If you are looking for something that can reduce noise, you might want an acoustic blanket. I’ll explain what they are and how they are used in a moment.
When you are recording, you want to reduce as much unwanted sound as possible. It’s a real pain when you listen to something you’ve just recorded and notice a ton of unnecessary background noise.
You can edit out as much of it as possible, but sometimes you may risk ruining the entire recording with one mistake; this is where acoustic blankets come in handy.
If you want to invest in something that would be a great addition to your recording studio, keep reading.
What is an Acoustic Blanket?
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Acoustic blankets are designed to absorb sound. These go by other names, including sound blankets, soundproofing blankets, or sound absorption blankets.
No matter what you call them, these are a blessing. Primarily when you use these for an area where you are recording music. There are two layers that make up an acoustic blanket.
The first layer is the outer layer. These are usually made from fabric that is woven. Sound will pass through this layer and will make contact with the inner layer, which is made of denser materials.
The inner layer will be made from one of the following: cotton, wool, vinyl, or foam. Either way, the material will be enough to absorb or dampen the sound.
How Much Sound Can an Acoustic Blanket Absorb?
On average, you can expect acoustic blankets to absorb no less than 80 percent of sound. The more it absorbs, the better.
If you ever find yourself in a recording studio, you’ll notice that these blankets will be present because of how effective they are with dampening sounds. In terms of how many you need, it may depend on the size of your recording studio.
Furthermore, they are also more effective at absorbing noise than regular blankets. Those that don’t use acoustic blankets will often use a traditional blanket and cover it over a closed door.
This is said to reduce the amount of noise during recording. However, it won’t do a good enough job than an acoustic blanket. Keep in mind that dampening the sound and soundproofing are two different things.
Soundproofing blocks the sound waves while dampening will lessen any reverberations or echoes.
How to Improve the Effectiveness of Acoustic Blankets?
If you want an acoustic blanket to work effectively, we will provide you with the following tips.
- Use extra blankets: We can install two extra layers of blankets to provide a thicker barrier for sound absorption.
- Create a gap: You’ll want to create a gap of about three inches between the wall and the blankets. The sounds may reverberate from the walls, but they’ll be caught in the blankets rather than escape.
- Use bass traps: If the bass noise is more of an issue, we highly suggest using bass traps. These are thick blocks made from foam used to reduce the reverberations of low-frequency sounds. However, they do not stop low-frequency noises from entering the recording room if they originate from the outside.
When purchasing an acoustic blanket, we would consider the idea of purchasing a bass trap in addition if you feel there is a need for it. Otherwise, stick to the blankets for now and test it out that way.
How to Install Acoustic Blankets
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Your blankets should have built-in grommets. If they do, you’ll need to screw in a few wall hooks so you can hang them properly. Unfortunately, some acoustic blankets will not have these grommets built-in.
If you have these types of acoustic blankets, a regular curtain rod may be sufficient. This may require a bit of folding and stitching on your part. Once completed, you can slide a curtain rod on through and hang up the blanket like you would a curtain on a window.
Before installing acoustic blankets, you want to consider the idea of doing a recording of a song. Save the recording to a separate file and then install the acoustic blankets. Then record the same piece of music, save it, and compare the two files to see any differences in the audio.
What to Consider Before Purchasing an Acoustic Blanket?
Price
If you are looking for acoustic blankets, you’ll want to find the best quality that you can afford within your budget. However, the price should not be the only reason why you choose the blankets of your choice.
Grommets or No Grommets
If you want curtains with grommets, the installation will be quick and straightforward. Without grommets, it may require a bit of folding and stitching so you can add a curtain rod to it. But, at the end of the day, if you want easy installation, a curtain with grommets will do just fine.
Inner Layer Materials
While it may not matter, different inner layer materials will serve the same purpose. For example, the foam will be thicker than cotton and other materials. Thus, it may be the best choice to reduce as much noise as possible.
Conclusion
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If you are looking for acoustic blankets, now you know what they are and how they work. We hope the buyer’s guide will be a huge help when the time comes to find the acoustic blankets that you want. Use them to your advantage, and you’ll notice a huge difference in sound when you are recording.