hes right metal studs are quieter on the outside of the room than wood - ill post exact details later tonite. i need to look it up

i'll help bart out.

2x4 w/5/8" on each side STC 35 , STC 38 with insulation

2x4 with 5/8 rock on fire channel and 5/8 on other side STC 40, 47 w/insulation

2x4 staggered stud 42, 48 w/insulation

steel stud STC 40, 46 w/insulation

staggered stell 41 & 47 w/insulation.

Staggered 2x4 w2 layers 5/8: 50, 54

staggered steel w/2 layers 5/8 52 , 58

Steel is better for noise reduction but at what expense? I'd put a few layers of rock on the steel if your going to use it.

There is a product called green glue that is used between the layers of rock, supposedly, creating the same effect as channel without the resonance problems associated with the channel.

If it were my room I use a staggered stud wall at a minimum with 2 layers of rock on each side. Maybe even a layer of Acoustiblok for good measure. Dont forget to address both the ceiling and the floor. Skip recessed lightsif possible and put a few layers of rock on the ceiling too.

I used QuietRock http://www.quietsolution.com/
on a project and supposedly with enough layers and the proper coating of QuietCoat which is the (ah hell its late im tired lets call it GOO) Sealent/gasket material between not only the two thin sheets of 1/4 inch drywall with a 22 gauge piece of steel sandwiched between them both you can achieve sound deading of up to 90% of ambient noise to outside areas <------don't quote me; like I said its late...........
This involves both sides of the wall with the QuietRock and then application of the Quiet Seal around all opening and on all 4 edges of the Rock

A single layer of QR-530 is equivalent to 8 layers of standard drywall (acoustically).


Check out the website I posted............

Oh by the way when it says no profesional training needed for the install..............Think twice and have it contracted.........
The dust from cutting the metal between the sheets is less than desireable if not sickening.........and when you get the goo on the drywall or yourself , wipe off immediately or you will never get paint to stick.(to the drywall)....

The goo never dries either...it remains tacky....

This is the best alternative that I have run into for making a room acoustically better..........and plain and simply helping the noise from coming in or out.....

And I am not a spokes person for this product.

Thanks
CI

There's your first mistake.