Acoustic Treatment of an Apartment for Classical Musicians

Project Overview

DECIBEL was contacted by a professional clarinetist who practices in his apartment together with a pianist on a grand piano. The musicians needed both soundproofing to reduce the disturbance for neighbors and acoustic treatment to create a better environment for practicing and recording.

The project required a balanced approach: keeping sound from escaping the apartment while also improving the clarity and quality of sound inside the room.

Creating a Home Studio for Musicians

Practicing classical instruments such as the clarinet and piano in a residential building is often difficult, as the sound easily travels to neighboring apartments. At the same time, musicians need accurate acoustics to hear themselves properly and perform at their best. By combining sound insulation with acoustic treatment, DECIBEL provided a solution that supported the client’s artistic work without causing disturbance to others.

Challenge

The challenge had two sides: first, to minimise noise transfer from powerful acoustic instruments like the piano and clarinet, and second, to treat the room acoustically so that the musicians could play and rehearse in a space with balanced sound. All this had to be achieved in a residential apartment with limited space and without compromising the usability of the room.

Scope of Work

• On-site acoustic assessment of the apartment room
• Design of a soundproofing system to reduce airborne and structural noise transmission
• Installation of acoustic wall and ceiling panels to balance reverberation and improve clarity
• Integration of solutions that fit within the residential setting

Solution

DECIBEL created a custom soundproofing system for the apartment to block sound leakage, using multi-layer insulation techniques on the walls and ceiling. To complement this, acoustic panels were installed on key reflective surfaces to control reverberation and create a natural, balanced sound inside the room. The combined approach ensured that the musicians could practice comfortably without disturbing neighbors while also enjoying a professional sound environment.

Result

The result was a space transformed into a home music studio, where the clarinetist and pianist could rehearse freely. Noise transfer to neighboring apartments was significantly reduced, and the acoustic treatment improved the overall sound quality within the room. The client was pleased that they could now focus on their music with both comfort and peace of mind.

Ready to Build Your Own Home Music Studio?

DECIBEL offers complete soundproofing and acoustic treatment solutions for musicians and music lovers. Contact our team to design a system that lets you play without limits.