Hi everyone - I've got my construction thread going in the general ht construction area:
Flyover theater (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=872028)

There seems to be a lot more discussion of sound treatment here in the dedicated theater area. Please forgive the new thread but I was hoping for more some quick input before the drywallers come in just over a week.

In a nutshell: 800 sq ft (rough guess at the moment) in the area where the screen/seating area is in the basement. The 2x4 framing (not staggered stud) is done. R19 is going in the ceiling, R11 in all the walls. The stairs have no door at the bottom; the door at the top will likely be replaced with a solid door with some kind of seal at the bottom. The stair landing will be treated at least with insulation behind fabric on the main reflecting wall, or whatever will work best (for the money) to keep sound from bouncing up/down the stairs.

Current plan: single layer of 5/8 drywall all around, mounted on "sound isolation tape," with gaps at all edges for de-coupling walls/floor/ceiling.

I don't have the budget for the full DD+GG+RSIC clips. I could add RSIC clips for the single layer of drywall on the ceiling, but the added complexity (can lights in boxes, etc) makes me hesitate. My goals are reduce the sound getting upstairs, and to greatly reduce the footfalls on the hardwood and tile upstairs.

1. Is the sound isolation tape a waste of time/money?
2. Would using clips on a single layer of drywall on the ceiling be worth it?

Thank you any feedback. I've searched and searched, but can't seem to find a similar situation I'm comfortable with following.

Yes the isloation tape is a waste of money and you are not going to accomplish our goal at all with those plans. The dd gg is your best bet with or without clips but you must do it all around and on ceiling and you need a door at the bottom of the stairs as well. The insulation you are using will do very little for sound.

There is one other option but it is not as good. I used it before I found out about green glue and it has actaully worked fine for me but My theater is not in a basement either.

It is using Sound board, in my case Celotex, [which has its own problems, and it stinks till it is covered up.] anyway I used Celotex and then 5/8 drywall over it, with acoustical caulk in all seams the under layer,[the celotex] and then caulk in the corners and dry wall mud on the final walls.
I then have acoustical panels that are part of my art deco design on the wall as well but that in itself is not for the soundproofing. I have double as in Two different, Solid doors, both with deadbolts by the way, not sound but security there,

Remember to treat all your electrical boxes, vents and light fixtures for sound leakage as well.

You really only get one chance to do this right, if you don't then it will be much harder if not impossible and expensive to fix it later.

McCall,

A couple of years back, Clarence, had good success with the Integrety gasket tape in his build. It's not a total solution but certainly seems to a add a few more dbs of isolation If I couldn't do RSIC and channel I would consider it in addition to double layers of DW and GG.

http://www.integritygasket.com/oldgallery1.asp

Sound test results:

http://www.integritygasket.com/library/Sound_Test_1-28-00.pdf

McCall,

A couple of years back, Clarence, had good success with the Integrety gasket tape in his build. It's not a total solution but certainly seems to a add a few more dbs of isolation If I couldn't do RSIC and channel I would consider it in addition to double layers of DW and GG.

http://www.integritygasket.com/oldgallery1.asp

Sound test results:

http://www.integritygasket.com/library/Sound_Test_1-28-00.pdf


Well that may be but it is not going to do much by itself with one layer of dry wall and no green glue etc.
So to use it as the OP stated I think is a waste of money and won't give him what he wants.

Thanks for the quick replies!

What about the clip's ability to suppress the footfall noise from above? I can't imagine the insulation will help that much at all, but decoupling even one layer of drywall on the ceiling seems like it should really help. Or will that noise just translate down the side walls?