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Post by Vincent R. on Jan 4, 2024 11:58:28 GMT -6
Looks like we'll be in our new home within the next few weeks, which has lead me to start finalizing my plans for the new studio. The room is a touch smaller than my previous room, but with higher ceilings. So I have enough GIK panels to hang, and may grab a couple more if needed to treat the ceiling, which wasn't really feasible in the last studio. The new room has a large double window. While I can throw a couple of my GIK panels on stands to be moved around as needed, I wanted to get a decent set of sound reducing curtains, both to curtail the bleed from outside (and the bleed from my loud voice for my neighbor's sake), and possibly to help with some absorption. Does anyone have any recommendations for brands that do this well?
While searching I came across Nicetown blackout, thermal insulated, sound reducing curtains. These claim to have a 15db reduction in sound, and there are some decent deals on Amazon for them. Reviews seem to be pretty decent on these.
Originally I came across Moondream 3-in-1 Sound Insulation, Blackout, and Thermal Insulation Curtains. They claim a 7db reduction in sound, but reviews seem a bit mixed on them.
I'd love to hear any recommendations or experiences that anyone may have had.
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Post by tkaitkai on Jan 4, 2024 12:29:20 GMT -6
Also interested. Let us know if you end up getting these and how they perform Vincent R. |
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Post by Tbone81 on Jan 4, 2024 13:23:48 GMT -6
Interested as well. I checkout out that first link and they look good, price is pretty affordable, I was expecting them to cost more. Let us know how they work out
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Post by Blackdawg on Jan 5, 2024 0:42:20 GMT -6
Those style work okay, but not amazing. I'd use them in combination with a dual cell or large single cell recessed cellulose blinds. I'd make them not black out but light filtering so you could use them to just knock some light down when you wanted. Then pull the curtains to blackout and have even more sound protection.
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Post by drbill on Jan 5, 2024 12:59:06 GMT -6
When I saw "soundproof curtains" on your first link I burst out laughing. No curtains are soundproof. In fact, they will most likely offer very minimal help. Even 7dB on the second link is almost of no use for loud sources. If you can get those big, heavy THICK theater type curtains, they will be a bit helpful, but mostly with HF. If you can custom build panels that will press fit inside your widow frames / jamb, that will be your best alternative. IMO of course.
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Post by Vincent R. on Jan 5, 2024 20:00:55 GMT -6
I am not foolish enough to believe the “Soundproof” jargon, which is why I called them sound reducing. That’s not a bad idea drbill. I may go that route at some point. I could probably stick two of my existing panels on the ledge when recording if needed. |
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Post by drbill on Jan 5, 2024 20:43:19 GMT -6
I am not foolish enough to believe the “Soundproof” jargon, which is why I called them sound reducing. That’s not a bad idea drbill . I may go that route at some point. I could probably stick two of my existing panels on the ledge when recording if needed. Yeah , I knew that Vincent. My comment was directed at their online ad.  . I just had to laugh when I saw it. Re: window panels - You want the "seal" to be as tight as possible. Just putting up a couple sound panels will help a tad, but getting a tight seal would be better. Your best option is to custom fab a slide in frame, and fill with 703, rockwool, or your favorite sound damper, and then cover the entire monstrosity with fabric. Good luck with it!! |
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Post by earlevel on Jan 6, 2024 1:52:54 GMT -6
"These claim to have a 15db reduction in sound."—note that they claim "up to". I see that the other link you gave has choices "up to -7 dB" and "up to -12 dB". I don't even know what this means, but I suspect it's not overall SPL reduction but perhaps at certain frequencies. They might well get the job done, and be an improvement, I'm just not sure it you can compare them accurately by the "up to" number they pick. It seems to be prone to arbitrary standards. This place specifies materials by Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC), possibly making more sense—at least it has some basis of standard measure: Rose Brand Acoustical Fabrics GuideAnd, of course, how much reduction you get will be dependent on how much pleating of the material and other factors. I haven't used any of these types of curtains, just saved that link for future reference from when I was working on building bass traps. |
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Post by doubledog on Jan 6, 2024 9:18:24 GMT -6
