Richmond's KGB Band

The Issue

The Richmond’s KGB Band needed a soundproofing solution for its practice space. What it got was a soundproof room plus a home studio that produces professional quality sound for recording.

The Challenge

With only about 30 feet between its practice space and neighbors, the KGB Band was no stranger to local police.

“It was very loud outside when we played in the garage,” said Kevin McIver, KGB bassist and Acoustical Solutions Architectural Sales Representative, “I might have called the cops too.”

Making matters worse, the band didn’t have a demo. This prevented them from getting gigs, and, thus, occasionally getting out of the garage.

The Solution

When Kevin finally decided it was time to apply his expertise in acoustical solutions to his own predicaments. He immediately developed a vision for a home recording studio/practice space. This would allow for optimal recording while also stopping music from escaping, an idea the neighbors applauded.

Kevin gave his new space the royal treatment by installing, among other things, Barrel Sound Diffusers, AlphaSorb^® Fabric Wrapped Acoustic Panels, and AlphaSorb^® Fabric Wrapped Acoustic Foam Bass Traps to treat the sound and reverberation.

To keep music from escaping the garage, Kevin’s biggest obstacle was the garage door. The door allowed a very large percentage of sound to escape. His idea was to hang PrivacyShield^® ABBC-13 Barrier Backed Soundproofing Blankets over the door.

Combination sound blankets consist of a vinyl sound barrier septum encapsulated by vinyl-coated, recycled-fiberglass cloth absorbers. These blankets both absorb and block sound, which was perfect for Kevin’s studio.

The rest of the garage was treated with Green Glue Noiseproofing Compound, which is a liquid, waterborne, viscoelastic damping compound that represents the highest performance product of its type. It is used between sheets of drywall, subflooring, or other building materials.

Richmond’s KGB Band blocking sound with barrier blankets over a garage door.

The Result

“Now I crank the music up to where it hurts my ears when I’m inside, but I can’t hear it from my neighbor’s house,” says Kevin, “and, actually, I can only hear a slight rumble when I’m next to the garage wall.”

Kevin added that the renovation significantly reduced the reverberation and echoes in his new recording studio/practice area, “but didn’t make it sound ‘dead’.”

The space now allows for anything from soft voices to harsh drums to be recorded with the highest quality, and band practice to be held at any time of day or night.