Will Acoustic Panels and Bass Traps make my studio soundproof?
Q: Will Acoustic Panels and Bass Traps make my studio sound proof?
A: No, that is called sound isolation and soundproofing material costs BIG $$$. Adding sound absorbing panels will result in noticeable noise reduction, but not enough to completely prevent a nosy neighbor from hearing your music.
Will acoustic panels and bass traps make my studio soundproof?
No. Acoustic panels and bass traps absorb sound already inside a room, they don't block sound from leaving it. Soundproofing needs mass, decoupling and sealed airgaps, a separate, more involved build.
Absorption and soundproofing solve two different problems. Absorption tames a room's own reflections, reverb and boominess, which is what panels and bass traps do. Soundproofing (also called sound isolation) keeps sound from crossing a wall, floor or ceiling into the next room, and that takes added mass and decoupled construction, not a panel on the surface.
The closest thing in the catalog to a blocking product is Homasote DesignWall 440, ASP's only STC-rated item. It still performs best as part of a full wall build rather than a drop-in fix on an existing wall.
What's the difference between absorption and soundproofing?
Absorption tames sound already inside the room; soundproofing keeps sound from crossing a wall, floor or ceiling into the next space. Most rooms only need the first.
Will my neighbor still hear my drums or music after I add panels?
Likely yes. Panels cut the room's own echo and boominess, but they don't add the mass needed to stop sound transmission through a wall.
Does ASP sell anything for actual sound isolation?
Homasote DesignWall 440 is ASP's only STC-rated product and the closest thing in the catalog to blocking, but for full isolation it needs to be part of a complete wall assembly, not an add-on to an existing wall.
What should I do if I need real sound isolation?
That's a construction question (mass, decoupling, sealed airgaps), best worked out with a contractor or acoustician for your target. Once the room is isolated, panels finish the acoustics inside it.
Homasote DesignWall 440 details are on its product page, or call (888) 923-5777.