Soundproof booths...

[ladsar]

Hi!

My wife and I bought a new apartment and we will be moving soon. I need to be able to practice in the evenings after work. I know there are several options, but I just want to know if anyone has experience with some of the "soundproof booths" currently on the marked. I know it is expensive, but it might be worth it if I can practice when I want to. And if/when we are going to move again in the future, I can install the booth there as well. The booth I have been looking at is this:

https://en.demvox.com/products/eco-soundproof-booths/eco200

I did ask the manufacturer about this booth. They said they had many customers that play trumpet and explained that your neighbors will listen as if would be watching TV (a little louder). It takes away 70% of the sound. But it might be better options out there, I just don't know. I would really appreciate some feedback about this topic.

[atom_anderson]

Wow, that's pricey! Probably a lot less than the cost of a new house though.

[JH3136]

Possibility? Looks pretty portable.

https://www.vocalboothtogo.com/acoustic-treatment-sound-blankets-portable-mobile-vocal-booths-audio-recording/
_________________
Comeback Trumpeter as of 12/20 (after 25 years off)
Horn: Bach Bb Strad bought for me in 1977 by my Mom and Dad
Mouthpiece: "We're on safari to stay" - Beach Boys

[Aspeyrer]

Most commonly seen recently are two makers;

Studiobricks;

http://studiobricks.com/

Used by Chris Smith of San Diego symphony in his YouTube videos.

Whisper room;

https://whisperroom.com/

Used by Tom Siders of Boston Symphony in his YouTube videos.

I’ve heard demvox is quite good, unfortunately, I can’t give you a comparison between the three. Other players also those “portable studios” but the two names I mentioned have videos that may give you some insight.

[ladsar]

Thanks Aspeyrer! I found several videos of Chris Smith and Tom Siders playing in their booths on youtube. Both booths may be a good solution.

But I'm still uncertain abouth this. I still don't know if the sound absorption is enough when playing loud. It is too expensive to order without having enough knowledge about this. It also depends on our apartment and which room the booth will be placed. Our new apartment is on the first floor, so that's a good thing regarding how much sound my neighbours will hear.

I think these booths will absorb about 70 - 80 % of the sound. Is that enough? I'm not sure yet. I found this comparison on youtube. But I couldn't decide which booth that will be my best option:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXCqz9OXbwU

[austincustombrass]

FWIW I took an old closet in my house and made a great sound dampening space with some moving blankets and other stuff that is about -26DB overall. I love it for recording, for my ears (tinnitus in my left ear is getting worse and worse), for really working on the purity of my sound. Total cost was about $65 (but I had bought a LOT of moving blankets due to moving my shop and house from Boston to KC a few years ago). I'm still tweaking it but I'll share a YT video on it when I get it closer to completion.

I would love a StudioBricks for my shop and still might get one. Great design and extremely well made.


Best,
T
_________________
As of 1/1/2022 ACB will no longer post online here nor monitor TH.

It's a shame how far this forum has fallen. If you need us call 816-410-0826 or email.

Cool Links here:
https://linktr.ee/austincustombrass

[spitvalve]

I practice in our walk-in closet most of the time because that's where my office is now that my daughter came home and took her room back. The clothes hanging in there do a good job of snuffing the sound. Sometimes it makes me blow harder than I need to, however.
_________________
Bryan Fields
----------------
1991 Bach LR180 ML 37S
1999 Getzen Eterna 700S
1977 Getzen Eterna 895S Flugelhorn
1969 Getzen Capri cornet
1995 UMI Benge 4PSP piccolo trumpet
Warburton and Stomvi Flex mouthpieces

[deleted_user_687c31b]

[snichols]

The other consideration other than price would be space. Do you have the dedicated space to put a booth that size that will only be used for that one purpose (sound-proofing loud activities). I am guessing you have already looked into it at least somewhat, but maybe try the less expensive option of lining a room (extra bedroom, office, etc.) with soundproof panels, and then getting some feedback from your neighbors. There are some pretty cheap options for panels on Amazon. Because then if that works, that space would still be functional for other things, and you wouldn't "lose space" from installing a giant booth in your apartment.

