I know there are extensive discussions involving sound, green glue etc. I am trying to figure out which part of the construction process is for sound isolation and which part is to enhance the theater acoustics.

Is green glue, insulation etc to prevent sound from reaching the rest of the house? The reason I ask is because my current design involves a partially open wall in the back of my theater. (The theater is in the basement).

Do you think that some thin office type carpet between two sheets of drywall would have a similar effect as green glue?


Which part of theater design is to create good acoustics? I see that some people fill their risers/stages with sand. If you build your speakers in the walls is there anything you should do to increase sound quality?

Do you think that some thin office type carpet between two sheets of drywall would have a similar effect as green glue?


Only if the carpet has a lot of peanut butter in it so that it sticks to the drywall.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=785359&highlight=peanut

Ok serious question. The science of green glue is that it is a material that converts vibration (sound) to heat. I'm not sure what a layer of carpet in the wall would do. If you are thinking about the rubber backed carpet then maybe there is some benefit.

Sand is to eliminate any unwanted resonances created by the speakers sitting on the stage, particularly the subs.

Only speakers designed for in wall should go in the wall, The crossover design of a speaker assumes certain boundary conditions.


Now back to your question about sound isolation versus sounding good.

Green glue = Isolation
Sand = Sound Good

Now having said that a quiet room created by sound isolation also happens to sound good and the sand can have the benefit of preventing stage vibration being transmitted through out the house so it's not all one or the other. Another issue is that various wall constuction techinques alter the in room overall frequency response so it get's very confusing.

Here's a link to a great website that'll tell you pretty much everything you need to know about acoustic treatments. In other words, getting the most out of your sound within your theater.
http://www.ethanwiner.com/acoustics.html#top

For isolation, I'd suggest going to the GG website and read that for starters.

What I've found is, don't take anything for granted, and sometimes what you think is a good idea can actually make things worse. My advice, read read read.

Craigo

Do you think I would be wasting my money on green glue if the back of my theater is open to the rest of the basement? I definitely am not going to try to box in each of my recessed lighting fixtures in the ceiling.

I think every weak point in your sound isolation strategy,

Holes for recessed lighting,
Holes for outlets and switches,
Holes for in wall speakers,
an open wall to the rest of the basement with unknown sound containment ability (quality of door to basement for example)
Unknown HVAC shared connections to the rest of the house,
etc
etc

contribute to the cumulative ability to contain soundtrack level sound.

My amateur opinion is yes it would be a waste of money.