Soundproofing and Noise Control Information

People from all over the country have problems with highway traffic noise.  Few, however, deal with it as much as members of the Woburn and Burlington sound barrier committees in Massachusetts.

Residents in the Woburn and Burlington communities have been petitioning their state for years to have sound barriers built between their neighborhoods and portions of route 128 and I-93.

One of the most extreme cases in this situation is one in which resident Terri Keene’s house sits just 50 ft. from an eight lane highway.

“The highway traffic behind the Keene's house wouldn't be any louder if it went through their yard,” said WBZTV Reporter Peg Rusconi in a story she did about the issue.  “It practically does.”

The Woburn Sound Barrier Committee’s Web site reflects residents’ frustration.

“We vow to keep our quest visible and loud! This will be accomplished through rallies and meetings, along with many letters to the newspapers/media, and lobbying on the State House,” the site declares.

Acoustic wall panels are among the most effective tools in soundproofing and noise control.  They come in too many combinations of sizes, shapes and colors to count, which make them perfect not only for acoustic treatment, but also for aesthetic appeal.

Another advantage to treating a space with wall panels is they can act as either sound absorbers or absorber/barriers.  As absorbers, wall panels reduce echo and reverberation time within a room by absorbing sound waves and converting them to heat energy. 

As absorber/barriers, wall panels convert sound waves AND block sound transfer between rooms. As wall panels come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors, they can also be installed in a variety of ways using different types of hardware.

Below, using some of our hardware options, we have demonstrated three different ways to install wall panels.  So please … look, listen, learn and enjoy. 

We recently introduced our new Sonex™ Audio Tiles, which are engineered for noise control in professional and home recording studios, broadcast studios and vocal booths.

In that same spirit we would like to profile a few of our coolest studio products and projects.

Last week we explained some of the different types of indoor soundproofing and  noise control products.

This week, because the world of acoustic blankets, sound walls and outdoor enclosures can be confusing, we'll move outside to identify and explain many of the options for outdoor noise reduction.

In looking for the right soundproofing and noise control products, it’s easy to become overwhelmed very quickly. 

From acoustic blankets to diffusers, barriers and bass traps, finding the right combination or even knowing what each product does can be a daunting task.  That’s why we would like to explain.

We’ll start with indoor noise reduction products this week and finish with outdoor products next week.

Echoes can range from annoying to crippling. 

Without proper sound control, their effect can be as minimal as making it difficult to hear a co-worker in a meeting, or as serious as ruining a perfectly rehearsed theater production or chorus performance.    

Churches, cafeterias, industrial facilities, auditoriums, classrooms, you name it, no room is safe from echoes.

Flat, parallel surfaces are the culprit when it comes to echoes.  They are created when two opposing reflective surfaces (walls or ceiling/floor) bounce sound waves back and forth, producing a distinct repetition of the original sound.

When ridding a room of echoes, it’s very important to remember what causes them, parallel surfaces.  These surfaces can be treated with sound absorption or sound diffusion.

Sound absorption techniques include using materials such as foam or wall panels on the walls, and/or ceiling tiles, baffles or banners on the ceiling.  These products absorb the sound before it is reflected.

NOTE: In a room with four parallel walls, treating two walls will only work if the two are adjoining.  Remember that treating walls opposite each other still leaves two parallel walls untreated.

Sound diffusion uses multi-faceted, slotted or curved materials that are reflective in nature and are designed to scatter or redirect sound waves.  Sending these sound waves in different directions eliminates the possibility for repetitive reflections (echo).

A perfect example of sound diffusion and echoes can be seen at http://www.acousticalsolutions.com/523~barrell-diffusers (click 'Before/After Video' on right side of screen).  In this example, a chorus room already had sound absorption treatment, and to add more of the same treatment would have made the room sound too dead during performances.  The answer was to install barrel diffusers.

This New York Times article is quite interesting; it discusses a new problem that has surfaced with hybrid and electric cars.

A study has found that blind people are more likely to be hit by the new cars because the cars don’t make enough noise.  One solution has been to give these quiet cars artificial or generated sounds similar to what are heard in other cars.

There is even pending legislation that would require quieter cars to have artificial noisemakers.

The other side of this issue is that these artificial noises aren’t necessary and are adding to noise pollution.

People on this side of the issue point to loud trucks and motorcycles as the culprits and say the louder vehicles are covering up the sound of the quieter vehicles.  Therefore, noise should be reduced in loud vehicles rather than increased in quiet vehicles.

Acoustical Solutions is a big supporter of organizations that fight noise pollution, but the company definitely doesn’t want to see blind people being hit by cars.  So what do you think?

Let us know on this blog, on Facebook or on Twitter.

It’s hard to disagree with the fact that generators and chillers, from portable to industrial, are often far too loud.

Whether generator noise is overtaking a nearby residential space, disturbing business operations or violating noise ordinances, it is in everyone’s best interest to take control of the noise pollution these machines are creating.

Their noise originates in everything from engines and cooling fans to turbulent air-intakes and overall mechanical sounds. 

This variety of sources makes the sound difficult to control, but there are actually many products available that significantly reduce unwanted, troublesome and illegal generator and chiller noise.

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