Regardless of what you do, I would wait until you move and then reach out to a neighbor to see how loud the practicing without soundproofing is, so you have a baseline for how robust of an option you need. I, for example, was lucky with our current townhouse in that our neighbors couldn't hear me at all, without any soundproofing. I find that being open with people about these things and letting them know up front that you are actively trying to take measures to avoid disturbing anyone is generally helpful.

[oregoncoast]

Hello folks

I'd like to offer a viewpoint from Tokyo, Japan where population is dense and forces people to avoid being a nuisance to others.

My information is unlikely to directly help you, I'm afraid, because the products I mention below are unavailable outside of Japan, but perhaps might indirectly assist in making your decision because the general background is similar.

Here are 2 examples of soundproof booths available in Japan. Their websites show pictures, and if you like, you can use Google Translate to read the Japanese language.

(1) Yamaha

Click on "360" next to the pictures on their webpage to view 360-degree images of soundproof booths manufactured by Yamaha. The images give you a good idea how cozy it is inside.

https://jp.yamaha.com/products/contents/soundproofing/experience/rooms_360/index.html

(2) Kawai

The webpage below shows see-through cut-away views of smaller soundproof models manufactured by Kawai. Note that instruments that require moving space (for instance trombone slides, or double bass bows) require bigger booths.

https://www.kawai-os.co.jp/product.aspx?type=05

Yamaha and Kawai use similar construction materials and techniques. They are both equally effective (their base models offer 35 dB reduction at 1 kHz). I tried them when searching for solutions to soundproof my house in Tokyo.

Yamaha and Kawai sell and rent soundproof booths. Cost depends on the size of the booth and level of soundproofing. For a smallish booth about $5k (US dollars) to buy new, or about $100 a month to rent. The booths come disassembled as flat panels, and you (or a technician) bolt them together. Best tackled with 2 people, if only to carry and support the pieces from your front door to where you are placing the booth.

Yamaha and Kawai can also soundproof your existing room by installing their proprietary pre-fabricated soundproofing boards (a combination of plywood, sound-absorbing foam, and air gaps). Installation takes perhaps 2 to 5 working days depending on how much of the existing wall, ceiling, and floor is being replaced (the best scenario is soundproofing a room while the building is being built). I was quoted a theoretical price of $15k to $20k to soundproof my room. I wrote "theoretical" because both companies refused to do it because I am on the 3rd floor and the weight of the building materials would make the building too top-heavy. The floor and columns could support the weight without problem but the building might sway too much in earthquakes. A smaller soundproof booth, by contrast, weighs much less than a soundproofed bedroom or home office, and was offered to me as a solution.

I spent some time in soundproof booths (both Yamaha and Kawai have demonstration units at their stores) and talked with acoustic technicians. I happen to be trained in spoken language processing (speech recognition and synthesis) and have spent lots of time in soundproof booths for the purpose of recording spoken language (for this task, soundproofing means eliminating outside sound from entering the booth, which is the opposite of practicing trumpet without bothering your neighbors). Based on my experience, I came to the following conclusions:

(1) Booths get hot. They are insulated and often air-tight (some have ventilators). You will be opening the door often. Cold weather is not a serious problem because your body warms the air.

(2) Booths get dirty. Dust accumulates on the roof. If you have a tight gap between the ceiling of your room and the roof of the booth, then you cannot clean it. Same with the gap between the walls of your room and the booth.

(3) Booths waste space. To be most effective, a booth should have an air gap around it, decoupling it from the inside surfaces of your room. The air gap wastes space, unless you place the booth in a corner.

(4) Booths are depressing (or should I say make you claustrophobic). You want a window. Windows are expensive options but they make a difference.

In my case, I gave up on professional installation, and chose an inexpensive adventure over a boring if reliable booth. So I soundproofed an L-shaped closet. It was an enjoyable amateurish carpenter project for me. Took forever and looks awful but cost only $1100 in materials (all purchased new) and best of all my spouse cannot hear me in the same house.

Thanks, and good luck.