Foam does not stop sound propagation. Foam is for reducing sound reflection (reverberation). No amount of foam will help in this situation. Building a false wall with an air gap between might be a good solution.

Jeff

Firstly, no apartment is " A Real Studio ", let's get that straight. On the wall where your neighbors reside would require mass.You cannot build a false wall in an apartment, let's get that straight. What you can do is to bring in freestanding, wall sized bookshelves and line the entire thing with discarded books from libraries, universities, other schools. This will also not only create mass but also create diffusion since all of the books will be of different depths, sizes and weights. And is virtually free to do what only the cost of the bookshelves actually figuring in. You can build them yourself or get cruddy old discarded units from churches, schools, etc.. But then there is also the issue of anything above or below you. A plywood floor on top of a heavily padded carpet to protect your neighbors below would also be a possibility. Nothing you really can't do. However, anybody above you would certainly be an issue and you can't build mass on your ceiling. Again, foam does not stop low frequencies. It only absorbs higher & middle frequencies which are neighbors upstairs wouldn't generally hear anyhow making that more a waste of money than anything else. Bottom line, thinking you are going to build a real studio in an apartment is totally unrealistic and will likely get you evicted.

Going purely DI and electronic only leaving vocals and acoustic guitars to be recorded is really your only choice. You really need a separate isolated space in order to have A REAL STUDIO. And that comes later in life.

I built my control room in a huge 25,000 pound diesel truck. For various and sundry other reasons.
Mx. Remy Ann David

Foam has a few uses in a studio. Always buy the thickest material that you can find.

1. It is good for quieting down noisy fans. Just be sure that you don't block the air flow. That's why the fan is there in the first place.

I just installed a new SSL C100. It is an absolutely wonderful console. The 'Rio' boxes that contain the remote mic preamps located in the studio are dead quiet. It has a central computer that is noisy, but that is in an equipment room. Unfortunately the box that contains the interface that rack mounts in the control room has a noisy fan. I was able to line the rack with some old Sonnex & it did an excellent job of controlling the noise. I've got to wonder what SSL was thinking when they designed that box. In fact I encounter a large number of devices with noisy fans. Not good.

2. Foam can cut down on speech reflections. Notice I said 'speech,' not singing. Some TV voice tracking situations are acoustically terrible & those things with foam that they put in back of the microphone help.

That's it. Nothing else. Please, please, please, (said James Brown) don't EVER use any foam in a music situation. No exceptions. It only makes things worse. It sucks in the middle and highs and does almost nothing to the bass. You are left with a terrible, muddy sound. It will do almost nothing to attenuate bass transmission through walls.

Coincidentally, an interview with acoustician Andy Munro was just posted. I heartily agree with his recommendations. Here is the link.

[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.pro-tool…"]Extended Audio Interview With Studio Design Guru Andy Munro - Pro Tools Tips, Tricks & More... - Pro Tools Expert Blog[/]="http://www.pro-tool…"]Extended Audio Interview With Studio Design Guru Andy Munro - Pro Tools Tips, Tricks & More... - Pro Tools Expert Blog[/]

Enjoy!

RemyRAD, post: 389369 wrote: Firstly, no apartment is " A Real Studio ", let's get that straight. On the wall where your neighbors reside would require mass.You cannot build a false wall in an apartment, let's get that straight. What you can do is to bring in freestanding, wall sized bookshelves and line the entire thing with discarded books from libraries, universities, other schools. This will also not only create mass but also create diffusion since all of the books will be of different depths, sizes and weights. And is virtually free to do what only the cost of the bookshelves actually figuring in. You can build them yourself or get cruddy old discarded units from churches, schools, etc.. But then there is also the issue of anything above or below you. A plywood floor on top of a heavily padded carpet to protect your neighbors below would also be a possibility. Nothing you really can't do. However, anybody above you would certainly be an issue and you can't build mass on your ceiling. Again, foam does not stop low frequencies. It only absorbs higher & middle frequencies which are neighbors upstairs wouldn't generally hear anyhow making that more a waste of money than anything else. Bottom line, thinking you are going to build a real studio in an apartment is totally unrealistic and will likely get you evicted.

Going purely DI and electronic only leaving vocals and acoustic guitars to be recorded is really your only choice. You really need a separate isolated space in order to have A REAL STUDIO. And that comes later in life.

I built my control room in a huge 25,000 pound diesel truck. For various and sundry other reasons.
Mx. Remy Ann David

I do thank you, and mberry for the response, but please don't "rain on my parade" and talk down on me. I only meant "real studio" as in a true little place to work on stuff, rather than my current situation. It's my first time posting here, I'm looking for open happy people with good response. You can hold the hipster opinion.

Do everyone a favor and buy some headphones.
Nobody in an apartment building wants to hear your thumping noise at 2:00AM or even 3PM.
Nobody here is trying to "rain on your parade" either...
Why would you post questions on a forum if your not interested in "real" answers.
You do know it's pretty ridiculous....
How about fill the entire bedroom with that expanding foam material and leave a small space for you to sit in?
Don't forget to elevate yourself off the floor!

Basically, forget trying to soundproof your apartment, it's just not going to work. Not unless you have a huge budget and a landlord who doesn't mind you ripping the crap out of his property.

Focus on more practical ways of not annoying the neighbours, like using cans, or like recording at times when no-one else is around, or like using a power soak on guitar cabs etc.

I've always thought this would be a great product for an apartment studio:

http://spl.info/hardware/kopfhoererverstaerker/phonitor/videos.html
http://www.sonicscoop.com/2011/04/03/mixology-with-george-walker-petit-real-mixers-mix-in-headphones/