How to Soundproof a BIG WINDOW 

Following a friend's suggestion I recently lined my garage walls with OSB and sheets of roofing lead (between the OSB and the walls). It doesn't make the walls much thicker but it absorbs absolutely all the noise. One of the walls is just a 82mm drywall and yet when standing on the other side you hear absolutely nothing of my table saw + full dust extraction.

This is so helpful! Clearest and easiest to understand video I’ve seen to help me put together movable panels for major sound reduction. 🙏🏼✨

All about energy transfer- like Andy says, try to think about stopping sound waves (energy) hitting onto surfaces and making them vibrate (being energised). Theoretically, a vacuum is the ideal solution, as energy can’t easily travel through “nothing”. Next there’s a whole physics side of things like Andy says, but in more detail, the frequency of sound (from highs to mids to bass) travel through different materials in different waves, most notably bass frequencies travel the slowest but the furthest and with the strongest energy. So ideally those are the ones to tackle first if it’s about soundproofing against a low-end sound source, and as Andy says, the denser the material, the more bass it will turn from sound energy into heat (friction through vibration). I worked on soundproofing a few recording studios and we built secondary walls and de-coupled the floor, and used high density rockwool behind mdf and then air gaps, as well as triple glazed windows to the control room... a somewhat arduous process but once you understand the physics of it, it will become easy. The “how to build a small budget recording studio from scratch” by Michael Shea goes into the physics of it and was really useful to me back then. Things to also consider (which we don’t have so much in the UK) are HVAC Systems where the sound can travel to the outside and how to deal with that. Anyway, I’ll stop rambling now, great video Andy! Cheers

Love it - specially the closing edit 👍🏻

Great video Andy. I always found the best solution was to have neighbours who were a bit deaf! 15 years playing drums next door to them and no complaints 😉

All very interesting. Good info for drummers and woodworkers

Good stuff! I have neighbors all around me and a large window in the room where I record my unboxing videos. I will focus on getting my window insulated better after watching your video 👊🏻

Hi, are you able do a short video on how you made the panels, I'm a fellow drummer, and I'm having the same trouble with a window and door.

Really interesting video. Floating room is by far the best solution but it must be built by design this way. I would think of a solution like sandwiching stonewool between 15mm mdf and perforated hardboard but your solution is also looks nicer! It's funny to discover that we have some things in common. I worked for many years as a sound engineer ☺

Fascinating video. Thank you mate. Newbie to measuring up too. One complaint... I can't turn it off lol... I love it. 😂😂👍👍. I am moving soon and have a garage that's going to be a workshop. I'd like to sound insulate the metal up and over door due to saws etc I'll be using. Door still needs to open. Any thoughts, panel inside with MDF??

Excellent video and simpler enough for even me to follow. Glad Iv watched videos on this as I would of jumped in and done it wrong. I’m sound proofing my garden workshop and I plan to do as follows if you could look at it an say if I’m going right direction. Shop currently is - 4x2 frames Wrapped in moisture barrier membrane 20mm cladded in outside Painted Next step I might add more membrane to inside of the cladding on the inside of shop 1 inch air gap from cladding to insulation Add 50mm rigid kingspan Another 1 inch air gap Cladd walls inside with 18mm plywood or mdf OR Should I just go with 1 inch gap from inside cladding Fit and compress 70mm rock wool and then with no gap for a 18mm sheet of mdf / ply over the rock wool so it’s squeezing against tight ? From what I can tell my first option is best as it has more layers to prevent noise from my power tools leaving room an annoying neighbours Many thanks Scott

Can you explain step by step how you made each panel so that they interlocked please?

Very good Andy. What’s the new room like? You downsizing or getting a bigger cave? 😜

As usual a brilliant and clear Vid Andy. I may be moving my workshop to a larger shed that already has rock wool insulation and is ply lined, but am worried about the new neighbours. Any thoughts from anyone on using pink grip foam rather than screws to fix an extra layer of MDF to the ply walls? I am thinking the adhesive foam may help stop sound transference?

Sweet as, man👍 Rock on! 😎

Great video Andy. I used to work in radio outside broadcast and would have to treat rooms, typically offices, hotel rooms and peoples homes. Both accoustic treatment (reduce reflections) and proofing to stop outside noise being picked up by mics. You're right ideally density is best and avoid rooms with too many windows (big reflective surfaces - poor noise isolation). I've cancelled plans to put velux windows in my workshop in favour of better lighting so as not to exacerbate issues with my neighbours. I really liked your solution which is ideal for a fixed installation. If you're looking for something a bit more flexible then there are couple options - one inexpensive the other more expensive but pretty solid - both are efficient accoustic treatments and provide effective (though limited) sound proofing. The cheap solution are moving blankets. Two layers hung floor to ceiling and wall to wall- the second option is more professional and known as acoustic blankets which is what we carried on the van. The professional ones velcro together to remove gaps. You can achieve a diy version with moving blankets. The reason for mentioning them is they are particularly effective in treating noise from woodworking machines which are typically loud in the higher frequencies.

Interesting video. Thanks for sharing. So if you're going to your son's room (which is probably upstairs) you'll have to do as you described in the last minutes. Will you provide the birds with headphones?

Thanks for that video Man, it helped me so much!

Woodworker here - found your video trying to find a way to run my table saw without getting evicted 😄 Great video thanks!

