Soundproofing doors and windows in studios and recording studios
Reduce sound leakage and create clearer separation in studios
In studios and recording studios, controlling sound propagation between different rooms is crucial for undisturbed work. Even if the walls, floors, and ceilings are adapted for the activity, doors and windows are often the weakest points when it comes to sound insulation. Music, voices, recordings, or background noise can then travel between control rooms, recording rooms, corridors, or adjacent premises. Soundproofing doors and windows aims to reduce this sound leakage and create clearer boundaries between the studio's different functions.
Why do doors and windows let sound through?
Doors and windows differ from fixed building components in that they are movable, often lighter in construction, and contain multiple joints. Sound can therefore pass through both the door leaf or glass surface and through gaps around frames, thresholds, and fittings. In studio environments, this often involves airborne sound, such as speech, music, and recording sounds, which effectively find their way through even small gaps. Glass partitions and interior doors without sufficient insulating function are particularly sensitive.
Common problems associated with doors and windows in studio environments
In studios, the problems are often experienced as sound being clearly audible despite closed doors, recordings being disturbed by activity outside the room, or sound leaking from the studio to adjacent spaces. This can affect sound quality, peace and quiet, and privacy, especially in environments where several activities are taking place at the same time. Since sound always takes the easiest route, even small gaps around doors and windows can have a significant practical impact.
How does sound insulation of doors and windows work?
Soundproofing doors and windows is based on limiting the passage of sound through increased tightness, better insulating properties, and reduced air leakage. The measures are aimed at door leaves, glass surfaces, frames, and connections to walls. Unlike sound absorption, which reduces echo and reverberation inside a room, sound insulation focuses on stopping sound between separate spaces. Vibration damping is used to reduce structure-borne noise from, for example, technical equipment and installations.
Sealing gaps and connections
Gaps around doors and windows are often the main cause of sound leakage in studios and recording rooms.
Enhanced insulating function
Doors and windows with low sound insulation may need to be supplemented to reduce sound transmission between rooms.
Why choose sound insulation for doors and windows in studios and recording studios?
Soundproofing doors and windows often has a significant effect in relation to the scope of the measure. Since these building components otherwise limit the sound insulation of the entire room, improvements here can make a clear difference to both working peace and sound control. The measure is particularly important in studios with recording rooms, control rooms, glazed areas, or where sound-sensitive work is carried out in parallel. In many cases, this is a crucial complement to soundproofing walls, floors, and ceilings.
Well-considered advice for best results
For best results, doors and windows should be seen as an integral part of the studio's sound insulation. A common mistake is to focus on walls and ceilings but leave doors and windows untouched, which means that sound still gets through. By identifying where the sound leakage occurs and addressing these points, the sound insulation in studios and studio rooms can be significantly improved and work in the long term.
Soundproofing doors and windows is therefore a key measure for stopping sound between rooms and creating better privacy in studios.