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Every seasoned musician knows that creating a studio is a difficult process. Not only do you need to consider the high price to build, but it is also important to consider the noise. Building a studio in your own home is not very practical. You probably don’t want to annoy everyone in your household when you hit the drums, play the guitar, or sing. This is why so many musicians tend to build a home music studio in their garden log cabin or shed.
However, if you want to turn your booth into a real music studio and want to make sure it is properly soundproofed, there are certain steps and standards you need to follow. People have been doing these type of projects for a long time so you don’t have to experiment with your own project. There is enough information to help you with this.
Of course, you don’t need to look any further, because with this article I am going to take you on exactly that topic.
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Tools You May Need
Before we dive into this guide and can help you with this topic, make sure you have the right tools and equipment for this type of project.
Since you’ll likely be adding insulation and foam sheets, you’ll need a tape measure, drill, and utility knife. These will be your essential elements. Of course, a couple of screwdrivers are also useful. I also recommend wearing a dust mask while working inside. This will protect you from dangerous particles in the air.
Materials you may need
You have the right tools, and now it’s time to make sure you have the right materials, too. If you want to add extra insulation today, it is probably best to buy some insulation material. For sound insulation, I recommend using fiberglass and blown cellulose insulation. They are great for keeping the warm air inside and the caller outside while providing great noise reduction. You may also need some plywood to finish off the insulation.
Of course, you will also need some foam sheets if you want to make some serious music in the shed.
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Increase bulk and insulation
One of the main problems with garden log houses is the fact that their walls are quite thin and made of wood, which is not exactly good for soundproofing. I believe soundproofing is essential for building a home music studio in this type of shed. You don’t want to annoy the people around you or your neighbors. If so, someone can file a noise complaint. Of course, you want to avoid such legal problems and not upset your neighbors.
The first thing you need to do for proper soundproofing is to increase the mass of the walls. The best way to do this is to add some fiberglass insulation or apply a few more layers of wood on top of plywood. Or you can use the combination of the two, which is probably the best thing you can do for soundproofing.
Keep in mind that there are some companies that offer high quality log cabins that already have enough bulk. As you can see on the loghouse.ie website, the garden rooms seem thick enough to greatly reduce the noise.
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Add acoustic foam panels on the walls
Once you have made sure that your garden room is properly insulated and that you are not disturbing the people in your neighborhood, it is time to start thinking about the quality of the music you will be creating inside.
The main problem with creating music in such low shacks is the reverb effect. The sound bounces off the walls and windows, making audio recordings sound flat and echo-like. To prevent this from happening, most musicians attach acoustic foam panels to their walls. These can be very effective, but they must be installed properly.
Fortunately, these acoustic foam panels are not exactly very expensive. You can probably buy a set of panels for all walls for no more than $ 50. Although I’d suggest buying a few extra in case any of them get damaged.
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Cover the floor
If you want to reduce the Hall effect as much as possible, you need to cover every surface in the garden log house. You can’t forget about the floor. However, installing acoustic foam panels on the floor is not exactly a good idea.
Remember that the floor is already a great insulator and the sound won’t bounce off it too much. In other words, you could focus on other things. If you are determined to do this perfectly, you can purchase a nice thick and soft rug for yourself. Make sure you put it down perfectly in every corner.
The thick and soft carpet can absorb quite a lot of sound.
Windows and doors
Windows and doors are always the weak points of every music studio. Windows are terrible for both soundproofing and absorption. They’ll leak a lot of sound and they’ll be the cause of a lot of reverb. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do about it. You have to make a sacrifice. You have the option of leaving the windows uncovered to get some sunlight throughout the day, or you can finish them off entirely with plywood or acoustic foam panels. It depends on you.
You can also glue some acoustic foam panels to the door. You can also try closing the gaps around the door or window to further improve the soundproofing.
This type of project won’t be easy or easy, but with this guide and enough dedication, I’m sure you can get it off successfully.
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