll find another solution, but that would be difficult -- there are no nearby practice spaces for rent that I've been able to find, and I don't have a car, so getting to such a space would add an hour's commute by public transit.
I'm talking about mostly mezzopiano-level scales practice -- I'm not going to be blasting Careless Whisper. But there are tone exercises that are necessarily loud, though those only take a few minutes each session. I have a mute for the sax bell, too, which might slice off a couple of decibels.
In the past when I lived in an apartment I would practice into a clothes closet, and no one ever complained. But it was a very small building (only three other units), and this was before COVID so people were mostly at work during the day when I was practicing.
I'm wondering if I can install some kind of soundproofing in the walk-in closet. Of its four walls, only one of the narrow ones abuts another apartment, but the floor and ceiling are shared with the apartments below and above. I've been looking into acoustic panels, but it looks like those are more for preventing sound reflection than for effective soundproofing.
I'm considering the e-Sax as an alternative, but since I play both alto and tenor I would have to get two, and they are expensive.
So, is there any kind of paneling I could install in the walk-in closet that would reduce the noise to "reasonable for an apartment building" levels, for most people's values of reasonable? Other creative ideas?
Honestly, I think communication goes along way. And I’d start with basic, cheap soundproofing like eggcrate. Also, are their closets aligned with yours? If so, that would allow even greater sound absorption. As long as you’re not squawking tunelessly like an angry manatee at off hours, they might even like it. Just check in and see what they say and make sure they have your phone to text if it’s suddenly nap time or someone is home sick. Just be clear that you must practice. And offer flexibility if you can. And check in with them after a week of practice. Maybe they’ll say they can’t even hear you!
posted by amanda at 6:40 PM on December 13, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by amanda at 6:40 PM on December 13, 2020 [4 favorites]
The answer is no, there is not any kind of paneling you can install.
What you're trying to do is acoustic isolation - you're trying to stop sound waves from being transmitted through the floor and ceiling. In order to do this, you need to make a sealed box of some sort, and/or add material to the surfaces around you that convert vibration energy and turn it into heat. The way to do this is through double layers of sheetrock with green glue, or vibration clips, a floating floor, etc etc. If you're a renter I wouldn't do this unless you're pretty handy and can build a plywood box inside of your closet / want to sink time and energy into it for a long-term solution.
Solutions like foam panels don't work, because they won't meaningfully stop the sound waves from reaching your wall/surfaces, and then vibrating through into next door. They WILL shape how YOU hear the sound through, so they will treat your sound -- and do function as acoustic treatment.
You can get a conference call phone booth that's designed exactly for this usage.. but it's usually around $3000. Personally, I would totally get the e-Sax so that you can play to your hearts' content, and so that you could resell/transport it and play in other places with ease.
posted by suedehead at 6:47 PM on December 13, 2020 [13 favorites]
What you're trying to do is acoustic isolation - you're trying to stop sound waves from being transmitted through the floor and ceiling. In order to do this, you need to make a sealed box of some sort, and/or add material to the surfaces around you that convert vibration energy and turn it into heat. The way to do this is through double layers of sheetrock with green glue, or vibration clips, a floating floor, etc etc. If you're a renter I wouldn't do this unless you're pretty handy and can build a plywood box inside of your closet / want to sink time and energy into it for a long-term solution.
Solutions like foam panels don't work, because they won't meaningfully stop the sound waves from reaching your wall/surfaces, and then vibrating through into next door. They WILL shape how YOU hear the sound through, so they will treat your sound -- and do function as acoustic treatment.
You can get a conference call phone booth that's designed exactly for this usage.. but it's usually around $3000. Personally, I would totally get the e-Sax so that you can play to your hearts' content, and so that you could resell/transport it and play in other places with ease.
posted by suedehead at 6:47 PM on December 13, 2020 [13 favorites]
Violinist here. Not as loud but certainly as intrusive to the neighbors' peace of mind if played at the wrong hours.
When I was an apartment dweller I just went to my neighbors and said, "Look, I'm a fiddle player and I have to practice and I'd like to remain on good terms with everyone. How's about I keep my practicing to between the hours of 10am and 4pm?"
All of my neighbors really appreciated the heads up, the consideration on my part, and were totally cool with it. Nobody ever complained. Some even told me that they liked to listen to me practice.
