Custom acoustic and vibration isolation for a drum studio

Project Overview

In July 2020, professional musician and drummer Venko Poromanski contacted DECIBEL with a request to improve the sound isolation and acoustic quality of his drum studio, located on the 16th floor of a residential building.

Venko was facing two major challenges: strong vibration transfer that disturbed neighbours, and poor room acoustics that prevented him from clearly hearing the full range of his drum kit. The limited size of the space made accurate listening difficult, which directly affected his ability to practice effectively.

The task was to create a vibration-free, acoustically balanced studio suitable for professional-level drumming, without impacting the surrounding residential environment.

Solving Vibration and Acoustic Problems

Practicing percussion instruments at home can be a challenge, especially in apartment buildings where sound and structural vibrations travel easily through floors and walls. For Venko, these issues were not only affecting the quality of his playing experience but also leading to complaints from neighbours.

DECIBEL was asked to provide a solution that would combine soundproofing, vibration control, and acoustic treatment in a compact room with strict space limitations.

Challenge

The studio’s high location and small size created multiple technical difficulties. Vibrations from the drum kit were transferred through the structure of the building, while the room’s acoustics made it difficult to hear the full tone and dynamics of the instrument. A solution was needed that would reduce sound leakage and vibration by a significant margin, and also allow the musician to clearly hear every detail of his playing.

Scope of Work

• On-site noise level measurement during dynamic drumming
• Design of a two-layer vibration-isolating platform
• Installation of rubber-pneumatic shock absorbers to block vibration transfer
• Acoustic treatment of all walls with sound-absorbing materials
• Addition of a second studio door with double seals and sound-reducing components
• Increase of total sound insulation performance from 28 dB to 42 dB
• Complete installation and finishing within a two-month project timeline

Solution

The core of the solution was a two-layer vibration-isolating podium, supported by spherical rubber-pneumatic shock absorbers. This system was engineered to eliminate vibration transmission into the building structure. Testing showed that the setup reduced vibration by 99% across a wide frequency range.

To improve internal acoustics, DECIBEL applied sound-absorbing materials to the studio walls, reducing reflections while preserving the energy and clarity of the drum sound.

To address airborne noise leakage, a second studio door was added, equipped with double seals and a sound-reducing brush at the base. This increased the room’s overall sound insulation from 28 dB to 42 dB.

Result

After completion, the studio was transformed into a fully isolated and acoustically balanced environment. Venko was able to play freely, with no disturbances to neighbours and with significantly improved sound quality inside the room.

The combination of vibration isolation and acoustic clarity created a professional space for individual practice. Venko shared his satisfaction with the result, describing the new environment as one that allowed him to fully enjoy the experience of playing percussion instruments:
“Playing percussion brings me pleasure, joy, and makes me feel full and alive. I’m doing something real from my heart.”

The entire project was completed in two months, and the results met all technical and personal expectations.

Need Vibration Isolation for Your Music Studio?

DECIBEL offers custom soundproofing and acoustic treatment solutions for musicians in residential buildings. Contact us to plan your project.