Services
Acoustic Treatment
Enhance sound quality while improving communication and productivity within your creative space.
Acoustic Treatment
Specializing primarily in soundproofing and acoustical treatments, Soundproof San Diego is the perfect choice for your next project, backed by over 2 decades of experience in both construction and studio engineering. Regardless of the project’s size, our team of well-trained installers guarantees fast, friendly, clean, professional, and reliable service. Soundproof San Diego is licensed and insured to provide construction services in the State of California.
It is very important to make a distinction between “soundproofing” and “acoustics treatment”.
Soundproofing is when you would like to isolate one space from another (typically separated by a wall).
Acoustics treatment is useful for shaping sound within a room, typically the sound source and listener are in the same space. If you clap your hands in a closet full of clothes and compare that to clapping your hands in a cathedral you will notice a significant increase in how long the clap sound remains in the cathedral. This phenomenon is known as spacial reverberation (echo). Various building techniques and products can be used to shape this decaying sound to a desired level.
Echoes have a tendency to “build-up” in very reflective spaces especially when many people are present, making the space seem loud, sporadic, washy, or muddy. Imagine your space as the surface of a lake. If you are the only one in the lake chances are it is very calm and relaxing, minimal waves. Now imagine hundreds of boats driving around the lake, these represent speakers in your space voicing. The waves crash in to one another and can create even larger waves in some cases. This form of treatment helps to controls these overly built-up pressure waves by absorbing or diffusing them before they have a chance to interact to the point of disruption.
Our most common form of treatment for when reverberation is too long is introducing absorptive materials into the space. This includes but is not limited to prefabricated/modular acoustic panels and on-site custom-fitted fabric walls. The next few sections will cover these applications.
Enhance your comfort at home, improve the aesthetics in your space and peaceful environment to consume or create media.
Adhere to noise regulations and establish a conducive work environment, free from disruptions, all the while preserving privacy.
Enhance worker safety, productivity, and overall well-being by optimizing the acoustic environment within your facility.
Acoustic Panels
Acoustic Panels come in many difference shapes and sizes allowing for flexibility in terms of aesthetics. The cost of various brands of panels can fluctuate heavily dependent on which core material is used for absorption and how decorative they appear.
The most common type of panel to give you the most “bang for the buck” are fabric-wrapped with a fiberglass core. The fabric must be of acoustic quality so that sound can pass through without reflecting off the fabric back into the room.
There are many choices for textures and colors, we can help you make a selection using out library of swatch books. Custom artwork panels are also available to mimic painting, family portraits, you name it!
Of course, these custom prints will be more expensive than stock fabric. The most typical mounting for acoustic panels is surface mounted on walls and/or ceiling.
Alternatively panels can be hung from the ceiling using thin aircraft cable or jack chain which would allow the panel to absorb utilizing both faces. For spaces that require water resistance or other exterior durability, acoustic panels make from a 100% plastic (polypropylene) can be used instead. The plastic is dyed during the production process and is available in many colors avoiding the need for fabric. These panels can be cut to custom shapes on-site or even into individual “pixels” and arranged to meet aesthetic requirements.
The possibilities are endless! For special cases there are many other designer and architectural absorption options, please do not hesitate to call us with any questions, we are happy to help!
Fabric Wall and Ceiling Systems
Fabric wall and ceiling systems are tailored on-site and utilize the same concepts as acoustic panels. The fabric track system is compatible with a variety of fabrics and well absorbent cores of varying thicknesses to create beautiful, high performance surfaces. This combination of options allows for aesthetically pleasing solution while meeting treatment requirements. This type of treatment is especially useful when more coverage is required than what would be realistic with acoustic panels, or to draw less attention to the surface than the modular acoustic panel route.