When I saw " soundproof curtains" on your first link I burst out laughing. No curtains are soundproof. In fact, they will most likely offer very minimal help. Even 7dB on the second link is almost of no use for loud sources. If you can get those big, heavy THICK theater type curtains, they will be a bit helpful, but mostly with HF. If you can custom build panels that will press fit inside your widow frames / jamb, that will be your best alternative. IMO of course. this is sorta what I did in my studio (which has a couple windows). I built some baffles that fit snugly into the windows. I was expecting that I might remove them once in awhile, but I never do. I built them using some of the blue foam insulation (that is about 1" thick - because it is much lighter than 3/4" plywood and easier to move). I made this slightly larger than the window frame, then glued some 703 onto that would that fit into the frame, then covered that with some fabric and now it fits into the frame snugly and stays put. I bought some cheap blackout curtains to cover them and was planning to eventually get some of the heavier curtains but 10+ years later I still haven't (no real complaints from any neighbors, but my studio is far enough away from houses...). but I may still get some heavier curtains, so following this thread... |
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Post by audiospecific on Jan 8, 2024 15:53:22 GMT -6
Looks like we'll be in our new home within the next few weeks, which has lead me to start finalizing my plans for the new studio. The room is a touch smaller than my previous room, but with higher ceilings. So I have enough GIK panels to hang, and may grab a couple more if needed to treat the ceiling, which wasn't really feasible in the last studio. The new room has a large double window. While I can throw a couple of my GIK panels on stands to be moved around as needed, I wanted to get a decent set of sound reducing curtains, both to curtail the bleed from outside (and the bleed from my loud voice for my neighbor's sake), and possibly to help with some absorption. Does anyone have any recommendations for brands that do this well?
While searching I came across Nicetown blackout, thermal insulated, sound reducing curtains. These claim to have a 15db reduction in sound, and there are some decent deals on Amazon for them. Reviews seem to be pretty decent on these.
Originally I came across Moondream 3-in-1 Sound Insulation, Blackout, and Thermal Insulation Curtains. They claim a 7db reduction in sound, but reviews seem a bit mixed on them.
I'd love to hear any recommendations or experiences that anyone may have had.
I could never find a curtain good enough by its own What I found that works is two layers of 6 mil plastic sheeting that is used for landscape underlay for rocks put between sound curtains on the same hook. |
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Post by doubledog on Jan 9, 2024 12:08:41 GMT -6
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Post by drbill on Jan 9, 2024 13:04:51 GMT -6
The harbor freight ones are pretty thin. There are much heavier types available if you look. They will do a much better job of knocking down the dB's. I've used heavy packing blankets for years with pseudo-gobo type applications. Some quick searches reveals... Are sound blankets the same as moving blankets? No, moving blankets are not good for blocking sound (soundproofing). Your typical moving blanket weighs between 3 and 8 pounds. If you were to hold a moving blanket and a Quiet Quilt soundproof blanket side by side, the difference in thickness and weight would be obvious. www.secondskinaudio.com/soundproofing/moving-blankets-vs-sound-blankets/#:~:text=No%2C%20moving%20blankets%20are%20not,and%20weight%20would%20be%20obvious. |
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Post by doubledog on Jan 9, 2024 17:04:43 GMT -6
The harbor freight ones are pretty thin. There are much heavier types available if you look. They will do a much better job of knocking down the dB's. I've used heavy packing blankets for years with pseudo-gobo type applications. Some quick searches reveals... Are sound blankets the same as moving blankets? No, moving blankets are not good for blocking sound (soundproofing). Your typical moving blanket weighs between 3 and 8 pounds. If you were to hold a moving blanket and a Quiet Quilt soundproof blanket side by side, the difference in thickness and weight would be obvious. www.secondskinaudio.com/soundproofing/moving-blankets-vs-sound-blankets/#:~:text=No%2C%20moving%20blankets%20are%20not,and%20weight%20would%20be%20obvious. yeah, but I'm a cheap mofo and under $10 might be "good enough" vs. the $350 and up for "best". And I'm not really going for "sound-proof", just reduction. tbh, probably no other gear in my studio is "best" either.  |
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Post by drbill on Jan 9, 2024 17:11:58 GMT -6
The harbor freight ones are pretty thin. There are much heavier types available if you look. They will do a much better job of knocking down the dB's. I've used heavy packing blankets for years with pseudo-gobo type applications. Some quick searches reveals... Are sound blankets the same as moving blankets? No, moving blankets are not good for blocking sound (soundproofing). Your typical moving blanket weighs between 3 and 8 pounds. If you were to hold a moving blanket and a Quiet Quilt soundproof blanket side by side, the difference in thickness and weight would be obvious. www.secondskinaudio.com/soundproofing/moving-blankets-vs-sound-blankets/#:~:text=No%2C%20moving%20blankets%20are%20not,and%20weight%20would%20be%20obvious. yeah, but I'm a cheap mofo and under $10 might be "good enough" vs. the $350 and up for "best". And I'm not really going for "sound-proof", just reduction. tbh, probably no other gear in my studio is "best" either. There is no "proof". But going from a $6.99 blanket to a $20 dollar blanket is substantial. Easy to feel, easy to hear. |
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Post by winetree on Jan 9, 2024 17:32:28 GMT -6
I just picked up 12 - AUDIMUTE Sound Blankets.
