We rehearse in an unattached 2 car garage. Well, today the police came twice because of a complaint. They said they could hear it all the way in the front yard on the other side of the house.....

Granted the guitar player got a little happy with her volume.

I was wondering if anyone knew of an effective way to sound proof the garage so it doesn't carry outside so much, or at all?

the garge already has drywall and and then insulation.

density is the only thing that stops sound, but you can deaden it by dispersing it with egg cartons. They are cheap, and easy to use, but you need a lot of them to cover a large area. I know that the edge roll for roofing works just like dynamatt, and is a lot cheaper. I am trying to think of what else you could use to cover a large area, and be cheap enough. Maybe try hanging some blankets between you and the walls of the garage.

Unfortunately there is no easy answer to soundproofing after a certain point, but you are already off to a good start. Being in a separate building is much easier than trying to soundproof to say another room in the house.

Of course, the #1 way to reduce the sound outside is the reduce the sound inside...so with that said...

Things to look for:

1.) Any open holes to the outside. If there any gaps, even small ones, they can leak out a surprising amount of sound.
2.) Windows. These will be the weak points after open areas. Consider covering them up. Fitting in foam insulation (the solid pink or blue stuff you get at home depot) can help a lot.
3.) Drafts. These usally indicate a leak to the outside - find the source of these and you should recuce the sound leakage to the outside.

Post some pics of the space. If you want to get into the subject in more depth, pick up 'Sound Studio Contruction on a Budget' by F. Alton Everest. Lots of good stuff on the basic principles of soundproofing a room in there, and much, much more.

MikeZ

Hi Ric,

I'm with the above posts...hang blankets randomly around the room, add furniture, and caulk even small leakage areas around windows and where floor meets walls. Also, maybe try not to have an L1 pointing directly at an opposing wall, angle them...I'm sure you already are doing that.

Back in my early days with the L1, we had an experience bugging the neighbors. No answers here, but it's a good story.

They used this product at the Hospital I work at to Soundproofthe generator room. It works but I'm not sure about the cost.

quote:

Originally posted by starvin007:
They used this product at the Hospital I work at to Soundproofthe generator room. It works but I'm not sure about the cost.

wish I would have saw that before I re did my garage. I wonder if it work as well if I simply hung it over the exsisting drywall?

quote:

I wonder if it work as well if I simply hung it over the exsisting drywall?

Oh I'm sure it would if you installed it according to specs but I think it is rather expensive.
PS Here is a link to a book about sound proofing that I got from one of the techs that did ours.soundproofing.org

As said previously there is no 'easy' way to soundproof a room/building. But there are easier ways to soundproof a room. One of the simplest methods is the M20AD soundproofing system also there is a great guide to soundproofing a garage. I hope that helps.

Camping bedrolls work well too. They're about two inches thick and look like egg cartons but come in sizes approx. 2' x 4'.

You could always turn down...

If I can jump in here. As a builder I have built several large studio's, one with a large budget and two of them very limited.
In one situation we had to divide the studio from a retail music store that gave lessons including percussion. We built a double wall separated by only an inch or so with insulation packed tightly in one wall.

The back side of one wall had sound board and 5/8 sheetrock. The side facing the studio had 5/8 sheetrock x 2 with roll roofing for mass and finally covered in carpeting. Everything was sealed as tightly as possible. If air can pass, so can sound.

High freqs are no real problem and can be attenuated quite easily, but low frequency bass requires mass, no other easy answer, just mass.
It can be multiple layers of sheetrock or sheetrock with inexpensive soundboard and /or plywood and relativity cheap roll roofing.

Seal ANY cracks or opening with caulk and even tape. But keep in mind that any of these things attached to the existing framing will transfer sound as tangible vibrations. The studio with a large budget was rooms within rooms with double doors and double or triple window glass.

I realize these are extreme methods for a practice room build out on a budget, but even the basic principles can be applied. A grid ceiling can be added that is attached to the existing ceiling by wires holding up the grid with acoustic tiles and insulation, Fairly cheap per sq ft (sq m).
You can build wood frame insulated panels mounted on the wall that can be turned slightly. They can be about 3 feet by 6 feet and just a few inches thick with dense foam covered in carpet. Just a couple for each wall to help "tune" it.

Old mattress's provide mass for lower mid range, carpet with pad on the floors will help absorb but again your real enemy is low frequency and thats what the neighbors and the cops hear.

All this and turn down just a tad Good luck however you go.

Leo

You can also figure out who is calling the police and make friends with them or at least talk to them about the problem and come to a peaceful understanding.Maybe invite them over during a jam for some cake & coffee...you never know unless you try....goodluck....
Dancing Dog Muse

Actually quite a while ago, we moved the facing of the band from one wall to another.

After that change, no more complaints. Apparently whoever was complaining, isn't getting hit with sound so bad anymore.