soundproof ceiling on a budget

[tenorposaune]

Hi all,

I'm renting an apartment (should I post in that forum instead?) that has a 7'x8' room in the basement that is cinderblock and earth on three sides. I'd like to turn it into a place that I can play my trombone without waking anyone sleeping upstairs, ideally for about $500. Already, with no acoustical treatment, I have a 30dB decrease in volume from that room to the floor above. However, there are hvac ducts and whatnot that do carry the sound up, and it's not quite quiet enough for someone to sleep through it.

Because three walls and the concrete floor have enough mass that they really transmit no sound whatsoever, I'm not worried too much about isolation in the walls. If some sound escapes to the rest of the basement, that's not a problem. It's only sound traveling up that I'm worried about.

My current plan to soundproof the ceiling involves 2 layers of 1/2" drywall sandwiching green glue, suspended from genie clips. However, I'm going to have to invest a fair percentage of my budget in ventilation and moisture control to keep that basement room dry and sanitary. So, I'm a little overbudget, and I'm wondering if there are any obvious ways to minimize costs.

Are there things I can do that I have not considered that will improve my acoustical isolation? Is it better to cut the green glue or the clips? What are your opinions?

[Randy S]

Your at the bare bone minimum with the clips and green glue...Decoupling is the most important thing you can do to achieve decent reductions.
Based on your budget I would just stick with your plan, improving the soundproof ceiling system will bring the costs up.
Are your hvac ducts the flex tubing or hard ducting? you might just have to create covers for the vents this way you can close them when your playing and open them when your not.

[tenorposaune]

Thanks for the advice. The largest duct concern is a 6" flex duct (wrapped in fiberglass insulation) that goes through the joist space above where I will install the ceiling. I was thinking about adding some extra mass between the ceiling and the duct just to try and keep that under control. I'll take your advice and not cut the GG or the clips.

[Randy S]

with flex ducting I would just make covers over the vents that can be closed and opened...adding mass around the ducting would help but not reduce what is traveling through the duct.