Soundproofing or Sound Absorption?

Many times at Audimute, we'll hear from folks who need help with "soundproofing." Their office is too echo-y, there's some high-frequency sound in their restaurant, they want to be able to hear their drums, etc. All completely valid acoustic concerns; except the solution they're looking for isn't soundproofing; it's sound-absorbing. 
 
At Audimute, we do both (more on that later). But let's delve into what those terms really mean. 
 
Soundproofing has become the easy, shorthand term for any kind of sound management solution, but it really only speaks to a specific kind: the total containment of a room or space so that no sound is getting in or out. 100% soundproofing is possible, but it can result in an acoustic environment so tightly regimented that it ceases to be comfortable (check out anechoic chambers for more).  
 
Maybe you don't want 100% soundproofing, but you do want to block some sound from getting into or out of a space. There are plenty of scenarios where where that's the case: 

• You live in a house next to noisy train tracks
• You own a loud rock venue and don't want your sound to bleed into the quiet coffeeshop next door 
• You live in a house next to noisy train tracks and a loud rock club 
• You own a loud rock club located inside a house next to a quiet coffeeshop by train tracks

...You get the idea. 
 
Soundproofing – in the truest sense - requires new construction: tearing up a wall, adding a false floor, etc. It requires a significant amount of time, money, and labor. In short, it can be done, but it calls for a lot of commitment.
 
Sound absorption, on the other hand, is the use of mounted products such as acoustic panels to absorb echoes, reverberations, and mid to high frequencies within a room (We often tell people to think of sound waves as water and a sound-absorbing acoustic panel as a giant sponge soaking up those sound waves). There's installation involved with sound-absorbing panels, but likely no construction. 
 
Let's futher explore the difference between soundproofing and sound absorption with some real-world scenarios featuring our friend, Audie: 
 
Audie wants to drum loudly in his home studio but he doesn't want to disturb his neighbors. 
Audie needs a soundproofing solution. (Like our Peacemaker® Sound Barrier – 3mm). 
 
Audie is drumming but his drums sound muddy due to echoes in his home studio. 
Audie needs a sound-absorbing solution. (Like our Sound Absorption Sheets). 
 
Here's another one: 
 
Audie's clients at work have a hard time hearing him during conference calls due to reverberations in his meeting room. 
Audie needs a sound-absorbing solution. (Like our Fabric Acoustic Panels). 
 
Audie's desk at work is constantly rumbling and shaking due to vibrations from the parking garage downstairs. 
Audie needs a soundproofing solution. (Like our Peacemaker® Soundproofing Underlayment – 6mm). 
 
One last one: 
 
Audie wants to drum loudly in his home studio but he doesn't want to disturb his neighbors AND he wants his drums to sound less echo-y in his home studio. 
Audie needs a sound-absorbing AND soundproofing solution (Like our 2-in-1 isolé® Sound Barrier Sheets). 
 
In summation, when it comes to soundproofing vs. sound absorption, here's a nifty little rhyme to help you remember the difference: 
 
If loud noise is coming through the walls, floor, or roofing 
Then the solution you want is soundproofing. 
But if echoes create distraction and distortion, 
Then the solution you want is sound absorption. 
 
Ready to discover your sound-absorbing or soundproofing solution? Contact our Acoustic Specialists for a free acoustic consultation!