Sound proofing my windows

emreyazgin · 26th March 2008

Hi all,

I need advice from you. I would like to soundproof my big glass windows in my room so that I could minimize the traffic noise from outside. I am not after creating a recording environment, but rather a less noisier listening environment for mixing. The windows are not double glazed, they are typical victorian english windows which can slide up and down.

What alternatives do I have? My constraints are:

1) Price, its better if I could keep the cost to a minimum
2) It should be something that won't harm the windows, because its a rented place, however for example I could use screws and fill it later with plaster and paint if I have to move to another house, or I could use some sort of acoustic filling that would come off if I need to..

Any ideas are highly apprecitated!

Cheers,
Emre

DSD_Mastering · 26th March 2008

When I'm mastering and not recording, I have the window between the rooms covered. I have a 2" 703 insert built by Snap-tex that fits tightly in the window. I cover it with the plantation shutters for acoustics/asthetics. This should be a viable option for you also.

Regards,
Bruce

AnAverageJoe · 26th March 2008

Good Advice. I have the same problem too, but not for long

gsilbers · 26th March 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSD_Mastering

When I'm mastering and not recording, I have the window between the rooms covered. I have a 2" 703 insert built by Snap-tex that fits tightly in the window. I cover it with the plantation shutters for acoustics/asthetics. This should be a viable option for you also.

Regards,
Bruce

this sounds very interesting.

but from the website and after reading your post i'm a little confused...

the website has very big projects so i dont see it fit on one window thing as you are saying. do you have pixs you wouldne mind uploading?

so you practically fill the whole window with a Snap-tex panel you custom ordered,
and block all sunlight? or is there a clear option?

how much was one panel?

thx

gsilbers · 26th March 2008

ok , so i saw the catalog. which should have done 1st.

its like a clamp mechanism them where u can load your own fabric...

now, is this better/same than having thick curtains?

emreyazgin · 26th March 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSD_Mastering

When I'm mastering and not recording, I have the window between the rooms covered. I have a 2" 703 insert built by Snap-tex that fits tightly in the window. I cover it with the plantation shutters for acoustics/asthetics. This should be a viable option for you also.

Regards,
Bruce

Thanks for the advice, I live in UK though, I couldn't find a local distributor for the Snap-tex material upon a google search. But this gave me an idea for making a wooden frame and stretch an acoustic insluation fabric or material on it and put it inside the window's frame..But the question is how I could fit it securely with minimal nailing or screws..

Do you think a very thick curtain would do any insulation at all? or will it just cut my high's and affect my room acoustic badly??

DSD_Mastering · 27th March 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by emreyazgin

But the question is how I could fit it securely with minimal nailing or screws..

Here are a couple of pictures with it in place and out. it's heavy enough that it just sits there, but I still have velcro tabs at the corners.
When I have it removed, it can also be used as a gobo!

emreyazgin · 27th March 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSD_Mastering

Here are a couple of pictures with it in place and out. it's heavy enough that it just sits there, but I still have velcro tabs at the corners.
When I have it removed, it can also be used as a gobo!

Looks really well designed and built. It certainly gave me good inspiration. I am handy with power tools and especially wood, so making a frame and filling it with right material wouldn't be a great problem. Cheers for the pictures, really really helpful

nDmusic · 10th January 2009

Great thread. Can anyone answer the curtains question? Worth the bother? My room is already treated and the windows are not in ER points or behind me so not too worried about them changing the acoustics of the space too much. I live on a street that I thought was quiet...until I started mixing at low levels....and then every vehicle bigger than a sedan interferes with my mixing....which happens every 3 - 5 minutes. The noise does not need to be completely gone (I am not tracking) just low enough for it to be in the background so that I can make mixing decisions. Will check out the snap thingys too, but would like to save cash if possible.

DanDan · 10th January 2009

The word Insulation can be misleading. Materials such as 703, RockWool etc. do not stop sound passing through to any significant extent. I seem to remember a figure of only a dB or so per metre at mid and low frequency.
The simplest solution is to block the window opening with MDF. This works really well. I used 20mm MDF. I also installed white fabric covered batts of stiff Roksil. This dampens the gap, improving the performance and looks exactly like a white blind from the outside. I live in a semi-d in a busy modern housing estate. Background noise in this room is now down to 28-30dBA.
If you want to preserve light, then build a second window on the inside.
This is very similar to the window between a Control Room and a Recording room. There are constructional details for this all over the place but the basics are what you need here, i.e.
Two layers, a gap, some damping in the gap.

Glass is probably the cheapest option. Laminated is best. A simple wood frame. Make it airtight. Line the reveal with a layer of felt covered batt, acoustic tile or foam. If you are good at DIY you should be able to come up with something removable, or at least with minimal damage.
Best Regards, Dan FitzGerald
Sound Sound - Homepage

nDmusic · 10th January 2009

Thanks for the suggestion. I have a small apartment bedroom studio, so don't need a control room window sort of thing. But I'll look into making some kind of MDF panels potentially that I can either put on a hinge or place and set aside when I'm not mixing.

johndykstra · 10th January 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by nDmusic

Great thread. Can anyone answer the curtains question? Worth the bother? My room is already treated and the windows are not in ER points or behind me so not too worried about them changing the acoustics of the space too much. I live on a street that I thought was quiet...until I started mixing at low levels....and then every vehicle bigger than a sedan interferes with my mixing....which happens every 3 - 5 minutes. The noise does not need to be completely gone (I am not tracking) just low enough for it to be in the background so that I can make mixing decisions. Will check out the snap thingys too, but would like to save cash if possible.

