It’s a fact that professional audio product recording requires optimum conditions to comply with the industry standards regarding noise reduction and sound absorption.
To make a DIY professional sound booth on a budget, first, identify how much external noise reduction you need in the place where the sound booth will be set. The loudest the noise, the higher the budget. For a 45 dB noise reduction goal you will spend $900 on average.
This is what you need to know first before making your own sound booth to record audio products (audiobooks, audio magazines, and all types of voice narration projects)
- What Does a Sound Booth Do
- How Much Does a Sound Booth Cost
- What Makes a Professional Sound Booth
- What Materials Do You Need to Make a Sound Booth
- DIY Sound Booth Guide
- Alternatives to Making a Sound Booth (portable booths, portable panels)
- How Do You Make a Portable Sound Booth
- What Do You Need Inside a Sound Booth
- Do I Need a Sound Booth to Record an Audiobook
What Does a Sound Booth Do
A sound booth is a small room conditioned to allow the voice narrator or artist to record noise-free audio caused by unwanted sounds, such as external noises, reverb, and echo. A sound booth for voice-over projects needs to have high absorbing inner walls, whereas for singers there must be a certain amount of reflective surfaces.
You can order a predesigned professional sound booth, which will comply with the industry standards. The quality of sound-reducing and absorbing materials, accessories, and the manufacturer’s fees for installation will make this option 4 – 8 times more expensive than making the sound booth yourself.
How Much Does a Sound Booth Cost
The average price of a basic voice narration sound booth is $5600 with a ventilation system. If you are recording more than one hour per day, you will need to take a break every 45 minutes to let the room cool. If you work more than one hour per day, ventilation is a must.
Take a look at the following models and features:
| Size | Materials and Accessories | Ventilation included | Price |
| (4’ x 4’ x 7’) Door with a small acoustic window Wall thickness 2.75” | Plywood walls with acoustic cloth (outside walls) Acoustic foam 60% absorption or more (inside walls) Floor carpet on the foam cushion LED lamp Cable port | Yes | $5600 |
| (4’ x 6’ x 7’) Door with a small acoustic window Wall thickness 2.75” | Plywood walls with acoustic cloth (outside walls) Acoustic foam 60% absorption or more (inside walls) Floor carpet on the foam cushion LED lamp Cable port | Yes | $6200 |
The following video shows how are Whisper Room booths made:
What Makes a Professional Sound Booth
A professional sound booth is designed to fulfill the industry standards regarding noise reduction and sound absorption. They include a silent ventilation system that will enable the voice narrator to work for extended periods of time.
If the level of unwanted sound near the sound booth is below 30dB, a standard booth can pass the test. If the level is above 40 dB, a double-wall sound booth is necessary.
Components of a Single Wall Sound Booth
- 3” total thickness
- Insulation material on walls
- Acoustic foam on inner walls, 60% absorption or more
- 1 layer of 1” wood board
- 2 panes ¼” laminated glass on window 16” x 30”
- ¾” door
- Ventilation system
Components of a Double Wall Sound Booth
- 5 ¼” total thickness
- 5 panes of laminated glass on window 16” x 30”
- Door 3 ⅛”
- Insulation material on walls
- 2” Acoustic foam on inner walls 70 – 80% absorption
- 2 layers of 1” wood board
- Ventilation system
What Materials Do You Need to Make a Sound Booth
To make a quality sound booth it is necessary to use sound barrier materials to make the walls, such as wood boards and sound insulation batts. On the inner side of the walls, there must be acoustic foam and cloth. To avoid feeling claustrophobic, a laminated glass window can be inserted on a wall or door of the booth.
Some of these materials can be used on any side of the walls, sometimes on both:
| Material | Properties | Where to use it |
| Carpets | Sound absorber | Floor |
| Acoustic foam | Sound absorber | Inner walls |
| Glass | Sound barrier | Door window/room windows |
| Mass loaded vinyl MLV | Sound barrier | On wood boards |
| Wood boards | Sound barrier | Outer walls |
| Mineral wool | Sound barrier | Inner walls |
| Fiberglass | Sound barrier | Inner walls |
How Much Noise Can Glass and Carpets Reduce
How Much Noise Can Acoustic Foam and Mass Loaded Vinyl Block
How Much Noise Can Wood Reduce
How Much Noise Can Mineral Wool and Fiberglass Reduce
DIY Sound Booth
The following videos can show you several ways to make a sound booth yourself. One way is to make wood studs to install the wall.
Another inexpensive practical way is to set the first two walls using screws and a metal piece. You may ask for help when moving and holding the wood board walls.
Using Wood Studs
Using Steel Corner Metal
Alternatives to a Sound Booth: Portable Booths and panels
After having identified how much noise is necessary to be reduced, you can consider using a portable sound booth or panel. Thus you can record professional voice-over audio projects wherever you want as long as the noise level is below 30dB.
Make sure to do this before you start recording:
- Set your portable booth or panel in a room with no refrigerators, washing machines, or any working machines
- Turn off the air conditioning
- Switch your mobile phone to airplane mode
- Use window inserts to reduce the noise coming from closed windows
- If you are using a laptop with an interface to record, place it outside the portable booth if you are using a good quality condenser microphone
- A table and a portable audio recorder make no noise (alternative to using a laptop)
How Do You Make A Portable Sound Panel
To make a portable sound panel all you need is a structure where to hold the sound, a stand that has the same area of the structure, wood panels or plexiglass sheets to act as the wall of the panel, and absorbing materials, such as acoustic blankets or acoustic.
- Take the measurements of your desired size panel
The closer the panel the less unwanted sound will be picked up by the microphone
- Cut the PVC tubes and the acoustic blanket to the desired size
- Use velcro to hold the acoustic blanket on the structure
How Do You Make a Portable Sound Booth
First, you need a square structure that can hold the sound-absorbing material. According to the space you have or to make it easier to carry, consider a triangle shape structure (it will require less amount of absorbing materials.
- Take the measurements of your desired portable booth
- Cut the PVC tubes and mark which ones will be the top and the bottom of the structure
- Assemble the PVC tubes and make sure the structure is stable
- Hang the acoustic blankets or curtains
- Make a ceiling using acoustic blankets or curtains to cover the structure on top
- Use velcro to avoid gaps in the acoustic blankets or curtains
- You may use some clamps to pick up a bit the lower part of the blankets/curtains to let some airflow inside
This video shows step by step how to make a portable sound booth:
What Do You Need Inside a Sound Booth
The most common elements needed inside a sound booth are usually things that most people already have at home, and the necessary equipment to record audio:
- A lamp
- A music stand to place the book or tablet or
- An auxiliary table to place other objects
- A chair
- A microphone stand
- A microphone XLR cable
- A windshield pop filter.
Take into account putting absorber materials, like towel cloth or any other type of thick fabric on the surfaces of the music stand, and auxiliary table.
Do I Need a Sound Booth to Record an Audiobook
To achieve the industry standards it is necessary to record the audio project in a space free of noise and reverb. Those conditions can be provided by a professional pre-made sound booth, portable sound booth, or by your own design that complies with those two conditions.