RECORDING STUDIO SOUNDPROOFING

Acoustic treatment in a recording studio addresses three tasks: absorbing excess reflections to reduce reverberation time, scattering sound waves to prevent flutter echo, and controlling low-frequency buildup in room corners. A properly treated studio achieves RT60 of 0.3–0.5 seconds and an even frequency response across the recording space. Without acoustic treatment, even a well-isolated studio will produce recordings colored by room resonances and reflections.

Absorption Panels

Absorption panels are constructed from porous materials — open-cell foam, fiberglass, or mineral wool — that convert sound energy to heat as air molecules move through the material under acoustic pressure. They are effective primarily in the mid and high frequency range.

The lower frequency limit of an absorption panel is determined by its thickness. A 2-inch foam or fiberglass panel is effective from approximately 500 Hz upward. A 4-inch panel absorbs effectively from approximately 250 Hz. Below 250 Hz, standard absorption panels have a negligible effect, and low-frequency control requires dedicated bass traps.

Absorption panels are placed at first reflection points — the locations on walls, ceiling, and floor where sound from the monitor speakers reaches after a single reflection before arriving at the mix position. On the side walls, this is approximately halfway between the monitors and the listening position. On the ceiling, it is the point directly above the listening position. Treating first reflection points reduces comb filtering at the mix position, improving frequency response accuracy.

Bass Traps

Bass traps are thick, dense absorbers designed specifically for the low-frequency range of 63–250 Hz. They are installed in room corners — the intersections of two walls, or a wall and the ceiling or floor.

Corner placement is the most effective position for bass traps because low-frequency pressure builds up at structural boundaries. At the point where two walls meet, pressure is twice the room's average. At the tri-corner where two walls and a ceiling or floor intersect, pressure is approximately eight times the room average. Installing bass traps floor-to-ceiling in all four vertical room corners and at the ceiling-wall junctions targets the zones where low-frequency energy concentrates most heavily.

Without bass traps, low-frequency room modes — resonances at frequencies related to the room dimensions — cause certain bass notes to appear louder or quieter than others at the mix position. This makes accurate bass mixing impossible, and recordings made in such rooms will have uneven low-end when played back on neutral systems.

Diffusion Panels

Diffusion panels scatter incoming sound waves in multiple directions rather than absorbing them. They are used on the rear wall of a recording studio — behind the listening position — to prevent focused reflections returning directly from the back wall to the mix position.

The practical difference between absorption and diffusion is the acoustic character of the treated space. Absorption removes reflections entirely, reducing reverberation time. Diffusion spreads reflections in time and direction, maintaining a sense of acoustic space while eliminating direct echoes. A studio treated entirely with absorption becomes acoustically "dead\" — recordings made in it lack natural ambience and feel unnaturally compressed. The standard approach is absorption at first reflection points combined with diffusion at the rear wall, producing a front-dead, rear-diffuse acoustic environment appropriate for mixing and tracking.

We provide sound isolation and acoustic treatment for recording studios across all project types — from commercial professional studios requiring full room-within-a-room construction to home studio retrofits in residential buildings. All projects include pre-installation acoustic measurements, solution design targeting specific STC and NC values, material supply, and professional installation.

We work with the following studio types:

• Professional and commercial recording studios requiring NC-15 to NC-20 and full room-within-a-room design
• Project and semi-professional studios in commercial or mixed-use buildings
• Home studios in detached houses where retrofit construction achieves STC 50–55
• Home studios in apartments with noise isolation constraints from adjacent units
• Voiceover and podcast booths for corporate, broadcast, and independent production
• Broadcast and radio studios with specific background noise and isolation requirements
• Rehearsal rooms where isolation from adjacent commercial or residential spaces is the primary need

We manufacture acoustic panels and baffles in-house, which allows us to produce materials to the exact dimensions required by each project and to specify panel performance — NRC, thickness, facing material — matched to the acoustic targets of the space.

Every studio project begins with on-site measurement. Studio acoustic conditions depend on room geometry, existing construction type, and the specific noise sources present in and around the building. A measurement-based design process produces a solution matched to the actual conditions rather than a generic specification.

Acoustic Assessment

We measure RT60 at multiple positions within the studio space, background noise levels (NC rating) with the HVAC system operating, and external noise levels at the building envelope. For retrofit projects, we also measure the existing wall STC performance using source and receiver level measurements across frequency bands. The assessment report documents baseline conditions and identifies the specific isolation and treatment required to reach the target NC.

Solution Design

Based on measurement data, we design the complete treatment plan: wall assembly specification with projected STC by frequency band, acoustic panel layout with RT60 modeling, bass trap placement, door and window treatment, HVAC silencer sizing, and — where required — floating floor design. The design documents the projected performance of each element and the expected composite NC inside the finished studio. For projects in occupied buildings, the installation sequence is planned to minimize disruption.

Installation and Verification

Installation is performed by our own team. After completion, we conduct RT60 and NC measurements at the same positions used during the assessment. The post-installation report documents the achieved RT60, the achieved NC rating, and — where wall STC was the primary target — the measured transmission loss across frequency bands. Both the pre- and post-installation reports are provided to the client as a verifiable record of acoustic performance.

Clients select us for studio projects based on three factors that directly affect whether a project reaches its acoustic targets: experience with the specific construction conditions that studio soundproofing requires, the ability to manufacture acoustic materials to project specifications, and a measurement-based delivery process that documents results objectively.

Experience with Professional and Home Studio Projects

Our team has completed soundproofing and acoustic treatment projects across the full range of studio types — from commercial multi-room recording facilities to home studio retrofits in apartments and detached houses. This range of experience covers the specific construction conditions, noise sources, and performance targets that differ significantly across studio types.

In-House Manufacturing of Acoustic Panels and Baffles

We manufacture acoustic panels locally. In-house production allows us to match panel dimensions precisely to the room geometry, specify the correct absorber thickness for the frequency range that needs treatment, and select facing materials — fabric, perforated metal, or sealed fiberglass — appropriate for the studio's acoustic and visual requirements.

Pre- and Post-Installation Acoustic Measurements

Every project includes acoustic measurements before and after installation. Pre-installation measurements establish the baseline RT60 and NC. Post-installation measurements document what was achieved. Clients receive both reports in writing. The measurements create an objective record of the project's acoustic performance that is independent of subjective assessment.

During the assessment visit, we measure RT60, NC, and external noise levels at your studio location and evaluate the existing construction for its current and potential STC performance. For new construction projects, we assess the site conditions and structural type to confirm achievable isolation targets. The assessment produces a written report with baseline acoustic data, recommended treatment approach, and projected performance targets. There is no obligation to proceed.