Acoustic insulation is a process which aims to block out noise in an adjacent room. In effect it is used to try to sound proof the room, it is worth noting that total insulation from loud noise levels is nearly impossible. There is no perfect solution for acoustic insulation, but with the right materials and correct installation it can be very effective in insulating sound. Some people think that acoustic insulation can be achieved by lightweight materials such as acoustic foam or egg boxes. But, in reality, it will have little effect when sound is moving through the wall. The best way to achieve these results is to put a solid wall in its way. Sound will attenuate the more solid the wall is. Although this will reduce the amount of sound transmitted through it, the isolation will fall with frequency meaning that although mid-range and high range frequencies may be under control, the bass will still come through. Acoustic insulation is usually achieved by creating a barrier between the sound origin and the surrounding area. This can be done in a variety of ways such as installing panels with the ability to absorb echo, reverb and other transmissions of sound. There are a variety of ways to achieve acoustic insulation such as constructing walls with special panels, installing acoustic ceiling tiles or using sound reducing foam insulation. But it is advisable to seek out the advice of an expert when considering acoustic insulation as they can advise you as to exactly what you need whether it is for a recording studio or recording in your bedroom. Acoustic treatment is different in that its aim is to improve the quality of sound; this is achieved by dealing with any materials in the room which have an adverse effect on the quality of sound. This can mean the music being obscured by acoustic interference such as echoes or ringing sounds. This is usually performed with two kinds of treatments – diffusers and absorbers. There are two types of absorbers, one which deals with medium range and high level frequencies and one which deals with low level frequencies. Acoustic treatment allows you to control the levels of sound without compromising the quality of it. Absorption is the most common kind of acoustic treatment; it is needed when there is reflection of sound i.e. an echo or a ring. The most common absorption is through tiles which absorb sound when it hits them; this means less reflection coming back to the listener. Not all reflection is bad, it can be conducive to a more natural sound, but you can get a slap delay which can create an unpleasant sound. This is where diffusion comes in, it prevents sound from being reflected in one go and instead it is diffused and returns in different intervals. Simply put, acoustic treatment deals with the quality of sound from the perspective of the listener whereas acoustic insulation deals with isolating sound in the room of origin.
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Soundproofing, acoustic insulation, domestic soundproofing,
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