In this post, I’ll be walking you through the various aspects of soundproofing a booth to help you make an informed decision.

It goes without saying, that all the steps that we’re gonna discuss in this post are budget-friendly and highly effective.

Even though you’re a newbie, you don’t have to worry as we’ll be covering all the essential elements of soundproofing a booth- both why and how.

So, without any further ado, let’s dive deep into the discussion.

Are you a musician or a sound recorder?

If yes, then one of the challenges you may be facing is finding space to set up your own studio recording, right?

Even though you may succeed in finding a quiet space, at the same time, you must be well aware of the monthly rent and other related expenses. 

Without any doubt, these expenses can take a huge toll on your finances.

And, it is quite possible that you’ll have to wait to break even.

It happened a few years ago when one of my loyal clients came to me and asked me how to soundproof a booth in his home.

Initially, I thought about what he was blabbering but later I realized he was correct.

In case, you’re just starting out or you’re on a shoestring budget, then I would advise you to save the rent and rather go for soundproofing a room in your home for audio recording and other related purposes.

There is no doubt that you’ll have to spend a certain amount of money.

However, the good thing is that it is a one-time investment.

At the same time, you’ll also have the comfort of working from your home.

Converting a room into a soundproof booth will also help you with other benefits such as a quiet space for discussion and relaxing.

Depending upon the available space, you can go for a small soundproof booth or a big one.

The good thing about a soundproof booth is that you can use it as a substitute for a soundproof home.

In short, you’ll have a quiet space in your home from where you can work even though your kids are playing around and dogs are barking.

A soundproofing booth for an apartment isn’t a costly affair.

In fact, you can even go for a soundproof booth DIY project to reduce the cost of labor.

In layman’s language, soundproofing a booth in your home doesn’t need much effort and investment.

All you need to do is to ensure that sound insulation is done properly so as to dampen the sound that gets into the booth and vice-versa.

When you’re soundproofing a studio booth, it is advisable to keep track of the problems such as echoes.

Installing a sound-absorbing material could help you dampen echoes as well as reverbs.

The success of building an isolation booth depends to a great extent on sound quality improvement.

If I’m not wrong then you’re more than convinced to take the soundproofing booth project ahead.

But, the question remains the same, how to make a soundproof booth in your home?

Even when I was doing my first soundproof vocal booth project I was a bit skeptical about where to start as well as how to start.

In fact, there is nothing wrong with it, every newbie will face a similar situation when he is starting out.

How to Make a Soundproof Booth in Your Home?

As said earlier, we’ll be discussing every aspect of the soundproofing booth keeping newbies in mind.

So, you don’t have to worry at all if this is going to be your first soundproof vocal booth project.

All you need to do is to follow the step-by-step procedures that we’re gonna discuss in this post.

Material Requirements

I’m listing down all the materials that you’ll need for this project.

I’m assuming that you’ve all the tools handy with you. So, now its turn to get to work.

Soundproof Booth: Step-by-Step Method

Henceforth, I’ll walk you through the step-by-step methods that you need to follow to soundproof your booth. Are you ready for the ride?:):)

Find a Suitable Place

Though this step may seem to you as the easiest one, in reality, it is one of the hardest steps of the entire process.

You need to find an adequate space that you can later convert into a soundproof booth.

Most importantly, you need to keep in mind that you’ve enough space to move around.

 I always recommend my clients convert the basement or the garage into a soundproof booth. 

By doing so, you’ll be able to utilize the space effectively.

Once you’ve taken a final call on the space the next thing that you need to do is to take the measurement of the space accurately.

Work on the Doors

In the article on soundproofing doors, we’ve discussed in detail that most of the internal doors of any apartment are hollow.

Unlike the solid core doors, these hollow ones are quite difficult to soundproof.

Most of the newbies find it quite difficult to differentiate between hollow doors and solid core doors.

I also had a similar problem when I was starting out a decade ago.

All you need to do is to knock on the door.

If the knock sounds similar to the knocking of the front door then it’s definitely a solid core door or solid door.

 However, if it sounds like thick cardboard then you need to take special precautions to soundproof it as the probability is very high that it would be a hollow door. 