Seams between sections of fabric are dependent on the roll width of specific type of fabric chosen. Most acoustic fabrics allow for a maximum section width of roughly 5 feet. These sections can be oriented horizontal or vertical based on your preferences or to minimize seams. Large format fabrics (extra wide up to 16 feet) also exist allowing for a seamless wall depending on the exact wall dimensions. Custom designs and images can be printed directly to large format acoustical fabric. It is worth noting that there is less of a selection available regarding colors and textures for large format acoustical fabrics. If your budget allow, it is also possible to roughly match your existing wall color and/or texture by means of custom printing, resulting in a less noticeable install. Many people actually prefer the look of a decent fabric covering for their walls over the basic orange-peel drywall look or in place of a standard accent wall. Let us help you to upgrade your space today, we offer free phone consultation or click here to request a formal on-site visit from us.
These Are the Most Frequently Asked Questions We Receive About Soundproofing and Acoustical Treatments
We are happy to answer your questions over the phone as well, don’t hesitate to reach out!
Soundproofing is the process of reducing or blocking the transmission of sound from one space to another. It involves using materials and techniques to absorb, dampen, or isolate sound waves, thereby minimizing their impact on the receiving space.
Soundproofing focuses on preventing sound from entering or leaving a space, while acoustic treatment is about improving the sound quality within a room. Soundproofing deals with sound transmission, while acoustic treatment addresses sound reflections and reverberations.
Yes soundproofing can be done in existing rooms
Sound can be categorized into various types, including airborne sound (like voices and music) and impact sound (like footsteps). Sounds also have different frequencies, ranging from low-frequency bass to high-frequency treble.
Sound Transmission Class (STC) and Outdoor-Indoor Transmission Class (OITC) ratings are used to evaluate and specify the sound insulation or sound transmission properties of building materials, walls, windows, and other elements within buildings.
These ratings are important for various professionals and individuals involved in the construction and design of buildings, particularly those concerned with noise control and acoustic performance.
Here are some of the key users and contexts for STC and OITC ratings:
Architects and Building Designers: Architects and building designers use STC and OITC ratings to select materials and building assemblies that will provide the desired level of sound insulation in various building types, such as residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. They design spaces with the goal of meeting specific acoustic requirements and minimizing noise transmission between rooms and from outside sources.
Acoustic Consultants: Acoustic consultants (that's us!) are experts in designing spaces with optimal acoustic performance. We utilize STC and OITC ratings to assess and recommend building materials and construction techniques to achieve specific sound isolation goals in our projects.
Construction and Building Contractors: Contractors are responsible for implementing the designs and specifications provided by architects and designers. They need to understand and work with materials that have specific STC and OITC ratings to ensure that the intended level of sound isolation is achieved during the construction process.
Manufacturers and Suppliers: Manufacturers of building materials, windows, doors, and other sound-insulating products provide STC and OITC ratings for their products. These ratings help customers, including architects and builders, choose the right materials to meet their sound insulation needs.
Building Owners and Facility Managers: Building owners and managers are concerned with maintaining a comfortable and quiet indoor environment. They use STC and OITC ratings to assess and upgrade the sound insulation of their buildings as needed, especially in multi-unit residential buildings, hotels, and commercial properties.
Acoustic Engineers and Researchers: Acoustic engineers and researchers use STC and OITC ratings to study and improve the acoustic performance of building materials and assemblies. They may develop new sound-insulating materials and test their performance based on these ratings.
Regulatory Authorities and Building Codes: Some building codes and regulations specify minimum STC and OITC requirements for certain types of buildings, such as residential dwellings or healthcare facilities. Compliance with these standards is essential to ensure occupant comfort and safety.
STC and OITC ratings provide standardized methods for assessing the sound insulation properties of building elements, helping professionals and individuals make informed decisions to create spaces with the desired level of noise control and acoustic privacy.
For more information about STC and OITC Ratings, check out our blog post!
The term "NRC rating" refers to the Noise Reduction Coefficient, a measure of how well a material or surface can absorb sound and reduce its reflection. NRC ratings are used in the fields of architecture, interior design, and acoustics to assess and specify materials for the acoustic performance of a space.
Here are some of the primary users and contexts where NRC ratings are important:
Architects and Interior Designers: Architects and interior designers use NRC ratings to select materials such as wall panels, ceiling tiles, flooring, and furniture that can improve the acoustic environment within a building. They choose materials with specific NRC ratings to achieve the desired level of sound absorption and control in various spaces, such as offices, conference rooms, auditoriums, and residential homes.