96" tall, grommets, packaged, clean like new.
Don't really need them for sound control,
but for 10 dollars apiece, I could't pass them up.
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Post by doubledog on Jan 10, 2024 8:41:58 GMT -6
yeah, but I'm a cheap mofo and under $10 might be "good enough" vs. the $350 and up for "best". And I'm not really going for "sound-proof", just reduction. tbh, probably no other gear in my studio is "best" either. There is no "proof". But going from a $6.99 blanket to a $20 dollar blanket is substantial. Easy to feel, easy to hear. sorry, maybe I missed it but where is the $20 blanket? I linked the Harbor Freight blanket mainly due to its size (40"x72") which I thought would cover a window just about right. I haven't actually purchased these or even looked at them. I have other moving blankets, that I use for moving stuff, and I know there are various weights. Certainly not opposed to a $20 blanket but won't hold my breath for a deal like winetree found. But everything in this thread seems to be over $100/panel. |
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Post by Vincent R. on Jan 10, 2024 9:05:00 GMT -6
There is no "proof". But going from a $6.99 blanket to a $20 dollar blanket is substantial. Easy to feel, easy to hear. sorry, maybe I missed it but where is the $20 blanket? I linked the Harbor Freight blanket mainly due to its size (40"x72") which I thought would cover a window just about right. I haven't actually purchased these or even looked at them. I have other moving blankets, that I use for moving stuff, and I know there are various weights. Certainly not opposed to a $20 blanket but won't hold my breath for a deal like winetree found. But everything in this thread seems to be over $100/panel. I have a few of those harbor freight blankets here from my move. They don't do much. I have a few much thicker moving blankets that I have been using to make a portable booth for some session work I've been doing that are much better. I would have to look up where I got those, but they were more like $20-$30 each. |
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Post by drbill on Jan 10, 2024 10:51:08 GMT -6
There is no "proof". But going from a $6.99 blanket to a $20 dollar blanket is substantial. Easy to feel, easy to hear. sorry, maybe I missed it but where is the $20 blanket? I linked the Harbor Freight blanket mainly due to its size (40"x72") which I thought would cover a window just about right. I haven't actually purchased these or even looked at them. I have other moving blankets, that I use for moving stuff, and I know there are various weights. Certainly not opposed to a $20 blanket but won't hold my breath for a deal like winetree found. But everything in this thread seems to be over $100/panel. They are around. Google is your friend. Check weight and size. Last time I moved I came up short on the moving blankets at the last minute. Had to go to Harbor Freight at the last minute for some more. I was surprised at how lightweight and cheap they were in comparison to the professional "legit" moving blankets. |
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Post by Vincent R. on Jan 12, 2024 15:05:04 GMT -6
Decided to try the Nicetown curtains. I'll let everyone know how it shakes out.
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Post by Vincent R. on Jan 15, 2024 12:54:38 GMT -6
I received the 4 layer sound reduction blackout curtains today. They are very nice and are pretty thick. Thicker than even my nicer moving blankets. I definitely think they will help with some of the reflections in the room, and maybe a little outside noise. I don't have a crazy loud neighborhood, so It should do what I need. I won't be in the new place for a few weeks, but I'll let everyone know how it goes.
BTW, If you order from Amazon, make sure you are looking at the correct listing. All the Nicetown listings say sound reducing curtains. You need to make sure you are buying the 4 layer or 3 layer sound reducing curtains. The first set I ordered were just plain thin curtains. Sound reducing?... yeah right.
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. I just had to laugh when I saw it. Re: window panels - You want the "seal" to be as tight as possible. Just putting up a couple sound panels will help a tad, but getting a tight seal would be better. Your best option is to custom fab a slide in frame, and fill with 703, rockwool, or your favorite sound damper, and then cover the entire monstrosity with fabric. Good luck with it!!