So, what’s the solution?

Well, either you can add drywall to increase the mass of the hollow door or you can install a soundproof blanket to absorb the noise as well as add an additional layer of protection against the unwanted noise.

I’ve personally used soundproof blankets for soundproofing doors and walls, and you know what, the results were mind-boggling.

If the interior doors are quite old then it’s better to replace them with a solid core door.

Though the solid door/solid core door is a bit expensive still I would recommend you to go for it because they are worth every penny spent.

Solid core doors are especially great at dampening external noise.

Once you’ve bought the door, all you need to do is to install it properly.

Use a door sweep to close the gap between the bottom of the door and the floor.

Soundproof Wall

• If the walls of the soundproof booth are thin then you’ll need to pay special attention to soundproof them.
• Failing to do so can spoil all your efforts.
• Check for the holes, gaps, and cracks in the walls.
• Seal them using weatherstrip or a soundproof adhesive such as green glue.
• Add a layer of drywall to add mass and density to the wall.
• Furthermore, you can also install paintings, canvases, and soundproof wallpapers on the wall to enhance the acoustics of your soundproof booth.

Add Soundproofing Materials

Already you’ve got a booth in place, so you need to add some soundproofing materials to enhance its soundproofing capabilities.
As we all know the market is saturated with soundproofing materials and it makes it difficult to select one among many feasible options.
Nonetheless, you can narrow down a few by analyzing your requirements against the best soundproofing materials available on the market.
I always recommend my clients these two viable options: Drywall and Acoustic Foam.

Drywall

• A drywall is nothing but a panel made of calcium sulfate dihydrate that is pressed between two layers.
• Drywall is easily accessible and you can find it in the hardware shop.
• It is made of soundproofing materials and thus can be used in soundproofing ceilings and floors as well.
• For the best result, you need to attach the drywall to the outer frame as well as the interior of the booth.
• The installation process can become quite tricky at times.
• Make sure that there is no space in between and the drywall is attached perfectly.
• However, it is not necessary still I would recommend you to screw the drywall to keep it in place.

Acoustic Foam

Acoustic foam panels can be a great alternative to drywall when it comes to soundproofing a booth.

Well, you can use it along with acoustic foam.

So, they can also work well for a homemade booth.

Acoustic foam panels come in different shapes and sizes.

So, you can select the one that syncs well with the background of your homemade booth.

Also, just keep in mind that different panels can have different structures as well as capabilities.

You need to be well-versed in the basics of acoustic panels to make an informed decision.

For example, an artistic person may find acoustic foam panels a better option as compared to drywall.

When it comes to appearance and visual appeal, these panels can be installed in a specific pattern to enhance the appearance of your homemade booth as well as a soundproof studio booth.

Moreover, when it comes to installation, it is similar to drywall, and keep in mind that the panels are installed properly and are in place.

Drill Some Holes

In case, you’ve planned to use the booth for recording purposes then you’ll have to drill some holes in the frame.

Once the holes are in place, install the signal cables as well as other cables through these holes.

Drill the holes in such a way that they should exactly fit the cable wires.

A large hole can allow the air to pass through it and thus, can adversely impact the soundproof studio booth.

Seal All the Gaps

As discussed quite a few times on this blog, when it comes to soundproofing even the smallest of the gaps, cracks, and holes can ruin all your effort.

In fact, sealing them should be your top priority.

Similar to soundproofing a home, once everything is in place, all you need to do is check for the holes in your booth and seal them.

Silicone caulk has given me great results, so you can use it for soundproofing booths as well.

Install the Weatherstripping

It goes without saying that weatherstripping is a great material for soundproofing walls, doors, and windows.

Especially in the case of doors, you may feel some air coming in and going out in spite of sealing the holes.

Weatherstripping allows you to get rid of such problems.

Sometimes the gap between the door and the door frame can be problematic.

So, all you need to do is to install weatherstripping all around the door frame.

Use silicone caulk to seal any other gap.

Again, I’m repeating don’t forget to install a door sweep at the bottom of the door.

By doing so, you’ll be able to block the space between the bottom of the door and the floor whenever you close the door.

