Advice for Minimum Wall Layering

When deciding on the best wall assembly for your studio, you will discover many claims, statics, numbers, choices and opinions. Different testing methods, different claims from the same tests, competing manufacturers claiming to have the best solution, blogs and testimonies on the web, etc., etc. It is generally confusing which materials and assemblies are the best way to go. Without real world experience, gathering this conflicting information can produce a poorly informed decision, wasting precious time and money.

I have accumulated years of experience building wall systems. Additionally I have performed forensics on hundreds of different rooms, demolished failed walls and augmented thousands of square feet of sound control walls and ceilings. Let’s start at the beginning.

The best wall will have all of these characteristics; Stiff framing, high value insulation, entrapped air, decoupling, and mass. Plus a very important but often missed spec; the wall must not be the same on both sides. I emphasize this because it is the most common error I see. Any wall, layered the same on both sides will be less effective compared to the same wall with one more additional layer to one side. This is due to the simple fact that they are not in tune with one another.

There is scientific proof engineered drywall is preferable over regular drywall. But the whole story is that drywall is a poor sound isolator, thousands of times more efficient than air as a conductor of sound. Testing proves viscoelastic glue in a constrained layer dampening system adds value but may not be a pragmatic choice. Regardless of manufacturers’ claims, there is very little said about what the finished room sounds like.

So here it is, drum roll please, …. Our minimum recommendation for walls/ceilings in critical audio rooms is ….. DRYWALL / VINYL / DRYWALL. If you want to do more, great, there are lots of ways to go, and we can help. From my experience, whether you purchase from us or not, your best choice, best sounding place to start is Drywall / Vinyl / Drywall. Read Instructions for Sound Control Wall Layering found on the PLANS & INFO section of our website and Never, Ever, Ever, do the same thing on both sides of the wall or install drywall / soundboard / drywall. Rest assured there are many experts that may disagree and there are many people that believe Elvis is alive.

Clink Related Link below for product information.

• Mass Loaded Vinyl Sound Barrier
• Instructions for Sound Control Wall Layering
• Sound Control Wall Layering Over Existing Drywall
• 3 Layer Drywall with Mass Loaded Vinyl