I need to choose a new apartment to live in, and unfortunately the nicest one of my current choices has thin walls and is surrounded by neighbors. Even worse, the sliding glass door (and main source of fresh air) opens to a courtyard with about thirty other apartments (with sliding doors) in close proximity. I'm concerned that my studio activity, and especially my saxophone-playing, will be quite audible and is sure to annoy someone. There's a homeowners association, so worst-case scenario is people complain and my landlord is eventually fined, resulting in my eviction.

The kitchen in the place is small but in the center of the apartment, with an open doorway on either side. Is it practical to try and soundproof this room and use it as a "sound booth" for recording my sax? It would have to be something I could somehow "set up" temporarily for recording, and then take down so I could live like a normal person. Any other reasonable, non-ridiculously-expensive soundproofing options? Or should I bite the bullet and choose the crappier but more isolated living option?

Thanks!

http://www.realtraps.com

Theres a good place to start looking.
Cj

I live in an apartment too and fully symphathize.

Two things to consider with acoustics:

1. Apartments are relatively easy to treat acoustically for reflections, bass response, etc., because the rooms aren't usually too big. This means the sounds you actually record or hear when mixing can be made pretty accurate. This is good.
2. Acoustic isolation is a whole different ballgame and often requires full on construction to do successfully. I know a guy that has a drum studio in the garage to his condo (which required he build an isolation booth for his drums.) It worked pretty well, but it was not cheap and not perfect. Your best bet for sound isolation is to find an apartment that is basement level. The concrete and ground are great at absorbing audio. Aside from that- good luck!

Peace,

Or should I bite the bullet and choose the crappier but more isolated living option?

Don't want to sound negative, but that place sounds like heaven to live in, but close to impossible to isolate. Or, if you can afford it, rent a cheap basement (indeed) that nobody wants, somewhere else - on the side.

Thanks guys, for the advice so far.

The Realtraps products look more like they're for optimizing your room and not so much soundproofing, but that's an interesting web site and I'll be visiting it again just for the educational stuff. Thanks.

Since this is just a rental, I don't want to do anything too extensive or costly. If I owned the place, that would be a different story.

I've thought about renting a modest place and having a separate rental for my studio, but I've looked around and it wouldn't be practical. I live in one of the most expensive parts of the country (Oakland, CA) and even a small, run-down place in the ghetto is $800-$900 a month. A decent, safe one-bedroom is in the $1300-$1600 range. Renting a studio space is like renting another apartment.

Here's a link to the floorplan of the apartment so you can get an idea of how isolated the kitchen is. As you can tell if you read the details, the place has a lot else going for it and is a little hard to pass up in favor of living in a basement:

http://www.watergatesales.com/html/wg-02.html

Well, just hang some absortion on the walls and on the ceiling above your DAW, Hell even some thick Down comforters will do some good. Or maybee even some carpet on the walls.
CJ

Check out this rad forum about building a studio. I found it last week and it is going to be my resource in building my next studio.

http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=2b07ef475d2ff3fdb58f3d9c3d8a43b5

I wouldn't even consider trying to sound proof an apartment. IMHO, you're going to spend a lot of money for very little return. I used to play sax and I was told by my neighbor two houses down that he could hear me practicing. So all your immediate neighbors will too.

Your only options would be head phones for recording. Maybe one of those sound proof room kits for practicing the sax.

and even a small, run-down place in the ghetto is $800-$900 a month. A decent, safe one-bedroom is in the $1300-$1600 range.

Damn, thats more than my house note. And I live in a (cozy ) 4 bedroom, 2 bath home, in a nice, nearly zero crime neighborhood.

Definitely check out the John Seyer's site. Soundproofing is difficult and expensive. I agree with Mod Bod: Not something I would attempt to do to an apartment. Soundproofing is totally different than acoustics inside the room. The Realtraps site is great for acoustics, but won't do anything for soundproofing.