Soundproofing, also known as sound blocking, refers to insulated materials that prevent the passage of sound. The materials employed to soundproof tend to be heavy, solid, dense, and thick. This is a very useful solution when dealing with unwanted noise. Cinemas, TV, and radio stations, as well theaters, frequently have sound blocking systems within their facilities.
Soundproofing: Pros and Cons
Soundproofing is not always a perfect system regarding acoustics. The reason behind this are its two main goals. First, to improve the reverberation within a room. Second, to reduce sound leakage to and from adjacent rooms or outdoors. Producers often use acoustic quieting and noise control to limit unwanted noise. In these settings, soundproofing can suppress unwanted indirect sound waves that cause echoes and resonances that produce reverberation. Moreover, soundproofing can reduce the transmission of unwanted direct sound waves from the source to an involuntary listener. It does so through the use of distance and intervening objects in the sound path.
Soundproofing: Some Essential Bits of Info
When dealing with sound blocking, it’s essential to consider the following: distance, damping, and absorption.
Firstly, regarding distance, the energetic density of sound waves lessens as they spread out. This means that increasing the distance between the receiver and source results in a progressively lesser intensity of sound at the receiver. Secondly, damping refers to the resonance reduction process within a specific space. You achieve this resonance reduction either by absorption of by redirection. Absorption, the third element on our list, reduces the overall sound level. In contrast, redirection transforms unwanted noises into harmless or even pleasurable sounds by reducing coherence.
Keep in mind that damping can either reduce the acoustic resonance in the air or the mechanical one in the structure of the room. In addition, remember too that absorption can spontaneously transform part of the sound energy into a very small amount of heat in the intervening object.
Conclusions
There are many materials that absorb sounds in several ways. Your should base your choice on the frequency distribution of the noise to be absorbed and the required acoustic absorption profile.
