Construction Q - is this possible?

kats · 14th October 2005

A 4000 sq foot live room that I want to cut in half....sometimes

I'm racking my brain to figure out how to contruct a 40ft soundproof wall that is removeable. IE somtimes I need the whole space, and sometimes I need half the space with something going on in both sides.

I thought of a few garage doors, but they're hardly sound proof and the track will vibrate, or multiple wall panels in a frame - but the ceiling height is 20' and it'll be a hell of a job removing them.

Anyhow, if any of you have come across this problem (or solution) I'd love to hear it!

Thanks in advance.

Ziggy!! · 14th October 2005

In some 5 star hotel conference halls they have giant hinged walls that slide along a track on the roof. I remember walking back into a hall and thinking "Im sure it was bigger than this

" but went back to work... a week later I walked into the same hall again and thought "wtf! big again

"

They fit seemlessly against the floor and look like a normal wall when in place. When they are "packed down" they simply hinge together and slide into a cupboard at one end of the track. The ones they use in hotels also offer a decent percentage of sound isolation. Even with a PA blaring in one half of the room it couldn't be heard in the other half with the wall in place. They are 6inches or so thick.

Kind of like whats here but they folded up instead of just sliding together. They were also closer to 15foot high.

http://www.roomdividers.org/sliding-room-dividers.html

Im sure they are expensive... But perhaps not out of reach for a competent builder.

kats · 14th October 2005

Hey, that looks interesting - thanks for the heads up!

jajjguy · 14th October 2005

"Operable walls", as they're known, are notorious for delivering poor sound isolation at very high cost. The key point to focus on is that the wall (and all its segments) must seal very well, and this is difficult to achieve and maintain over time. The actual construction of the wall needn't be anything too special, as the seals are generally the weak point.

Jay Kahrs · 14th October 2005

I doubt it because 'sound isolation' and 'removeable' are usually oxymorons. Even a small gap can cause a massive leak and having a big gap like a moveable wall? Ehhh...it would be like a giant gobo.

**matt thomas** · 14th October 2005

make something out of this stuff, quite effective except for bass frequencies where you're basically going to need lots of mass, hence not very moveable

narco

**matt thomas** · 14th October 2005

whoops, this stuff

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SheetBlok430/

14th October 2005	#1
kats Lives for gear Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3,647 Thread Starter	Construction Q - is this possible? A 4000 sq foot live room that I want to cut in half....sometimes I'm racking my brain to figure out how to contruct a 40ft soundproof wall that is removeable. IE somtimes I need the whole space, and sometimes I need half the space with something going on in both sides. I thought of a few garage doors, but they're hardly sound proof and the track will vibrate, or multiple wall panels in a frame - but the ceiling height is 20' and it'll be a hell of a job removing them. Anyhow, if any of you have come across this problem (or solution) I'd love to hear it! Thanks in advance.

14th October 2005	#4
jajjguy Gear addict Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA Posts: 364	"Operable walls", as they're known, are notorious for delivering poor sound isolation at very high cost. The key point to focus on is that the wall (and all its segments) must seal very well, and this is difficult to achieve and maintain over time. The actual construction of the wall needn't be anything too special, as the seals are generally the weak point. __________________ cellist, recordist, acoustics geek

14th October 2005	#6
matt thomas Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New Zealand/Switzerland/guitar case Posts: 7,949	make something out of this stuff, quite effective except for bass frequencies where you're basically going to need lots of mass, hence not very moveable narco __________________ Steve Gadd, New York Brass, David Kahne, Abbey Road Mastering, all featuring on Lesley Meguid (my wife)'s album "The Truth About Love Songs", out now! Check out some previews on www.itunes.com/lesleymeguid or Lesley Meguid on Facebook - neve, fairchild, m49 for vox etc..

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14th October 2005	#2
Ziggy!! Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,319	In some 5 star hotel conference halls they have giant hinged walls that slide along a track on the roof. I remember walking back into a hall and thinking "Im sure it was bigger than this " but went back to work... a week later I walked into the same hall again and thought "wtf! big again " They fit seemlessly against the floor and look like a normal wall when in place. When they are "packed down" they simply hinge together and slide into a cupboard at one end of the track. The ones they use in hotels also offer a decent percentage of sound isolation. Even with a PA blaring in one half of the room it couldn't be heard in the other half with the wall in place. They are 6inches or so thick. Kind of like whats here but they folded up instead of just sliding together. They were also closer to 15foot high. http://www.roomdividers.org/sliding-room-dividers.html Im sure they are expensive... But perhaps not out of reach for a competent builder.