In a strange coincidence, I've just watched Matt Risinger's latest video where he's at the Bau building trade show in Germany. He comes across a foam sound insulating product that is matched to the resonant frequency of the room, and installed under the flooring. It was demo'd as stopping outside noise transfering into a recording studio etc., but I guess it would work the other way around too????

Thanks for sharing. For the panels, would it soundproof the noise coming from the outside? I asked bcoz I lived in a busy neighborhood and is working from home and is looking for an easy way to get rid of the noise from the outside. Also my husband is doing some recording as well so it's a win-win situation for us to have the sound proof from inside and from outside. Thank you for taking time to reply!

Great video. can I ask, was the sound reduction of the mdf shutter 15db in the end?

Knauf do a sound panel plasterboard that reduces sound transmission by about 20%. So if you were making a false room or wanting to reduce the sound to a neighbour, it's probably a good pick. It is double the price of normal plasterboard though. Out of interest, have you sound proofed your workshop Andy?

So by creating this density and eliminating as much air as possible, will it help from outside noise getting in?

awesome job

Great idea!

Do you have a video on how to make these mdf panels?

Cover your MDF panels (both sides!) with Rockwool RW3 under woven fabric to combine dampening and isolation.

Like your info. Like your style. Thanks.

Hi Andy, what did you do about the door into the room?

Density limits transfer vibration? Is that the message. Timely video, I’m facing similar situation to a big arch window. Single pane, ugh. Drummer here also. Need my rehearsal room back in order

One tip which Andy didn't mention is that if you have multiple layers of glass the air gaps should be different widths. And in addition they shouldn't be each others multiples ie. 10mm, 20mm and 40mm but a for an example 10mm, 13mm and 18mm. That's because if they are multiples then the sound wave can get amplified by the harmonics of the resonant frequencies. Easy to implement but usually not known fact. :)

Exciting!

practical and informative....thank u...

Velvet Revolver - Slither - Matt Sorum one of my all time favourite drummers from his early GNR days.

Top job

Class is in session! The basics of sound proofing a room 4:40 Perfect. If I knew more I wouldn’t be scouring RU-vid trying to keep my neighbors from having to listen to our band practice.

Hi and thanks for the video. I want to do something similar in my house, but was planning to install the MDF panels on a sliding barn door mechanism for easy handling? Do you think it would work as well? Thanks again

Random is good!

Very interesting 👍🏽

Sorry to ask a naive question, but how did you secure the 34mm wood to your walls? Just drill it straight in? I'm trying to do something similar but with rented accommodation. Thanks!

Interesting, thank you

Thankyou good sir

was going to ask, are you using windows 7 or windows 10 ?

What's MDF & ~cost for this solution?

Would twinwall polycarbonate be as(more?) effective as double glazing?

Nice t-shirt 👍

I wish we could do this with our living room windows for November since every little wank around our area sets of fireworks and we rescued a dog and he loses his mind the poor kid.

Imagine living next door to someone who taught drums......sound proofing essential 😂👍

So are you goin* to show us how to do this, or just make us envious? That’s pretty nice.

caveat.. its not purely density, but firmness/hardness as well. The ideal sound deadener is lead, as its dense and squishy. One of the most ideal musical instrument materials is spruce because it is light and stiff.

well said.....

Very interesting Andy....As a guitar picker in a 50's/early 60's rock'n'roll band with a very good, but loud drummer we have come up against the 'overspill' of sound problem several times. A regular venue of ours that has a total of '2 hours' of live music a week on a Saturday night was almost closed down by just 'one' person complaining to environmental health at the local council. Using similar methods you have shown saved their bacon and our gig there...

I did a independant ceiling per soundstop, with entire separate joists, rockwool, , resilient barsl, and acoustic plasterboard, fancy mastic, worked well enough but no drums. Victorian ceilings lost around 7.5inches on a 10ft ceiling. Worth it not to hear the noisy neighbours!

Thank you so much for this how to. I have a much better understanding about sound proofing versus acoustic isolation.

Bloody hell ! … A Geordie, with glass in his windows … very posh.

Very much video

So 2 or 3 layers of mdf should be even more effective. I have a 4 ft by 3 ft window that i need to do this to.

I was used to living in a house with soundproofing basically a huge brick house.. for the most part nobody ever heard anything no matter how loud i got now i live in a small house with really old windows.. where do i start.. ok so im thinking new windows.. Then maybe like put plywood over the windows.. any suggestions

if we put ceramic tiles to brick walls. will it make soundproof 🙄

Dam,you didn't go with egg cases and insulation!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

These mfn windows are about to drive me completely insane. I cannot fn handle this crazy noise. Not with my PTSD.

I haven't a note in my head ,but I always think i am brilliant at it in the shower .now I realise it's only the tiles on the wall that are making me sound good . Your getting a thumbs down for this one Andy Mac. 😂😂lol

Triple glazing being better for sound proofing is a myth, what matters is the space in between the glass, therefore double glazing is usually better. As for recording studios, usually what they do is have the two panes of glass at a slight angle to each other to stop sound reflecting straight back and bouncing between the two bits of glass causing a resonance to build up (standing wave). But there is typically less space between panes in a triple glazed unit, providing less of a "cushion" and allowing sound to transfer from one to the next to the next and out the other side.

What you made was amazing but this isnt soundproofing, this is acoustic

Just hand bags of sand in front of it. Problem solved.

What? Speak up, dammit!

What the Hell was he saying ! Speak American English for God's sake. 😐