Another benefit of using a door sweep is that it acts as a thermal insulator.

Even it will prevent insects from entering your soundproof homemade booth.

Well, to make things simple and easy, I’m attaching a self-explanatory video for your perusal.

Bonus Tip: Soundproof Floor

If you’re building a soundproof vocal booth then it is not compulsory to soundproof floors.

However, if your booth is above a garage, etc. then I would recommend you go for a soundproofing floor of the booth to prevent any impact noise coming from beneath the floor.

The easiest and most cost-effective way to soundproof a booth floor is to use drywall beneath the carpet.

To minimize the echoes reverbs, and vibrations, you can install rugs.

Rugs are great at absorbing the echoes.

Hope it helps!

Pro Tip: Turn a Closet into a Soundproof Booth

Building a soundproof booth or even a soundproof cabin from scratch can be a tedious as well as time-consuming task.

At the same time, it can be a costly affair.

So, you may try exploring other options.

One of the cheapest, as well as feasible options, could be to convert the unused closet into a soundproof booth.

Does it sound interesting?

Make Some Adjustment

Since the space was a closet you’ll need to make a little adjustment to convert it into a soundproof booth.

It goes without saying that you’ll need to get rid of shelves and racks if any.

It will help you to make the place more spacious, and at the same time, you need a flat surface for a soundproof booth.

Ensure that the closet has a proper arrangement for lighting.

Unfortunately, in most of the cases, a closet doesn’t have lighting facilities.

Without the lighting facilities, you can’t use a booth for recording purposes.

I’ve come across some instances where there weren’t any outlets, so if you’re also facing a similar issue then you’ll have to contact an electrician.

He is the person who will install the outlet for you.

Soundproof the Booth

Soundproofing the booth is perhaps the most important step, and for this, you need to follow what we’ve discussed above.

Similar to the case of building a booth, you need to ensure that all the gaps, cracks, and holes have been sealed.

Don’t forget to add soundproof materials such as weatherstripping, green glue, and drywall if needed.

So, these are some of the best ways to soundproof a closet.

You can also consider it as an isolation booth DIY project.

Moving further, we’ll discuss the need for a soundproof vocal booth and other frequently asked questions to help you make an informed decision.

Keep reading…

FAQs

• Well, in this section, I’ll be taking quite a few frequently asked queries.
• All these questions are either asked by my clientele or readers.
• In case, you’ve questions related to the topic, feel free to ask us by emailing the questions or asking in the comment section.
• Our team will respond back at the earliest.

What is a vocal booth?

• Vocal booth aka recording booth is an enclosed structure constructed to provide sound isolation in the best possible ways.
• A vocal booth sometimes referred to as a sound isolation booth is mostly used to record vocals as well as solo instruments without compromising on recording from the outside noise.

How does a sound booth work?

A sound booth is a standard small room in a recording studio that is built in such a way that it will block the external noise and at the same time, also improve the quality of the sound getting recorded in the booth.
In fact, it is designed uniquely to reduce the amount of diffused reflections from walls.

How much does it cost to build a soundproof booth?

• Soundproofing a booth involves various costs as mentioned below:
  • Cost of new materials: $300
  • Cost for professional labor: $250
  • Cost of tools: $40
  • Additional expenses: $350
• In short, if you’ve got a budget of $1000 or above then you’re well to go.
• Well, the cost that I’ve shared with you is just a rough estimate.
• The price can vary significantly depending on the size of the booth, material selection, and complication level of the project.

It’s A Wrap

• Whether you’re a musician and want to make music from home or want a quiet space to be more productive, definitely a soundproof booth should be a great option.
• The best thing about soundproofing a booth is, it isn’t costly or time-consuming.
• All you need to do is follow all the aforementioned steps to finally get a soundproof booth in your home.
• Since you’ve landed on this post, I’m assuming that you’re looking for information related to the soundproof home booth.
• Correct me, if I’m WRONG.
• Needless to say, this article comprises all the essential elements required to complete a successful soundproof home booth.
• What is your budget for a soundproof home booth?
• Last but not least, share this piece of information with the ones who are looking for it.
• After all, sharing is caring.