Acoustic Consultants (That's us!) : Acoustic consultants are professionals who specialize in designing spaces with optimal acoustic properties. We use NRC ratings to recommend suitable materials and construction methods to meet specific sound control requirements. This is often for projects like theaters, recording studios, and concert halls.
Building Owners and Facility Managers: Building owners and facility managers are responsible for maintaining and improving the acoustic performance of their properties.
They use NRC ratings when renovating or retrofitting spaces to enhance their acoustic qualities, which can have a significant impact on occupant comfort and productivity.
Manufacturers and Suppliers: Manufacturers of acoustic products, such as acoustic panels, ceiling tiles, and flooring materials, provide NRC ratings for their products. These ratings help customers, including architects and designers, make informed decisions when selecting materials for their projects.
Acoustic Researchers and Engineers: Researchers and engineers in the field of acoustics use NRC ratings as part of their studies and experiments. They may also develop new materials and technologies to improve acoustic performance and test them against established standards, including NRC.
Regulatory Authorities: Some building codes and regulations may stipulate minimum NRC requirements for specific types of spaces to ensure occupant comfort and safety.
Consumers: Homeowners and individuals looking to improve the acoustics of their living spaces may also refer to NRC ratings when selecting acoustic products for personal use.
NRC ratings provide a standardized way to assess the sound-absorbing properties of materials, helping professionals and individuals make informed decisions when designing, constructing, or renovating spaces with specific acoustic requirements.
For more information about NRC Ratings, check out our blog post:
The Impact Insulation Class (IIC) rating is a measure of a floor assembly's ability to reduce the transmission of impact noise, such as footsteps or objects being dropped, from one level of a building to another. IIC ratings are particularly important for professionals and individuals involved in the construction, design, or renovation of buildings, where noise control between floors is a concern. Here are some key users and contexts where IIC ratings are relevant:
Architects and Building Designers: Architects and building designers use IIC ratings to select flooring materials and systems that can help achieve the desired level of noise control between different levels of a building. They may specify flooring solutions with high IIC ratings to reduce impact noise transmission in multi-story residential, commercial, or institutional buildings.
Acoustic Consultants: Acoustic consultants (That's us!) specializing in architectural acoustics use IIC ratings to evaluate and recommend floor assembly designs, materials, and construction techniques to achieve specific impact noise reduction goals in our projects. We work on a range of buildings, including residential, commercial, and industrial.
Construction and Building Contractors: Contractors are responsible for implementing the design and specifications provided by architects and designers. They need to understand and work with flooring materials and assemblies that meet or exceed certain IIC ratings to ensure effective impact noise control during construction.
Manufacturers and Suppliers: Manufacturers of flooring materials and systems provide IIC ratings for their products. These ratings help customers, including architects and builders, choose appropriate flooring solutions to meet their impact noise reduction needs.
Building Owners and Facility Managers: Building owners and managers are concerned with maintaining a comfortable and noise-free indoor environment. They use IIC ratings when selecting or upgrading flooring materials and systems to reduce impact noise transmission within their buildings, particularly in multi-unit residential buildings, hotels, and commercial properties.
Acoustic Engineers and Researchers: Acoustic engineers and researchers may use IIC ratings to study and improve the impact noise performance of flooring materials and systems. They may develop new products or construction methods and test them based on these ratings.
Regulatory Authorities and Building Codes: Some building codes and regulations may stipulate minimum IIC requirements for specific types of buildings to ensure that noise transmission between floors meets certain standards.
IIC ratings play a crucial role in ensuring that buildings provide effective impact noise control, which is essential for occupant comfort and acoustic privacy in multi-story structures. Professionals and individuals involved in the construction and design of buildings rely on IIC ratings to make informed decisions about flooring materials and systems.
For more information about IIC Ratings, check out our blog post!
Testimonials
Clients who hire Soundproof San Diego desire to work with someone who is knowledgeable and provides peace of mind, most of our clients are literally at their witts end by the time they reach out to us, and we are honored to serve them, restoring order and sanity back to their lives.