Pick your times and then hash it out with your neighbors and with luck you won't need to spend piles of $$ on sound proofing that won't really do what you need it to.
posted by nathanfhtagn at 6:53 PM on December 13, 2020 [7 favorites]
When I was an apartment dweller I just went to my neighbors and said, "Look, I'm a fiddle player and I have to practice and I'd like to remain on good terms with everyone. How's about I keep my practicing to between the hours of 10am and 4pm?"
All of my neighbors really appreciated the heads up, the consideration on my part, and were totally cool with it. Nobody ever complained. Some even told me that they liked to listen to me practice.
Pick your times and then hash it out with your neighbors and with luck you won't need to spend piles of $$ on sound proofing that won't really do what you need it to.
posted by nathanfhtagn at 6:53 PM on December 13, 2020 [7 favorites]
https://ask.metafilter.com/330973/How-early-is-too-early-for-sax-practice#4763563
posted by ovvl at 6:53 PM on December 13, 2020
posted by ovvl at 6:53 PM on December 13, 2020
it looks like those are more for preventing sound reflection than for effective soundproofing.
Yep.
Here's a previous Ask on the topic. The Foo Fighters' guide to soundproofing appears gone from their website, but it's available elsewhere by googling.
The shortish answer is you can try some cheap and easy methods (packing blankets, for example, that you put up only when you practice - otherwise fire hazard) that might work well enough, but it'll be trial and error, so yes you probably should talk to your neighbors, let them know what you're trying to do and get feedback from them in whether it works or not. If the cheap & easy methods don't work then you're looking at fairly hefty construction, which I assume you can't/won't do because apartment.
And I’d start with basic, cheap soundproofing like eggcrate.
If by "egg crate" you mean egg crate foam mattress toppers or packing material, absolutely do not do this. It is a massive fire hazard - using this type of foam as wall covering is what killed people in The Station nightclub fire.
posted by soundguy99 at 6:55 PM on December 13, 2020 [14 favorites]
Yep.
Here's a previous Ask on the topic. The Foo Fighters' guide to soundproofing appears gone from their website, but it's available elsewhere by googling.
The shortish answer is you can try some cheap and easy methods (packing blankets, for example, that you put up only when you practice - otherwise fire hazard) that might work well enough, but it'll be trial and error, so yes you probably should talk to your neighbors, let them know what you're trying to do and get feedback from them in whether it works or not. If the cheap & easy methods don't work then you're looking at fairly hefty construction, which I assume you can't/won't do because apartment.
And I’d start with basic, cheap soundproofing like eggcrate.
If by "egg crate" you mean egg crate foam mattress toppers or packing material, absolutely do not do this. It is a massive fire hazard - using this type of foam as wall covering is what killed people in The Station nightclub fire.
posted by soundguy99 at 6:55 PM on December 13, 2020 [14 favorites]
WhisperRoom is a company that sells sound-proofed booths that can be used for instrument practice; and there are others.
I looked into a sound booth solution several years ago when I was practicing a brass instrument but they were too pricey for me at the time. If they are within your budget, it appears they are a solution.
posted by bertran at 9:00 PM on December 13, 2020 [3 favorites]
I looked into a sound booth solution several years ago when I was practicing a brass instrument but they were too pricey for me at the time. If they are within your budget, it appears they are a solution.
posted by bertran at 9:00 PM on December 13, 2020 [3 favorites]
I want to add that a lot in this situation depends on who are your neighbors. I've lived in places where the neighbors loved to hear me practice the horn -- and told me so! -- and other places where they just hated it. Right now I have a student saxophonist living next door and I like to hear her play.
posted by bertran at 9:11 PM on December 13, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by bertran at 9:11 PM on December 13, 2020 [5 favorites]
If you Google "sound reduction" you will find a variety of products sold for reducing engine noise, etc. I doubt you can sound PROOF that way, but you might be able to knock off 5-10 db. One tricky thing is that sound has a way of sneaking thru any gaps or cracks, and you need to be careful to insure adequate ventilation.
posted by SemiSalt at 5:44 AM on December 14, 2020
posted by SemiSalt at 5:44 AM on December 14, 2020
Good advice here re: soundproofing vs acoustic treatment (eggcrate etc). The later won't really help you. The former needs 'dead air' to work, an isolated space in between your practice space and the outside.
posted by BrStekker at 12:28 PM on December 15, 2020
posted by BrStekker at 12:28 PM on December 15, 2020
« Older Help me get started with Raspberry Pi and... | Why did this recipe call for me to cook half the... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:38 PM on December 13, 2020 [1 favorite]