Soundproof doors and why they are perfect for recording studios

Recording (or sound) studios are possibly the most demanding environment of them all when we’re thinking of acoustics and soundproof doors.

Let’s begin this article by taking a quick look at what a recording studio is, what goes on inside one, and what are some of its unique characteristics and requirements, before considering the things we need to be thinking about.

What is a recording studio?

As the name implies, it is a facility for recording sound, but also what is termed “mixing” in the industry, i.e. working on what has been recorded to ensure that the finished product is fit for purpose.

The finished product, incidentally, isn’t only music, but could be voice-overs for advertisements; dialogue for films, television or animation; and also what is called “foley” (the addition of everyday sound effects to what’s been recorded to enhance the listening experience.  Foley can also be used to cover up unwanted sounds, such as the noise of a plane inadvertently recorded while filming a costume drama – it’s a very interesting topic in its own right!).

A typical studio will consist of three types of room:

1. the main studio itself, where most of the recording is created (sometimes known as the “live” room)
2. the control room, populated by sound engineers and producers, where the sound from the studio is recorded and manipulated or “mixed”
3. isolation booths or machine rooms, sometimes containing loud instruments (such as drums) or other noisy equipment, which could interfere with the recording process; or alternatively a “dry” room for recording vocals or quieter acoustic instruments

Designing a sound studio

You’ll understand that it’s crucial to get the design of the studio absolutely right – and this is where the acousticians come into their own.  In addition to soundproofing (between the internal rooms and also between the studio and the outside), absorption and diffusion materials on the surfaces of the studio will be factored in.  The overall dimensions and layout of the studio will also be designed to ensure that the room responds to sound in the desired way.

All in all designing a sound studio for optimum performance is a complex process, and several things need to be considered.  One of the most important of these is the fact that people will be (naturally enough) constantly moving between the different rooms in the studio, and in and out of the studio itself.  As a consequence there will be an absolute requirement for soundproof doors.

The type of soundproof door used in a recording studio, for the reasons mentioned above, will be highly specialised. Please contact us for advice or additional information.

Make sure you use the experts

You’ve read how complex the design process can be, and it’s self-evident that you’ll need expert advice and guidance to get it right.  Click here to visit our home page or go straight to our contact page, where you’ll be straight in touch with people with a highly successful track record (no pun intended!).

And finally …

… and for the sheer magic of it, take a moment to reflect on some of the greatest recording studios of them all.   Sun Studio, in Memphis, home to Elvis, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and B. B. King, stands out.  And how about a small studio tucked away somewhere in north London …