I think Dan answered it already, but in case it isn't clear.... no a curtain will do little to nothing.

RyanC · 19th January 2009

I added glass block to the windows in my place, left the regular window in and added the glass blocks on the inside. It made a very significant reduction of street noise, and still let's in natural light.

PureAudiouk · 21st January 2009

I just stuck a second set of double glazing in mine (one on the outside wall, one on the inside wall. Works a treat. The 20cm air gap between the glazings means that the soundproofing is incredible.

alternatively, if the window is on an external wall, and you have a gap.. get slab of MDF (oversized to the window) and attatch handles to the back.

create fabric covered insulation block (or just wood blocks top and bottom) the dimensions of the window itself. Make it just shy of the depth of the window ledge (so there is an air gap, but you maximise "purchase" created on the ledge itself)

and a little fabric or rubber draught excluder around the block, where the mdf connects to the wall when placed in the window cavity (to make connection tight)..

Voila. You could even do the same with thick sheets of PVC to allow light in..

window soundproofing el Budgeto

26th March 2008	#1
emreyazgin Gear addict Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Cyprus Posts: 341 Thread Starter	Sound proofing my windows Hi all, I need advice from you. I would like to soundproof my big glass windows in my room so that I could minimize the traffic noise from outside. I am not after creating a recording environment, but rather a less noisier listening environment for mixing. The windows are not double glazed, they are typical victorian english windows which can slide up and down. What alternatives do I have? My constraints are: 1) Price, its better if I could keep the cost to a minimum 2) It should be something that won't harm the windows, because its a rented place, however for example I could use screws and fill it later with plaster and paint if I have to move to another house, or I could use some sort of acoustic filling that would come off if I need to.. Any ideas are highly apprecitated! Cheers, Emre

26th March 2008	#2
DSD_Mastering Lives for gear Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Seattle Posts: 1,793	When I'm mastering and not recording, I have the window between the rooms covered. I have a 2" 703 insert built by Snap-tex that fits tightly in the window. I cover it with the plantation shutters for acoustics/asthetics. This should be a viable option for you also. Regards, Bruce __________________ Bruce A. Brown Puget Sound Studios *Seattle, Washington*

10th January 2009	#10
DanDan Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Cork Ireland Posts: 5,990 1 Review written	Insulation vs Isolation The word Insulation can be misleading. Materials such as 703, RockWool etc. do not stop sound passing through to any significant extent. I seem to remember a figure of only a dB or so per metre at mid and low frequency. The simplest solution is to block the window opening with MDF. This works really well. I used 20mm MDF. I also installed white fabric covered batts of stiff Roksil. This dampens the gap, improving the performance and looks exactly like a white blind from the outside. I live in a semi-d in a busy modern housing estate. Background noise in this room is now down to 28-30dBA. If you want to preserve light, then build a second window on the inside. This is very similar to the window between a Control Room and a Recording room. There are constructional details for this all over the place but the basics are what you need here, i.e. Two layers, a gap, some damping in the gap. Glass is probably the cheapest option. Laminated is best. A simple wood frame. Make it airtight. Line the reveal with a layer of felt covered batt, acoustic tile or foam. If you are good at DIY you should be able to come up with something removable, or at least with minimal damage. Best Regards, Dan FitzGerald Sound Sound - Homepage

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26th March 2008	#3
AnAverageJoe Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Florida, New Jersey Posts: 882	Good Advice. I have the same problem too, but not for long

26th March 2008	#5
gsilbers Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora La Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula Posts: 3,536	ok , so i saw the catalog. which should have done 1st. its like a clamp mechanism them where u can load your own fabric... now, is this better/same than having thick curtains?

10th January 2009	#9
nDmusic Gear nut Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 93	Great thread. Can anyone answer the curtains question? Worth the bother? My room is already treated and the windows are not in ER points or behind me so not too worried about them changing the acoustics of the space too much. I live on a street that I thought was quiet...until I started mixing at low levels....and then every vehicle bigger than a sedan interferes with my mixing....which happens every 3 - 5 minutes. The noise does not need to be completely gone (I am not tracking) just low enough for it to be in the background so that I can make mixing decisions. Will check out the snap thingys too, but would like to save cash if possible.

19th January 2009	#13
RyanC Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Denver CO Posts: 1,053	I added glass block to the windows in my place, left the regular window in and added the glass blocks on the inside. It made a very significant reduction of street noise, and still let's in natural light.

21st January 2009	#14
PureAudiouk Gear nut Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 121	I just stuck a second set of double glazing in mine (one on the outside wall, one on the inside wall. Works a treat. The 20cm air gap between the glazings means that the soundproofing is incredible. alternatively, if the window is on an external wall, and you have a gap.. get slab of MDF (oversized to the window) and attatch handles to the back. create fabric covered insulation block (or just wood blocks top and bottom) the dimensions of the window itself. Make it just shy of the depth of the window ledge (so there is an air gap, but you maximise "purchase" created on the ledge itself) and a little fabric or rubber draught excluder around the block, where the mdf connects to the wall when placed in the window cavity (to make connection tight).. Voila. You could even do the same with thick sheets of PVC to allow light in.. window soundproofing el Budgeto